Punishing conscience in Papua-On the anniversary of Papua’s historic day of Dec. 1, at least 306 Papuan students were arrested by the Jakarta Police

On the anniversary of Papua’s historic day of Dec. 1, at least 306 Papuan students were arrested by the Jakarta Police. In front of the public eye the police did not hesitate to deploy the usual tactics: dispersing the crowd by arresting them and keeping a few to feed the esprit de corps of the police. Despite the rally being legitimate and peaceful, the police insisted it was illegal and that they had acted to maintain public order.

 

How do we read this incident? This was not at all novel. On the contrary, it seems to be a ritual since the first Indonesian troops arrived in then West New Guinea in 1963.Out of their conscience, Papuans, especially the young generation, have expressed their political aspirations for national identity regardless of any risks of mistreatment. Their expression has met harsh treatment from state authorities. Many young Papuans have served long sentences in jail.

 

On Tuesday, two students were detained and charged with multiple offenses, including attacking police officers, group attack, assault and inciting hatred. Although the offenses carry lenient sentences, these charges have been used by the police to criminalize protesters and demoralize the resistance movement.

 

The incident was reminiscent of May 1 this year when 264 Papuan students were arrested by the Papua Police in Manokwari, Jayapura, Kaimana and Merauke on the same day. They expressed support for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua that bid for membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. The police deployed the same tactics.But from history we learn that repression generates the opposite impact on conscience to that intended. We can learn this from Filep Karma, one of Papua’s most prominent prisoners of conscience. In 2011 the UN Working Group of Arbitrary Detention declared that he was prisoner of conscience and should be released.

 

The government of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, however, simply ignored this verdict. He was just released from prison a couple of weeks ago after serving a 15-year jail term. Once freed, he is more determined to fight for independence than ever.For our state security services, Papuan students might be construed as noisy dissidents whose sphere of influence can be contained. One should not underestimate their power of conscience, however. We know of course that our Indonesian founding fathers’ determination to defend the Indonesian nation against Dutch colonial rule was indomitable. Sukarno, Sjahrir and Muhammad Hatta were among those who were more than prepared to be exiled. Instead of being demoralized, their exile only purified and consolidated their conscience that later led Indonesia to independence.

 

In a different context, the Algerian resistance movement experienced a similar trajectory when they engaged in a war against their French colonial rulers in 1954 to 1962. The war saw Algeria gain independence from France. Having been confronted with French repression, torture and counterterrorism strategies, the Algerian combatants only went from strength to strength.Of course, Papua is not Algeria. But the old saying that violence begets violence might be relevant and applicable. In the long run, the ongoing repression by state authorities of the young Papuans will not only galvanize their self-identification but more importantly, cement their revolt.French philosopher Julia Kristeva says revolt is distinct from revolution. While the latter is limited to a political sense, the former denotes “a very deep movement of discontent, anxiety and anguish” that leads to renewal of the mind and the life of a society, which is broader than politics. It encompasses “an integral part of a larger process of general anxiety, which is simultaneously psychic, cultural, religious, etc.”

 

Kristevan’s notion of revolt can inform our reading of the recent incident with the Papuan students. Their discontent, anguish and anxiety were publicly expressed. They have been demanding for change. Perhaps for now state authorities are more than capable of dispersing their rally and even punishing them. But we all know from our very own founding fathers that conscience cannot be contained. When these young people assume roles in their community and infuse their discontent, anguish and anxiety into their younger generation, who could confine their revolt?

 

For sure, it is a gradual process but it is also irreversible. If the government of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is determined to deal with Papua respectfully, it should revisit its repressive approach embedded in government policies toward Papua. If welfare is his top priority, the President should place Papua under the portfolio of the coordinating economic minister, not political affairs.Discontent, anguish and anxiety cannot be solved over night. But without tangible and visible change on the ground, revolt remains inevitable.

 

The writer Budi Hernawan, is a research fellow at the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM) Jakarta.