Recent disastrous AND destructive conflicts in the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua, a part of many years of violence against the Papuan people, have received little response from the United States, China and Indonesia’s neighbors.
Countries well-known for his or her commitment to human rights avoided making any comments or criticism. There was little, if any, comment from neighboring countries similar to the ASEAN bloc of Southeast Asian member states, Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Has the international community completely turned its back on Papua – an island with wealthy resources and potential, but with… the lowest human development index in Indonesia?
Indonesia’s strategic position in today’s geopolitical system helps explain this silence.
Influential and essential
Indonesia is geopolitically essential. As the largest archipelagic country in the world, Indonesia is positioned between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is the fourth most populous country with the largest Muslim population in the world.
Indonesia, as Southeast Asia’s largest market with a major Chinese diaspora, is very important to China and vice versa.
As a co-founder of ASEAN, Indonesia hosts its secretariat and makes significant contributions to the implementation of its key policies.
Indonesia e.g. proposed ASEAN’s Indo-Pacific Outlook and had all member states endorse it in lower than a yr. What makes the prospects higher than other initiatives for the vast Indo-Pacific region is the principle of inclusivity, which goals to be sure that the recent regional architecture is inclusive and open to all. This has propelled Indonesia even further onto the world stage.
No response from the big names
The US and China are key actors in today’s geopolitical configuration. Two worlds largest economies after all they’ve their very own national interests.
Because they are involved in an ongoing one trade wartheir balancing strategy is very important.
China is expanding its global influence through the Belt and Road Initiative. This global development strategy focuses on infrastructure development and investment.
Indonesia’s current administration is prioritizing massive infrastructure development, which is consistent with China’s global development strategy. Indonesia needs Chinese investments. In return, China needs Indonesia for its global expansion.
Thus, China doesn’t need to upset Indonesia, as Chinese infrastructure and investment interests in Indonesia are at stake. China’s lack of response on Papua might be also because the Chinese government has traditionally been less occupied with human rights issues.
At the same time, to guard its global interests, the United States recently launched its own Indo-Pacific Strategy Reportthrough which the geographical location of Indonesia is very important.
In addition to economic interests similar to investment in Freeport and mining production in Papua, the United States sees Indonesia as crucial to stability and progress in Southeast Asia – a key region in its Indo-Pacific strategy.
The United States is reluctant to comment on Papua. At last meeting between U.S. Assistant Secretary for Asia-Pacific Affairs David R. Stillwell and Indonesian President Moeldoko’s Chief of Staff, each senior officials avoided discussing Papua.
This bilateral relationship with Indonesia serves the interests of geopolitical players well. They see no reason to spoil their relations with Indonesia by criticizing the Papua issue.
The silence of the neighbors
In Australia, Human Rights Watch did just that expressed concerns on the situation, but the Australian government has not been so vocal.
As for ASEAN nations, the bloc is banned from them principle of non-interference even from insinuating concern for Papua.
Recently, 1000’s of residents of Papua New Guinea, which borders Papua, took part in the so-called solidarity march for West Papua. Yet the government of Papua New Guinea regards this issue as an Indonesian internal problem.
Action continues to be needed
Indonesia appears to have well implemented its rebalancing strategy through bilateral relations and is gaining support for its policy towards Papua. However, to proceed this streak, it is advisable to work hard.
If Indonesia mishandles Papua’s reluctance and commits human rights violations, military cooperation with the US will suffer. US the law prohibits cooperation with any party with a history of human rights violations.
Equally essential, Indonesia must align its interests in foreign investment with China’s economic interests in the country, especially in Papua, in order to not create further resentment amongst Papuans.
The Nduga the incident in Papua last yr is a reminder that infrastructure development projects are not all the time the best approach to reduce the economic and social gap between Papua and the remainder of Indonesia.
Keep your feet on the ground
Although geopolitical actors are individually reluctant to disrupt established bilateral relations with Indonesia, the international community doesn’t remain deaf to the pleas of the people of Papua.
Days after the death of 4 civilians at a rally in Jayapura on September 2, 2019, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights released statement of concern.
The office encouraged Indonesian authorities “to engage in dialogue with the people of Papua and West Papua about their aspirations and concerns, and to restore internet services and refrain from excessive use of force.”
The international community is currently observing Indonesia’s commitment to protecting the universal rights of the people of Papua.