Written statement at the UN Commission on Human Rights' 60th Session, Item 10,15 March-23 April, 2004

1. The Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA) of the World
Council of Churches (WCC) submits that one of its primary tasks is to express
the common concern of the churches in the service of human need, the breaking
down of barriers between people and the promotion of the human family
in justice and peace. All its programme activities are accordingly conceived
and implemented in a way that expresses the basic Christian imperative to
participate in the struggle for human dignity and social justice for all God's
people and at the same time maintain the integrity of action and engagement
by the churches as rooted in the biblical faith. Churches are called to share in
God's mission of justice, peace and respect for all creation and to seek for all
humanity the abundant life which God intends. Within scripture, through
tradition and from the many ways in which the spirit illuminates the heart,
God's gift of dignity to each and every human person can be discerned.

2. The CCIA has a long history of involvement in the struggle for human rights.This involvement is based on the conviction that God wills a society in whichall can exercise full human rights. All human beings are created in God'simage, equal and infinitely precious in God's sight. This basic commitmentof faith was reflected in the Report of the 5th Assembly held in Nairobi, 1975.The Report under the Section "The Right to Basic Guarantees for Life" interalia noted:"No rights are possible without basic guarantees for life, including the rightto work, to adequate food, to guaranteed health care, to decent housing andto education for the full development of the human potential. Because womenhave the lowest status in most world communities their special needs shouldbe recognized.The ever-widening gap between the rich and poor nations has created todaya highly explosive situation in which millions are denied these rights. This isdue to a number of contributing factors, including the following:• the present international economic structures are dominated by a few richcountries who control a large proportion of the world's resources and markets.• transnational corporations, often in league with oppressive regimes, distortand exploit the economies of poor nations.• National economies are controlled in many cases by a small group of eliteswho also often give special access to trans-national corporations.• Patterns of land ownership are often exploitative.The right to the basic guarantees for life involves guarding the rights of futuregenerations, e.g. through protection of the environment and conservation ofthe earth's resources."These are prophetic words that lay bare the root causes of economic injustice.The validity of these words spoken around three decades ago have been furtherstrengthened by the present trend towards globalization of nationaleconomies, that has resulted in greater concentration of economic power inthe hands of a small minority. The forms of trade and investment liberalizationapplicable today tend to render national economies more vulnerable tooutside economic forces and their extra-national priorities, as the formationof political partnerships between national elites whose interests are served bythe dominant pattern of economic development. These new economic-politicalalliances have systematically removed from ordinary people the socialpower to order and direct their lives. The pressures for social regulation consignto the margins those who cannot sell their productive labour or thosewho resist processes of cultural and political integration and homogenisation.In the aftermath of September 11, the present coordinated global economicand political power is now systematically being undergirded by an increasinglyintegrated global military system of control.3. In the above context it is pertinent to quote from the presentation made byMr Bertrand Ramcharan, Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights inNew York on 10th November 2003, at a seminar organized by CCIA on "TheState of Human Rights Ten Years After the Vienna World Conference onHuman Rights (1993)". Speaking on the realization of economic, social andcultural rights, the Acting High Commissioner said:

"Notwithstanding this push for the integration of human rights, can one
say that there is better realization of economic, social and cultural rights
ten years after the Vienna Conference? It would be hard to answer this
question in the affirmative. Can one say that the work of the Commission
on Human Rights to advance the implementation of the right of development
has so far helped alleviate the plight of the poor? Again, it would
be difficult to answer in the affirmative. Perhaps the most significant activity
when it comes to the realization of economic, social and cultural rights
over the past ten years has been the development of human rights guidelines
for poverty reduction strategies. The guidelines promulgated by the
office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in 1992 are based on
the reasoning that strategies for poverty reduction should be based explicitly
on the norms and values set out in the international law of human
rights. Underpinned by universally recognized moral values and reinforced
by legal obligations, international human rights provide a compelling normative
framework for this formulation of national and international policies
of poverty reduction."

Summing up his presentation, the High Commissioner for Human Rights
said that ten years after the Vienna Conference, the challenge should be renewed
determination to counter gross violations of human rights, to promote democracy,
the rule of law, good governance and the strengthening of national protection
systems in every country of the world.

