Fri Dec 24, 2021 | 3:12pm
West Papua occupies the Indonesian half of New Guinea, the second largest island in the world after Greenland.
Indonesia unilaterally annexed the former Dutch colony in 1969 with the United Nations referendum “Act of Free Choice.” What should have been a one-person one-vote consultation of the Papuans about the future status of their nation became an Indonesian-controlled mockery of the UN policy on decolonization and self-determination.
The indigenous people declared their jungle-clad province to be an independent state. Armed with arrows and spears as well as a few guns — the obsolete booty of the Dutch — they founded the Organisi Papua Merdeka (OPM), or Free Papua Movement.
For the Indonesians it seemed to matter little that the people of Papua belong to a different culture of the South Seas, that they have animist beliefs, praying to the Gods of the water and sun, an economy based on pigs rather than money, and hardly anything in common with the Asian, predominantly Muslim culture that abhors pork.
The year was 1988, my third visit to West Papua. Three porters, Tepi, Nadius, Lyndie, and I were on our way to the village of Waniyok, a five-day trek from Wamena, the major outpost of the central highlands. On our fourth day we were approaching Mt Elit, twisting and turning on a path no wider than my foot. The heavy rains had continued throughout the night and into the morning. Papua averages 300 inches of rain annually. We tarped all our gear we were carrying on our backs to keep it dry.
The thick jungle canopy echoed the sound of birds that took refuge from the rain. Waterfalls started to appear on the steep mountain slopes. It was difficult to keep my footing in the thick mud. At times I found myself on all fours sliding down a trail that at times seemed more like a river. The challenge was to stay upright on both feet until we reached higher ground. By late afternoon I was exhausted as we reached the village of Pileam.
Much of West Papua still remains unmapped and, as a result, untouched tribes hold a part of its mystique, living as they do in an area of rain forest, swamps, and cloud-snagged mountains reaching to heights of 16,000 feet, the highest elevation between the Himalayas and the Andes.
I have built lifelong friendships with many of the indigenous people and have learned much about my inner self through their wisdom. They have taught me the importance of humility and patience, two concepts which are so vital to a fulfilling life.
Why would Indonesia even be interested in this area 3,000 miles from the capital Jakarta? Simple, natural resources — the world’s largest gold and copper mine, vast amounts of timber and oil. Geologists call Papua “elephant country,” a term used for a region with an abundance of natural resources.
What first brought me to this far away land was an article I had read in National Geographic. The Indonesian government, in trying to so-called modernize this ancient culture, had an idea. With a population of roughly two million indigenous people wearing traditional attire consisting of penis gourds and grass skirts, the government decided to drop thousands of jogging shorts via small Cessna planes onto villagers in hopes they would replace their novel attire. When the same planes flew back a few weeks later the pilots saw the villagers were wearing the shorts on top of their heads to protect themselves from the rain. Within months of reading the article I was on my way to Papua and have continued to return over the last thirty years.
For awhile I was leading treks for a company out of Virginia. Taking small groups of people who wanted a glimpse into this remote culture, I worked my way from the highlands to the coastal swamp lands exploring regions few outsiders have ever seen. Looking back, those were amazing times. I was fortunate to learn about a people firsthand, about a culture that grabbed my heart and continues to do so to this day.
The Indonesian government forces its policy of no foreign journalists or UN members allowed in the area. Sealed off from the outside world news and events remain hidden from the outside world.
In 1971 Papuans comprised over 96 percent of the population. Now Papuans make up less than half of the population due to the inward migration of non-Papuan settlers. Many indigenous believe they are facing a slow-motion genocide as they are progressively marginalized and their lands are forcibly expropriated for military-backed logging, oil palm, and mining operations.
The president of Indonesia, Jokowi, believes economic development will trump Papuan nationalism. The UN has turned a blind eye.
The COVID pandemic has hit Papua hard. Access to the area is closed to all outsiders. Villagers are not allowing anyone within their compounds. The few medical facilities that exist are overwhelmed with patients. Most Papuans are being treated within their village.
