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West Papuan pro-independence groups call for presidential election boycott
Selangkah Magazine - June 10, 2014
The call was conveyed together with KNPB Deputy Chairperson Agus Kosay at a press conference earlier this afternoon on Tuesday June 10 at Expo, Waena, in the West Papua provincial capital of Jayapura.
Logo said, "The KNPB and the West Papua National Parliament (PNWP) have jointly agreed that we as the media of the Papuan people will make a call that the NKRI [Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia] pilpres must be boycotted".
Logo said that there have been accusations and counter accusations recently between supporters of the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa and Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla presidential tickets.
In the interests of their campaign they raised human rights violations, such as the Mapnduma [Mapenduma], Bratayudha [Baratayuda] and other operation led by Prabowo Subianto in the land of Papua. Meanwhile the murder of West Papuan independence leader Theys Hiyo Eluay occurred during the leadership of former President Megawati Sukarnoputri who is now backing Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.
"Who is Megawati? Who is Prabowo? Don't just occasionally pawn off the issue human rights violations for the interest of campaigning for NKRI. Remember, our struggle, the Papuan people's struggle for independence is a pure and peaceful struggle", he asserted.
Logo continued by saying, "This is the way of the coloniser, and they are colonisers of the Papuan nation, not part of the West Papuan nation and it is they who are the actors of human rights violations in the land of Papua. We call on the United Nations to resolve the Papuan problem, bring the human rights criminals in West Papua [to court] immediately. Theys was a hero of Papuan independence, if this is their bargaining value it's up to them, we know Theys Hiyo Eluay was a hero of Papuan independence."
Kosay explained that the KNPB and the PNWP have carried out an 89 percent consolidation throughout the land of West Papua to boycott the July 9 presidential election. "We will carry out the presidential election boycott by democratic means", he said adding that if there are anarchic acts by certain rogue elements, the KNPB and the PNWP cannot be held accountable as organisations.
It is said that the NKRI was proclaimed on August 17, 1945, but the Papuan people were not involved in this. "Regardless of the agenda of the NKRI, it's not important for the West Papuan nation", said Kosay.
Because of this therefore, he asserted, first, its is very clear that Papua is not part of the NKRI. Second, whoever become the next president of Indonesia they will not pay attention to the plight of the Papuan nation, because they will only murder, rape and steal the natural resources of West Papua.
Third, the call for a boycott of the presidential election is the sole mandate of the people of the Papuan nation in the lead up to the NKRI presidential election in the mature consideration of the people who live in the land of Papua.
Fourth, we will conduct ourselves in accordance with international mechanisms, and this information will be circulated to all the indigenous people of the Papuan nation.
Fifth, today the international community supports the independence struggle of the Papuan people. The Papuan people in various parts of the country will boycott and be supported by all opposition groups in boycotting the 2014 presidential election.
Sixth, we covey our profuse thanks to the people of the Papuan nation in holding the boycott and we predict that of the 70 percent that took part in the legislative elections [on April 9], 30 percent will boycott the presidential elections.
Seventh, on the day the presidential election is held, we hope that the Indonesian military and police will not force the people to take part, and allow the public to interpret democracy in accordance with their individual understanding.
The call for a boycott of the 2014 presidential election in the land of Papua can be read here: http://majalahselangkah.com/content/seruan-knpb-pusat-boikot-pemilu-presiden-ri-9. (HY/SYO/MS)
[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski for the Indoleft news service.]
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