A

mid what has been perceived as government inaction over injustice in Papua, civil society organizations have rallied to support residents in the country’s easternmost region to exercise their right to self-determination through a referendum.

The groups, which have formed an alliance called the Indonesian People’s Front for West Papua (FRI-West Papua), said on Tuesday that a referendum would serve to end the “practice of colonization and militarism” in the restive region.

Announcing a plan to rally on Dec. 1, which is seen by West Papua liberation proponents as the province’s national day, FRI-West Papua spokesperson Surya Anta said the need for a referendum was a consequence of abuses carried out by the government that have resulted in a persistent lack of welfare in the region.

“It’s not possible for West Papuans to live normally if manipulation and deceit of history still persist, racial discrimination is deeply entrenched in every aspect of their lives, the slow-motion genocide continues systematically and extortion of natural wealth destroys their livelihoods and culture,” Surya told a press conference at the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) in Central Jakarta.

The group claimed that West Papua “never became a legitimate part of Indonesia”, taking into account what happened in Papuans’ act of free choice (Pepera), a referendum in 1969 that it claimed was “flawed”.

The group said only 1,022 individuals, less than 0.2 percent of the Papuan population at that time, were involved in Pepera, emphasizing that the participants had been put “under pressure” to express their consent to integrate with Indonesia.

Some 200 protesters from various organizations across the country, including those advocating for West Papua’s liberation, were due to join the Dec. 1 rally in Jakarta and several regions, Surya said. Alliance of Papuan Students (AMP) chairman Jefry Wenda confirmed to The Jakarta Post that his organization would partake in the demonstration.

National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said he had yet to be informed about the planned rally, adding that if it was meant to support a referendum for Papua, it could arose suspicion about a separatist movement. “It may violate Article 6, point (e) of the 1998 Freedom of Speech Law,” Boy said, referring to a provision stipulating that any protester is obliged and is responsible to maintain the unity and solidity of the nation when participating in a rally.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto has played down the issue of a referendum, saying the government would answer the call with sustainable development efforts in Papua and West Papua.