The moderator of the Papuan council of churches, Reverend Benny Giay, said many West Papuans were resisting the vaccine rollout chiefly because of the role of Indonesian security forces, which he said indigenous Papuans mistrust. In most districts it is the military and police who accompany medical teams to promote the vaccines. But villagers turn them away. Given the on-going violent conflict between Indonesian security forces and West Papuans, as well as decades of human rights abuses and racism against Papuans, Reverend Giay said the resistance was understandable.
Reports in Papua indicate 27,000 cases of COVID with totals rising. However these numbers may only be a fraction of the truth. Only seven respiratory doctors and 73 ventilators are available for 45 hospitals and clinics.
The Indonesian government has used the COVID-19 pandemic as a pretext to crack down on West Papuan street protests and impose on-line censorship according to Human Rights Watch.
The doctor in charge of the capital Jayapura’s Covid 19 response team stated, “I know this might sound harsh; if you don’t want to die, don’t come to Papua.”
While Papua remains in the grips of COVID, statements like this only support the government’s policy: “Stay out of Papua. It’s our secret war to be determined by our policies.”
Only time will tell if Papua will survive these tumultuous times. Their future is in serious jeopardy as they cry out for help hoping someone will listen.
Human rights defenders have collected first-hand information on the situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Yahukimo regency. They fled their villages after members of the West Papuan National Liberation Army (TPNPB) killed one military member and injured another one during an attack on the military post in the Suru-Suru district on 20 November 2021. According to information received, 4,695 indigenous Papuans from 13 villages in the Yahukimo regency have fled their homes. The IDPs have sought shelter in 15 temporary camps in the forest where they have no access to sufficient food, healthcare and education services (see photos below). Seven IDPs have reportedly died since being displaced (see table on bottom), while sixteen women have given birth without medical attention.
Many healthcare and education facilities in the Suru-Suru district closed since the attack on the military post. Observers declared that two primary schools, two secondary schools and two health centres in Suru-Suru have been abandoned. The health workers and teachers have left the district.
Most of the IDPs are members of the Papuan Tabernacle Church (Kingmi Papua). Kingmi Papua called upon the central and local Government to provide relief goods, healthcare services to the IDPs and open access for humanitarian organisations and United Nations Human Rights observers to the conflict-affected regencies Yahukimo, Maybrat, Pegunungan Bintang, Nduga, Intan Jaya and Puncak.
More than 60,000 indigenous Papuans have reportedly been internally displaced over the past three years, most of which have not returned to their homes due to the ongoing heavy security force presence in the conflict areas. The central Government continues to deploy security forces to West Papua whilst turning a blind eye on the civilians affected by the security force operations. Human rights organisations have repeatedly called upon President Jokowi to enter into dialogue with the independence movement to seek a peaceful solution to the long-standing conflict in West Papua.
Photos of IDPs in multiple camps in the forest, taken by human rights defenders in the Yahukimo Regency
Table with IDPs who died during displacement in the Yahukimo regency since 20 November 2021
| No | Name | Age | Sex |
| 1 | Sepria Bayage | 5 years | female |
| 2 | Ekelana Heluka | 35 years | female |
| 3 | Marten Heluka | 26 years | male |
| 4 | Isak Bonge | 36 years | male |
| 5 | Yosua Bonge | 24 years | male |
| 6 | Dogohuru Weak | 50 years | male |
| 7 | Bare Mone | 24 years | male |
Movies that tell stories about humanity, such as about children living in Indonesia's easternmost island, Papua, are few, and most of them refer to viral or popular episodes, highlighting the need for movies that truly capture Papuan people's lives.
Among the long-awaited movies to recently hit the theaters is Sepeda Presiden or The President's Bike. The movie, which premiered in cinemas across Indonesia on December 23, 2021, is a remarkable year-end release from the Indonesian film industry.