It remains a fact that while much progress has been made during the past
decades in the setting up of international norms and standards of human rights,
little or no progress has been made in the implementation of established rights.
There is lack of political will, resources and appropriate mechanisms at the
national level to ensure applicability of international recognized norms and
standards.

4. At the 59th Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights,
CCIA made a written submission with regard to the situation in Indonesia
with particular reference to the violations of social, economic and cultural
rights of the people of Papua. In its submission CCIA drew the attention of
the Commission to the violations of human rights of the Papua people as a
result of the discriminatory and unfair policies and practices of the Indonesian
government. The World Council of Churches, in a letter addressed to President
Megawati Soekarnoputri in September 2002, pointed to the deteriorating
human rights situation in the province as a result of such policies and practices.
It further said that the grievances of the Papuan people for equitable
sharing of economic resources and political power can only be addressed through
fair and honest implementation of the autonomy law. The way forward for the
government was to ensure the implementation of National Dialogue as the
people of Papua were committed to peace through a process of consultation
and multilateral decision- making.

5. The CCIA regrets to note that despite all efforts by the people of Papua to
seek an amicable solution to their grievances, the Indonesian government had
not shown any reciprocity. To the contrary, despite repeated appeals by the
people to revive the National Dialogue, the government has not only refused
to come to the negotiating table but it has also initiated actions in the province
that have resulted in unrest and conflict. The decision earlier this year to issue
Presidential Instruction No. 1/2003 that orders the implementation of the
1999 law to divide Papua, into three provinces - West Irian Jaya, Central
Irian Jaya and Papua - resulted in violence and conflict as a result of which
four people died and scores of others were injured. The hasty manner in which
this action of dividing the province into three parts was taken effectively lays
bare the territory's riches for a new layer of bureaucrats to exploit. The action
is yet another link in the chain of the Indonesian government's social, economic,
political and cultural policies, practised over the last five decades as a
result of which indigenous Papuans have suffered all kinds of discrimination,
human rights abuses, environmental exploitation and destruction, political
and cultural oppression. Papua's cultural and ethnic make up too, has been
radically altered. Since the province's incorporation by Indonesia, Papua's
population of 1.5 million people now has to share the territory with some
775,000 Indonesian migrants. The government policy of transmigration has
been deliberately targeted to alter the demographic complexion of the province.
Also, Papuans now face increased militarism and repression and have been
dispossessed and marginalized in their own land. If the current demographic
and health-care trends are allowed to continue, they may result in further isolation
and marginalization of indigenous Papuans.

6. The Special Autonomy Law passed by the House of Representatives in October
2001 provided a ray of hope to resolve the tension and conflict between the
people of Papua and the government of Indonesia. However, lack of political
will of the Indonesian establishment has stalled all meaningful negotiations
for just and lasting resolution of the conflict. During the last year, despite
promises of continuance of reforms, Indonesia witnessed the return of the military
to centre stage of civil and political life. The military and the intelligence
agency have been instrumental in championing Presidential Instruction
(1/2003) that effectively abrogates the special Autonomy Law by ordering
unilateral and arbitrary division of Papua into three separate provinces, each
with its own military command structures. This unwarranted action of the
government has closed all avenues of dialogue and has further destabilized an
already troubled province. It seems the government, by initiating such action
against the wishes of the majority of the Papuan people, has indicated that it
is not keen on the Papuan peoples' efforts for a non-violent process of conflict
resolution. The ongoing conflict in Papua can be resolved if the Indonesian
government shifts its pattern of rule in the province that relies on violence to
resolve differences and disputes.

7. The Indonesian government must reverse its policies that continue to exploitthe territory's natural resources for its own benefit. The benefit of these valuableeconomic resources should be used for the upliftment of the Papuan people.The revenue earned should be spent on education services, health-care,transportation and communication instead of being appropriated for the benefitof the predominantly urban-based trans-migrant population.8. The Commission should urge the Indonesian government to implement theautonomy law in consultation with the representatives of the Papuan people. Ifthis is not done the situation of confrontation and conflict is likely to furtherdeteriorate resulting in grave and serious human rights violations. The governmentof Indonesia must realize that the problems in Papua are primarily economicbecause of the failure of its development policies. Every effort thereforehas to be made to ensure that the Province of Papua gets its due share of the proceedsfrom the exploitation of its abundant natural resources and that the rightsof the Papuan people are duly recognized and economic justice guaranteed.