The recent news about the death of the 413 in famine and drought in Beliem valley of West Papua is surprising the OPM, primarily because it is a new phenomenon in the history of West Papua; a similar event has never occurred. This serious human tragedy is caused by human error; the lack of environmental accountability, slash and burning down of forests for plantation and illegal logging. The Suharto cronies, who have control over major logging companies in Indonesia and West Papua must take responsibility for crimes against humanity and environmental destruction. In September 1997, President Suharto publicly apologized for the fires. (Green Left, 15 October, 1997; 16, Sydney). But it is not enough to repair their bad image.

There is no doubt that the effects of the long standing drought have affected the lives of a considerable number of people and their environments in PNG, Sumatra and Kalimantan in Indonesia and West Papua. They died of hunger, thirst, and, most importantly, side-effects of the drought-related diseases such as illnesses, diaries, (sic -- maybe diarrhea) and malnutrition. We hope this similar human and environmental tragedy will not repeat again in the future.

The drought started already in March this year. Forum Kerjasama LMS West Papua (FOKER) in Hollandia (Jayapura) and Australian West Papua (Sydney) have already warned the local provincial and national governments of Indonesia and urged it to take immediate action. But the governments have been very reluctant to take any relief works, arguing that there is no money, transportation, or manpower. If there is no money, how have the Suharto cronies built a new empire using money (of which have been stolen) (sic) from West Papuan mineral resources. The fact is that Jakarta has not any political will to prevent further damages.

The misbehavior of the Suharto cronies was strongly criticized by the Chief of the political Bureau of the OPM, Mr. J. H. Prai, in Malmoe, Sweden, in expressing his discontent over the way these governments treated the whole disaster. The office condemned the government of Indonesia and said:

"I think the reluctance of these governments to undertake immediate relief work has some obvious reason. Jakarta does not want to see the survival of our people. They just want to exterminate us, so that they can take our land. Jakarta has already murdered hundreds and thousands of innocent civilians in West Papua, since the occupation of West Papua occurred in 1962. I believe Jakarta will appreciate this natural catastrophe as a way of exterminating the Papuans."

In combination with economic crisis and environmental disasters, the future of Indonesia is doubtful. The occupation of West Papua in 1962, East Timor in 1975 and the other island nations in the 1950s, and the ongoing domination in economy, politics and defense and corruption of the Suharto cronies has its own price. WAHLI, the environmental group of Indonesia has on a few occasions brought the Suharto cronies to court for their misuse of funds. (Ibid; p 17). Similarly, the regime must be punished for its past mistakes, by bringing it to the international court of justice for its crimes against humanity and the environment.

The drought and its consequences in West Papua is inter-connected with the Indonesian colonialization. Jakarta's reluctance to pump in funds in relief works reflect the colonial attitudes towards the Papuans, a systematic way of genociding the Papuans at the expense of environmental disasters. "Please, do not exterminate our people again. It is enough, that continually you had obliterated our people." This sentiment was expressed by the chief of the OPM, who then passed his respect and condolences to the victims and their families both in West Papua, in Indonesia and overseas and urged to government of Indonesia and the international community to take immediately the following actions.

• Provide accurate and transparent information about the conditions of the victims and their families, supplies and the accountability of the governments.
• Call the government and Freeport to take a humanitarian approach, providing basic humanitarian needs to the victims and their families.
• Allow international humanitarian and aid groups to intervene in the relief works.
• Call Jakarta to engage in a constructive talk between the OPM and the government of Indonesia settling differences regarding the root cause of the social-economic and political disparities, social unrest and drought and its long term consequences.
• Call the international legal community to bring the Suharto cronies, particularly those directly responsible, to the international court of justice for their crimes against humanity and environmental destruction.

Contact information:

OPM International Information Office
C/O:  Malmoe SSU Krets Olof Palmes Plats 1, 7th Floor,
S-214 44 Malmoe
Sweden

Telephone:  (46) 40 6607329
Fax:        (46) 40 6607342
E-mail:     mj37634@janus.swipnet.se
Postalgiro: 645 55 79-0