Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who assumed office on October 20, 2024, has announced the revival of the transmigration program, which encourages citizens to populate the country’s eastern region, including Papua — a province on the Easternmost side of the archipelago that has been fighting for independence from Java for decades. The Indonesian government said it seeks to promote the “people’s welfare,” but critics warn that the plan could further displace the Indigenous Papuan population.
Papua was annexed by Indonesia in 1963, but this was fiercely resisted by the local population and a self-determination movement continues to exist up to this day.
Indigenous Papuans have diverging ethnic roots from Javanese Indonesians as well as unique cultural traditions and histories. Papuans have long faced racism, discrimination, violence, and displacement from Indonesia, which has fought to keep the resource-rich province.
In an effort to further gain control of Papua and quash any rebellion movements, between 1964 and 1999, the government implemented a transmigration program that facilitated the resettlement of 78,000 families from Indonesia’s densely populated islands, such as Java and Sumatra, to Papua. During this period, witnesses testifiedthat “customary land was taken (and) forests were cut down” while the Indigenous Malind people were prohibited from speaking their native language. The program was paused in 2001, but unofficial transmigration has persisted.
In recent years, Indonesia escalated its military deployment, which led to intense clashes and militarization of communities. According to the United Nations, between 60,000 and 100,000 Papuans were affected by these operations.
Prabowo, a former military officer accused of abducting activists, was the son-in-law of the president who initiated the transmigration program. A few days after his inauguration, he visited Papua to check the progress in developing food estates intended to address the country’s food security. However, some Papuan groups have decried it as a deforestation program that threatens the region’s biodiversity and displaces local villagers.
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua highlighted the link between the transmigration revival and the forced conversion of forests into agricultural plantations:
It is not a coincidence Prabowo has announced a new transmigration programme at the same time as their ecocidal deforestation regime intensifies. These twin agenda represent the two sides of Indonesian colonialism in West Papua: exploitation and settlement. Indonesia only wants West Papua’s resources; they do not want our people.
The group’s leader saluted the Papuan students who organized protests against the transmigration policy:
Civil society group Civicus has monitored that attacks against peaceful protests in Papua have intensified ahead of Prabowo’s inauguration.
Papuan activists were shot at, faced intimidation for their advocacy as well as harassment and ill-treatment for their activism. Attacks and killing of journalists has persisted, including in Papua.
In addition, five new battalions were deployed, and at least 2,000 troops were sent to Papua in September and October.
Father John Bunay, chairman of the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission of Jayapura diocese, sounded alarm over the seizure of lands in Papua. “There are so many migrants coming to Papua. There has been a seizure of living space from the indigenous Papuan people by non-Papuans.”
The International Parliamentarians for West Papua has called on the Indonesian government to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to check the situation in Papua. The group also criticized the potential negative impact of reviving the transmigration program.
The aim of transmigration was to dilute the Indigenous Melanesian population, while securing control of West Papua’s rich natural resource base.
Transmigration has produced structural discrimination in education, land rights, and employment. There is a high level of income and wealth inequality between Papuans and Indonesians, while migrants dominate the labour market.
But Transmigration Minister Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara asserted that the program will not simply relocate people but “enhance the quality of human resources through socio-cultural approaches.” He added:
Our main focus is no longer merely the relocation of people, a measure misinterpreted as transferring poverty from one place to another in the past. Instead, we will exert all-out efforts to alleviate poverty, boosting people's welfare.
The warship, which is part of the 2024 Pacific Port Visit Task Force, completed its mission in 48 days of sailing since October 9, 2024.
KRI dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo-991 was returned to its headquarters in Sorong, Southwest Papua, on Monday (Nov 25), according to Head of the Information Service of the Indonesian Navy's III Fleet Command Lieutenant Colonel (S) Ajik Sismianto.
The arrival of the 2024 Pacific Port Visit Task Force, which sailed along KRI dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo, was welcomed by Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy's III Fleet Command First Admiral TNI Singgih Sugiarto and Head of the Southwest Papua Transportation Agency Victor F. Salosa at the Indonesian Navy Main Base XIV Sorong Pier.
"Thank you to all soldiers of the 2024 Pacific Port Visit Task Force who have shown extraordinary dedication, discipline, and fighting spirit,” First Admiral Sugiarto stated while reading a speech of the Indonesian Navy's III Fleet Commander Rear Admiral TNI Hersan during the welcoming ceremony.
According to Rear Admiral Hersan, the goodwill and humanitarian mission to the four Pacific countries aimed to support Indonesia’s foreign policy and was part of the efforts to protect national interests abroad.
"This activity is also expected to support confidence-building measures with countries in the South Pacific and emphasize Indonesia's presence in the South Pacific region," he noted.
In the four South Pacific countries, the Pacific Port Visit Task Force conducted various activities, including providing free health check-up and medical treatment services on board and handing over medical aid packages from the Indonesian government to the governments of each respective country.
Such momentum was also utilized to introduce the Indonesian-made hospital support ship KRI dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo-991, hold a reception on board and meet with Indonesian partners in each destination country.
“While carrying out their duties, the Pacific Port Visit Task Force has provided professional medical services—and they have worked wholeheartedly. They have become the spearhead of Indonesia's humanitarian diplomacy abroad," he remarked.
During a humanitarian mission to four countries in the South Pacific, the Indonesian warship transported all 177 task force personnel, comprising 141 ship crew as well as 36 task force staff, including the diving team, security forces, general practitioners and specialist doctors, students from Papua, and information officers.
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Translator: Genta Tenri Mawangi , Yashinta Difa
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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