Political Reviews

7KH5HJLRQLQ5HYLHZ,QWHUQDWLRQDO,VVXHVDQG(YHQWV nic maclellan

0HODQHVLDLQ5HYLHZ,VVXHVDQG(YHQWV david chappell, jon fraenkel, solomon kantha, muridan s widjojo

7KH&RQWHPSRUDU\3DFL²F9ROXPH1XPEHU¥ ‹E\8QLYHUVLW\RI+DZDL©L3UHVV

351 394 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:2 (2013) kol, Kanaky Online. Daily blog. injured), 2012 saw a higher number http://fr.groups.yahoo.com/group/kanaky of violent cases (67 instances resulting Lanteigne, Marc. 2012. Water Dragon? in 45 deaths and 120 injured). The China, Power Shifts and Soft Balancing in number of casualties during 2012 was the South Pacific. Political Science 64 (1): lower than in the previous year only 21–38. http://pnz.sagepub.com/ because 2011 saw three communal mnp, Madoy–Naku Press. Kanaky New clashes during the local election in Caledonia news site. http://madoy- Puncak in which casualties were high nakupress.blogspot.com (35 dead and about 500 injured). In line with the government’s secu- NC, Les Nouvelles-Calédoniennes. Daily. Noumea. http://www.lnc.nc rity policy, the political policy during 2012 looked stagnant on the surface. pir, Pacific Islands Report. East-West The government tried to maintain an Center, Honolulu. http://pireport.org image that Papua was under control. Wesley-Smith, Terence. 2007. China in Disturbances were framed as minor Oceania: New Forces in Pacific Politics. and insignificant. The real policy, Pacific Islands Policy 2. Honolulu: East- hidden from the public and civil West Center. society, was implemented behind the scenes. Intelligence units associated with the military/police/civil govern- ment bodies as well as formal intel- Papua ligence bodies such as Badan Intelijen In 2012 the Government of Indonesia Negara (bin, the State Intelligence failed in dealing with the sporadic Agency) and Badan Intelijen Strategis attacks by the armed resistance groups (bais, the Armed Forces Strategic called the Free Papua Movement Intelligence Agency) played a domi- (Organisasi Papua Merdeka [opm])– nant role. But among these intelligence National Liberation Army (Tentara units there is a lack of coordination, Pembebasan Nasional [tpn]) and and rivalries are rampant. The over- other “unknown persons.” As far as arching goal of “defending the sover- their responsibility for this failure is eignty of Indonesia” is not formulated concerned, the Indonesian government in a clear policy but rather emerges in sometimes showed its frustration by reactionary and ad hoc ways. blaming difficult geographical condi- This closed political policy reflects tions, limited numbers of personnel, the dominance of old political play- and lack of equipment. Even though ers within the central government the challenges were greater this year, bureaucracy, who were mostly high the security policy of the government officers recruited from the army. These was similar to that of 2011 and did officials tend to look down on Pap- not succeed in coping with the com- uans. The situation is worsened by plex reality. In general, it did not dem- a deep mutual distrust between the onstrate to the public that the state government and the people of Papua. was present and that laws were being The resulting policy has constructed a enforced justly. Compared to 2011 (38 political configuration overwhelmed attacks resulting in 52 deaths and 573 by intrigue, rumor, suspicion, and political reviews ‡ melanesia 395 character assassination among politi- ber 2011 only focused on social and cal factions, nongovernmental organi- economic issues. What the special zation activists, journalists, and even envoys of the president had arranged security officers and tpn/opm fight- with Papuan leaders in Papua in 2011 ers. Mutual mistrust and fear, which in terms of dialogue was not followed have grown for so long, continued to up by the president himself. The old spread steadily in 2012. political players, under the umbrella of For its part, the tpn/opm retained the Coordinating Ministry of Political, its usual pattern of movement in 2012, Legal, and Security Affairs (includ- but the organization also produced a ing the bin, the home ministry, and new group and became more active the army) maintained a status quo, in hunting for weapons from the security-heavy policy. Many Papuan police and the military. The Paniai leaders, mostly the well-educated and Puncak Jaya regions were more moderates, now question the goodwill dynamic, while the Kerom group, of the government. led by Lambert Pekikir, was quieter The central government is aware due to the pressure being applied by of the political and security difficul- a military operation. The Jayapura ties. As compensation, the government group shrank, as its leader, Danny has been giving greater attention to Kogoya, has been detained since Papua development. During the period September 2012, while a new fighting 2002–2012, funds provided under spot emerged in Lanny Jaya (Tiom). the special autonomy law (otsus) The latest trend shows that the action amounted to Rp 28.4 trillion (us$1 locus and guerilla fighters are concen- is the equivalent of approximately trated mostly in the highlands—areas 9,650 Indonesian rupiah, or Rp). For where the police and army presence 2009–2012, the otsus budget for is growing. The tpn/opm sees these West Papua Province amounted to Rp police officers and soldiers as targets, 5.2 trillion. The funds were primar- ambushing them when possible to ily for infrastructure development, confiscate weapons and to increase with Papua Province receiving Rp their reputations. 2.5 trillion and West Papua Province The political will of the government receiving Rp 2.2 trillion. In the 2013 to employ peaceful means of solving national budget, the otsus funding the Papua conflict appeared more for Papua Province has been increased clearly at the end of 2011 and during to Rp 4.3 trillion and for West Papua the early part of 2012. On 9 Novem- to Rp 1.8 trillion. However, the ber 2011 and again on 2 February development implementation has been 2012, President Yudhoyono stated hampered by corrupt practices—funds that the government was prepared have been intercepted at lower lev- to hold open dialogue with Papuan els—and the lack of capacity of the leaders. However, the dialogue did local governments. The main prob- not materialize in 2012. The Unit for lems remain in the basic education Acceleration of Development in Papua sector and health services (subdistrict and (West) Papua Barat (up4b) that and village clinics), as well as in the the president established in Septem- economic empowerment of the people. 396 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:2 (2013)

