By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

MANOKWARI, West Papua – There is growing concern about the possibility of escalating conflict in the Papua region of Indonesia in the wake of the death of the Free West Papua Movement leader, Kelly Kwalik.

Kwalik was the leader of Papua’s separatist movement and has been fighting for Papuan independence for the last 30 years. He was on Indonesia’s most wanted list for many of those years.

Kwalik was conducting a raid in the Papuan town of Timika. He led a group of separatists who have been fighting for independence from Indonesia for decades. Kwalik was killed in a shootout with the Indonesian police.

Police had been hunting Kwalik for a long time, searching through the vast jungles of the Indonesian province.

Agus Riyanto, a spokesman for the Papuan police, stated that Kwalik was shot while trying to escape the police.

For decades, the separatist movement has resented the Indonesian government. Guerrillas often launch hit-and-run attacks against Indonesian troops with bows and arrows and World War II-era rifles.

Amnesty International has accused the Indonesian police of abuses in the province, claiming that dozens of independence demonstrators have been wrongfully arrested and killed.

During the burial of Kwalik, tribal leaders continued to allege human rights abuses by the Indonesian government.

At the funeral, around 400 people followed the casket of Kwalik through the streets of Timika. Kwalik’s casket was draped in the outlawed Morning Star flag of Papuan independence (anyone who waves the Morning Star flag may be confined in prison for life).

The death of Kwalik has triggered anti-Indonesian protests and calls for independence for the Melanesian region.

Anger has been directed at the mine site Freeport McMoRan, which operates a huge gold and copper mine north of Timika, that has been at the center of allegations of rights abuses against Papuans.

Police blamed Kwalik for a series of attacks, including an attack on Freeport McMoRan. Kwalik allegedly led an attack that killed two employees of Freeport.

Kwalik had denied the allegations and some believe that the Indonesian security forces launched the attacks as a way of extracting more protection money from Freeport.

Papuan Customary Council spokesman Dominicus Serabut stated: “Freeport is responsible for the death of Kelly Kwalik and that is why Freeport must be shut down…General Kelly Kwalik was not involved in the shootings in the area of Freeport Indonesia.”

Those who supported Kwalik and his movement thought of him as “a brave fighter in the struggle to defend genuine truth and justice for the people of Papua, and for all the tribes on the face of the Earth who yearn to stand strong for these values.”

Since the death of Kwalik, the struggle for independence has taken a huge blow. Analysts said that Kwalik’s death may fuel anti-Indonesian sentiment, which underlies the need for talks with separatist leaders.

Analyst Muridan Widjojo, who has been involved in efforts to foster trust and dialogue between the two opposing sides, stated: “Kwalik’s death will intensify the Papuan people’s struggle for independence…There will be growing distrust among Papuans towards the central government. This is a strong reason why a peaceful dialogue becomes an urgent need.”

Although Kwalik was one of the most active commanders and was the backbone of the separatist movement, other militants can replace him.

Widjojo stated that at least six other leaders are still at large across the region and they could increase attacks on security forces and other Indonesian-ruled entities as revenge for Kwalik’s death.

He strongly suggests that there is no other way but to hold peaceful dialogue in order to prevent a possible backlash.

Before Kwalik’s death, there had been promotion of dialogue through the West Papua National Coalition for Liberations, an umbrella organization of independence groups that has been seeking talks with Jakarta.

Papuan human rights advocate Theo Hesegem condemned the shooting of Kwalik and said his death would only disrupts efforts to promote dialogue.

Hesegem stated: “If this kind of violent approach continues to be used, the Papuan people will become more convinced that they have to be separated from Indonesia.”

Australian academic Damien Kingsbury, of Deakin University, who was involved in the negotiations that clinched a peace deal in the Aceh region, believes that Kwalik’s death has created “new opportunities” for a settlement.

Kingsbury stated: “The death of Kwalik…may allow the West Papua Coalition an opportunity to streamline its internal negotiating position….The question will be, in his second and final term of office, whether Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is serious about taking up the option of negotiation.”

The Indonesia Human Rights Committee is calling for an internationally mediated dialogue between Papuan representatives and the Indonesian government.

The Committee also says that the New Zealand government should publicly back negotiation and dialogue as the “path to peace” in the region.

For more information, please see:
Pacific.Scoop – Kelly Kwalik Died to Free the People of Papua – 24 December 2009

Radio New Zealand International – New Zealand NGO calls for dialogue to ease Papuan tensions after Kelly Kwalik killing – 24 December 2009

Jakarta Globe – Kwalik’s Death Could Fuel Anti-Indonesia Sentiment in Papua – 22 December 2009

BBC News – Indonesia police ‘kill’ Papua separatist Kelly Kwalik – 16 December 2009