Drawing on the genre of comedy, Sepeda Presiden showcases the lives of Papuan children in the backdrop of the region's spectacular nature and alluring music. The movie aims to invite all Indonesian children, families, and society to go back to cinemas to watch movies together again, while not forgetting the health protocols, its makers said.
Avesina Soebli, the producer of the movie, said he has an interest in Indonesian children's world, music, and culture, so he decided to focus the theme of Sepeda Presiden on Papuan culture.
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An offering from production house Radepa Studio, Sepeda Presiden captures the rich and fascinating stories of Papuan children, he added.
According to Soebli, the lives of Papuan children are different from metropolitan children who live in the cities. Their stories are filled with treasures and specters that cannot be found in other parts of the archipelago, he said. Papuan children's stories are their own, and can only be explained through their region's natural wealth, he remarked.
Garin Nugroho, the movie's director, shares similar sentiments. He said that although he has visited Papua several times, his wonder at the beauty of Papua and the talents that its children have has never faded.
Hence, Nugroho said he and Hestu Saputra were inspired to work on the film.
Papua is a source of spirits, home to dancing, acting, and singing talents, and joy, he added.
Nugroho said Papua sparked his creativity again. He said it helped him recover from the exhaustion of his recent theater offering Planet, A Lament, a musical on the nature of Melanesia, Australia, the Netherlands, and Germany.
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Three's company
Sepeda Presiden traces the story of three Papuan children who wish to meet the President of Indonesia through a YouTuber's help who has run away from her boring life in Jakarta.
The meeting is interspersed with much hilarity, colored with adventures in beautiful Papua, and glamorized through children's songs that are both joyful and entertaining.
Sepeda Presiden seems like a representation of the dreams and hopes of Indonesian children in general. The film manages to convey that most Indonesian children have the same wishes and goals of happiness, but some face obstacles to reaching their goals because they do not have the same facilities, information, and conveniences as urban children.
According to Soebli, the production team selected the metaphor of the President's bike because they were inspired by visuals of the President and his bike.
The "President's bike" is an interesting cultural and social event that triggers public participation, he explained.
It refers to programs where Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) meets many children and gifts them free bikes, which have often led to humorous incidents that have gone viral, he informed.
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For instance, on December 21, 2021, Widodo gifted a bike to people in Tarakan for successfully answering his questions about the number of islands in Indonesia and the health protocols.
These viral incidents have become modern folk stories that have somehow inspired the film, Soebli said.
The natural beauty of Papua island presents a soothing backdrop for the film, which unfolds in Sorong and Raja Ampat. Shooting for the film was conducted in October 2021.
The film's cast includes Ariel Tatum, Sita Nursanti, Joanita Chatari, Ian William, and the smart and talented Papuan children, known as ‘The Papua Kids’: Arnol Aner Asmuruf, Dede Ramandei, and Elias F. Padwa.
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Beautiful soundtrack
The production team of Sepeda Presiden took on Swastika Nohara as the scenario writer along with Nugroho.
In the end, the film intends to be a family movie choice with its charming, exciting, and beautiful songs, as well as a warm dose of humanity.
Four soundtracks of Sepeda Presiden, Sepeda Presiden, Yospan, Papua, and Sajojo, have been performed by Papuan talents.
There are three more songs in the movie: Risau (Worry), which premiered on October 29, 2021, Kunang-Kunang (Fireflies), and Bunga Anggrek (Orchids) by Ariel Tatum.
All the soundtracks were directed by Royal Prima Musikindo (RPM) and produced by Octav Panggabean. The Sepeda Presiden song was sung by 'The Papua Kids', the three main characters in the movie.
The song, which released on December 4, 2021, portrays Papuan children's ambition to live each day and strive to realize their dreams.
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Meanwhile, Yospan and Sajojo are traditional songs sung by Bona Pascal, JB Macho, and other Papuan children.
The total number of songs in the movie is 17 and they were all recorded in a period of one month.
The movie is expected to close the year with excitement, instill hope to achieve dreams, and optimism to manifest ideal situations.
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