The Jakarta Post, August 10, 2004
Government must recognize, address the Papuans need for
democracy
Neles Tebay, Rome
It was the first time in the history of Papua that the Government of Indonesia
recognized the Papuans' need for democracy (The Jakarta Post, July 30, 2004).This
recognition is fundamental, not only for the Papuans, but also for the government and
the international community.
However, before addressing the Papuans' need for democracy, the government,
especially the working group on Papua at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, needs also
to comprehend the Papuan understanding of democracy.
Here I would like to share a Papuan concept of democracy -- that lived by the people
who belong to the Mee tribe in the central highlands of Papua -- as an example.
The majority of Mee people still cannot read and write. Being illiterate does not mean
being ignorant of democracy, however.
The core essence of democracy in the Mee tribe is well expressed by two words,
okaina mee, which literally means "he/she is also a human being". It implies that
everybody, regardless of opinion, status, profession, gender, religion or citizenship is
considered to be a human being, and therefore must be treated as a human being.
From this core grows four fundamental elements of democracy.
Since all human beings share the same human dignity, all are also equals. Equality,
then, is the first element.
As human beings, everyone also acts in an egalitarian manner, which is the second
element. One does not find in the culture of the Mee equivalent terms to Pak (Mr) or
Bu (Mrs), as relationships among people are characterized by the concept of ani-aki
or"I-you", rather than "I-it".
Social status, profession or gender do not determine one's human dignity. People
many have different roles in the community, but this does not define their dignity as
people.
Nobody is considered to be higher than the others in terms of human dignity.
For, "Only the Creator is the greatest" (Ugatame too ibo), while "We are all human
beings" (Inii ke mee too), as they to say.
The third element is the value of participation. An activity involving all members of the
community in a village is decided not only by one person, or a few members of the
community. It is and must be discussed by all members of the community.
The opinions of women and children are also respected. The importance of listening to
the opinions of women and children is well expressed in the local language by the
saying "Yoka-yagamo kaa mana na yuwii", which literally means, "The voices of the
women and children must be listened to and accepted".
The discussion of a commonplace activity or problem usually takes one or two days,
for every opinion must be taken into consideration.
Any decision taken by community, then, is the decision of all, for all community
members are involved in the process of decision-taking and decision-making. Here
one can see just how essential is the value of participation.
The fourth element is the value of independence. In the Mee culture, it is believed that
everybody is gifted by the Creator with the capacity to think, reflect and judge. These
gifts are collectively referred to as the dimi (mind). Using these gifts, one can think,
analyze and make judgments on things and events, and make personal decisions
independently. One must be responsible for any consequences generated by the
decision that has been made.
Thus, imposing one's will or interests upon others is not accepted as it goes against
the other person's independence.
While one may propose something, or challenge another person to ponder an issue
more deeply, the final decision will always be a personal decision made
independently.
All part of Melanesian culture, the other Papuan tribes share the same concept of
democracy, although its expression varies in accordance with their environmental and
geographical contexts.
Thus, the concept of democracy in Papuan culture is grounded on respect for human
dignity, and therefore contains the values of equality, egalitarianism, participation,
dialogue and independence.
From the above description, it is also clear that democracy, for the Papuans, is not
only the end of a process. It is also the way. A democratic society in Papua or in
Indonesia can be developed only through the democratic way.
Democratic society cannot be created through military operations, intimidation, terror
and other forms of oppression. All these are undemocratic and therefore demean
human dignity.
That's why the Papuans cannot accept a military solution to the Papua issue,
whatever its justification, because it attacks the very dignity of human beings.
In a military operation, the essential elements of cultural democracy such as equality,
egalitarianism, participation and independence are intentionally destroyed.
For the Papuans, peaceful dialogue is the democratic way to settle problems and to
create a democratic society.
In this light, it is clear why Papuans have been so insistently calling upon the
Government of Indonesia to engage in a peaceful dialogue, through the mediation of a
neutral, third party, to settle the Papua issue in a democratic way and to establish a
democratic society. These calls are grounded on the cultural concept of democracy.
If the government already knows the Papuans' need for democracy, then the
government should address this need by welcoming the Papuans' calls for peaceful
dialogue.
Eventually, what kind of democracy is offered to the Papuans by the government, and
how the government tackles the Papua issue will be very much determined by its
understanding of democracy.
The writer is an Indonesian postgraduate student at the Pontifical University of
Urbaniana in Rome.
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