Since
I was born to this Earth, I have never felt colonized by anyone, because I
happened to be born not a period of Dutch or Japanese occupation. I am free to
be anywhere in all corners of Indonesia without any interference.
I
have never been treated with discrimination by my Indonesian brothers and
sisters regardless of their ethnicities. In fact I saw many Brothers of the
Native Papuans who married people from the other ethnicities other than Papua.
There
is none of Rights owned by non-Papuan Indonesians that are not owned by the
Native Papuans in the life of nation and state. Instead, there are many special
privileges owned Native West Papuans that are not owned by other Indonesians. I
have traveled to almost the entire territory of Indonesia. In there, Papuans
are not called migrants, but in Papua non-West Papuans are called “settlers”
and “natives”.
In
West Papua I rarely see Native Papuans who have kiosks, can farm in a modern
way, become a successful fisherman, or a carpenter like my other Indonesians.
This means that if Papua separates from Indonesia, then Papua’s development
will reverse 2 centuries back. To be honest, in general, Native Papuans need
other people from other ethnicities. Therefore I want to encourage My Brothers
Native Papua people to be willing to keep learning and working hard so that all
the Native Papuans can achieve a better standard of living.
I’ve
traveled to how many neighboring Malenesia States. I have never found any
country in the Malenesia Regions that are more advanced and prosperous than
West Papua. In fact, almost all the basic needs of PNG Residents are supplied
from West Papua. Unlike West Papua, our neighboring Melanesian States are under
control of foreign-Western countries.
In
West Papua, almost all the basic needs of Native Papuans are sent from other
provinces in Indonesia, and vice versa. So if West Papua separates from
Indonesia, then all the basic necessities of West Papuans will be imported from
outside of West Papua. How miserable Papua would be if it happens, especially
if we are embargoed.
The
historical fact proves that West Papua never stands alone in a self-government.
There has never been a Papuan kingdom. But there is only the Dutch colonial
agents that paid a bunch of traitors, gave them the Morning Star Flag and the
Hai Tanahku Papua song which was then regarded as the national anthem. All the
symbols of ‘the puppet state’ are purely artificial, created by the Dutch, and
certainly not done by the work or creation of the Native Papuan themselves. So
where is the pride and honor of West Papua?
Indonesia
has always been accused of human rights violations and Genocide against Native
West Papuans, but the fact since our ancestors of Native people of Papua to
modern times now, there are always tribal wars. Just because of a little
problem, we could kill each other. I do not know how many thousands have fallen
victim to tribal wars. It is clear that it is the Indonesian government,
through its security apparatus, keeps trying to reconcile and empower us West
Papuans.
In
the context of law and government, Native West Papuans are not distinguished
from other ethnicities. Many of the Native Papuans have become ministers, Army
Generals, even the entire Governors and Regents / Mayors in West Papua are all
Native Papuans. I am optimistic that one day the President of the Republic of
Indonesia will be a Native Papuan as long as we want to study hard to enrich
our skills and insight.
I
am very in love and proud of being West Papuan, but I am mush more proud as a
being part of Indonesia. Because if I just became a Papuan, then I am dwarfed.
But if I am Indonesian I am rich. I can have Java Island, Bali, Sulawesi,
Kalimantan, Maluku, Sumatera etc. And I have thousands of friends and family of
other ethnicities and of various religions in Indonesia. Because Indonesia was
formed not on the basis of races religions, ethnicities, etc. But Indonesia was
formed on the basis of Bhineka Tunggal Ika (Different but still one).
In
commemorating the day of West Papua’s return to Indonesia, the 1st of May.
Unity
regards, JHON
KOGOYA
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