Rev. Dr. Benny Giay is the head of Synod of Kingmi Church in West Papua – Jubi
Jayapura, Jubi – The submission of Papua human rights and political issues to the UN General Assembly’s plenary meeting is a historical fact that can not be avoided and should be a self-reflection for the Government of Indonesia, said the Chairman of Evangelist Church Synod in Papua the Rev. Benny Giay on Sunday (18/9/2016) in response the widespread of Papua issues in Pacific and the enforcement of the Pacific coutries leaders to take the West Papua issue to the UN General Assembly.
“For me, when the issue of Papua get to the UN General Assembly by the Pacific countries leaders, it justifies the view that it is the time for change,” said Giay, who also argued that after 50 years Papua in the hands of Indonesia, it’s time to change history.
“I think the voices of struggle of Free Papua is finally get to the UN General Assembly Plenary Meeting is natural. It should be. Because we are in the church believe that every 50 years the history must be reflected, as well as the Indonesian Government to reflect their action and progress of their civilization for 50 years that not taken any goods in Papua,” said Giay.
Benny Giay felt optimistic that the expectation of Papuan people who fight for their self-determination is undergoing a revival, especially because it is driven by resurgence in Pacific.
“What is happening in Pacific is the revitalization of human awareness. In my mind, the solidarity for the political right (independence) could be done professionally. But the revival in the Pacific is beyond that,” said Giay who further said this revival was referred to a great concern that Papuan nation would be extinct.
“The awareness of the extinction of a human nation and civilization underlined the profound solidarity for humanity in Pacific. We are in the church support it,” he said.
Papua Becomes Issue of State
Meanwhile, director of Elsham Papua Ferry Marisan said the progress of advocacy in Papua today until the UN General Assembly depends on the party who conducted the advocacy, which is the State.
“If advocacy for Papua human rights issues in Geneva, Switzerland was conducted by civilians, now Vanuatu and Solomon and even Tonga did it, the advocacy has risen to New York by the hands of the State,” said Marisan.
When Papua issue submitted to the UN General Assembly in New York, it means, said Ferry, it could become a discussion among other countries in addition to the Pacific.
“It’s not the first time because in the previous meeting Vanuatu talked about Papua issue. But the different in this year is the representative from Fiji would become one of the leaders of the hearings in the meeting. So we expect it could affect another countries in Africa, Europe and Latin America.”
Fiji Ambassador for UN who recently appointed as the President of the General Assembly Plenary Meeting on Tuesday (12/9) open the 71st session of the plenary meeting attended by 193 countries.
“We wait the result, which countries that would give supports, not only to the human rights issue but also on Papua referendum and the agenda to register Papua to Committee 24 of Decolonization,” he said.
Separately Victor Yeimo, KNPB General Chairman and ULMWP Working Group, thought it’s time for the UN to take the responsibility concerning to Papua political right. “UN must take the responsibility to resolve the political status of West Papua. Because it is the people power in ULMWP, together with the Pacific countries in Pacific Coalition for West Papua, it would endorse this issue to the UN Decolonization Committee to be able facilitating the referendum,” he said.
He also added that through that process, Indonesia would also be urged to stop the crime against humanity that continuously occurred in West Papua.
However, Ferry Marisan also reminded that this is the long time process and could be taken years for persuading another countries to support Papua. “Nevertheless, this recent achievement has opened the way to get there,” he said.
Both Marisan and Reverend Giay were not worried about the long process. According to Giay, in this globalization era, it is the time to get bigger opportunity because many eyes would witness what is happening. “The revival of the current solidarity is a sign of the human awakening and it is happened in the globalization era that could be recognized by all people through social media. I welcome it with optimistic,” said Giay. (*/rom)
