An Arso community leader, Tyam Tua, believes that in fifty years’ time,
the Papuan people will have ceased to exist
‘This is because the forests that are the source of their everyday
livelihood will have been completely cut down,’ he said
The development that is now underway does nothing to safeguard the
welfare of the Papuan people, he said.
Pastor John Djonga also holds the same views. ‘If the government and the
TNI continue to pursue their present policies, the Papuans will have
disappeared and all that will remain is the name. The many killings of
hundreds of indigenous people mean that they will not last more than
fifty years,’ he said.
‘Also, the felling of trees such as has been happening in Arso and
their replacement with palm oil plantations will make it very difficult
for the local people to make a living and stay alive.’
Though no reliable data is available, it is thought that the total
number of Papuans is around one and a half million.
Pastor John Djonga is also quoted as saying that the situation in Papua
is still under threat, with discrimination against the Papuan people
happening in all fields.
They suffer discrimination in education and in health. ‘Special autonomy
should have stopped this from happening,’ he said.
The Papuans are also being marginalised and elbowed out by non-Papuans.
He went on to say that the churches are struggling to overcome these
problems but they are accused of being separatists. ‘All we are doing is
trying to put an end to the many wrong things that are happening,’ he said.
It also happens when people are recruited for the civil service.
‘Discrimination is very clear and it is occurring to this very day.’