Atrocities continue in West Papua

THE atrocity in West Papua is gaining momentum each day.
West Papuans have been relentlessly struggling for decades to gain their freedom from Indonesia.
The way to autonomy seems no way near but the Papuans have firm conviction and confidence to achieve their dream one day.
Indonesia would hardly let go of its grip as it depends heavily on West Papua.
For a country to intervene or support West Papua on this struggle to gain autonomy would be an infringement and crime against a sovereign state.
Historically, the current situation in West Papua stems from firm colonial imperialism.
West Papua had been the colony of the Dutch in which it was subjugated strictly as a centre to obtain natural resources and a post for trading prospects.
At the end of Dutch rule, West Papua was left alone to fend for itself. It is quite different from Australian imperialistic ideology in Papua New Guinea.
Australia helped PNG to pave the way for autonomy until independence was finally gained in Sept 16, 1975.
A similar struggle is that of Palestinians to identify itself as a separate state due to its intrinsic historical differentiation in ethnicity, religiosity and cultural heritage from that of the Jews.
As such, from a anthropological point of view, West Papuans way of life, culture and tradition is purely Melanesian and that it has to be considered distinctively on this basis.
The concern raised by Gary Juffa expressing empathy and support for West Papuans shows real feeling of brotherhood as Melanesians.
The degree of atrocities caused to our brothers on the other side is an unequivocal violation of human rights and certainly requires the attention of the international community to intervene and find a solution to this prolonged struggle for autonomy.
To do the least is better than doing nothing to stop this inhuman acts happening in our neighbourhood.

Luwi James
Newtown, Madang