Significant improvements have been The Papua Legislative Body (Dewan seen in several districts/municipalities Perwakilan Rakyat Papua, or dprp), in the development of education and under the law of special autonomy, health facilities, but these have not felt entitled to conduct a registration yet been accompanied by the presence of prospective governors and deputy of adequate officers, so the quality governors, and it did so unilaterally. of service is still problematic. In the This process, however, was rejected midst of this situation, the government by the General Elections Commis- created up4b. sion of Papua (kpu Papua). The long up4b started operations in the debate over this process resulted in beginning of 2012 and became the the general election being stalled. The new coordinator of socioeconomic question of who had the authority to development, filling in the blanks conduct the gubernatorial election was between development actors, espe- brought to the Constitutional Court cially various development programs (Mahkamah Konstitusi, or mk), which funded by the national budget (called decided on 12 September 2012 that the Anggaran Pendapatan Belanja kpu Papua had the authority. How- Negara, or apbn). Thanks to its ever, the court also found that the efforts at facilitation and mediation, registration process already completed a number of decision-making bottle- by dprp could be considered valid. necks hindering implementation of Toward the end of 2012, another construction were overcome. During election-related issue arose. On 14 2012, a number of affirmative policies December 2012, kpu Papua decided were put in place allowing the accel- that the most recent governor, eration of infrastructure development. Bar nabas Suebu, and his running However, the ultimate success and mate, John Tabo, did not qualify to consistent implementation of up4b’s stand in the election because they efforts depend on the performance of lacked the required level of sup- the various ministries and agencies port—15 percent—from politi- as well as the local governments. If cal parties. These two candidates, the weaknesses of the ministries and known as Bas-John, claimed that related agencies are not addressed and they were supported by eight par- the capacity of the local governments ties with eighteen seats, or 32.13 remains low, then the facilitation and percent, but during the verification mediation conducted by up4b will not process kpu Papua determined that be effective. Bas-John was supported by only six The term of office for the governor parties, representing only four seats, of Papua Province officially expired or 7.14 percent. The Bas-John team on 25 July 2011, but by the end of did not accept the determination of 2012 no gubernatorial election had kpu Papua and vowed to seek legal been held. Over this period, Papua redress. Despite the ongoing Bas-John Province has had no definitive gover- lawsuit, kpu Papua announced that nor and vice governor. At first there the voting would be conducted on 29 was a dispute over who actually had January 2013. Six pairs of candidates the authority to conduct elections. were set to contest the election: Lukas political reviews ‡ melanesia 397

Enembe-Klemen Tinal, Habel Suwae- public services. In fact, very few new Yop Kogoya, Manase Kambu-Blasius districts are experiencing any improve- Pakage, and Alex Hesegem-Marthen ment in public services. Conversely, Kayoi were all supported by political conflict between clan-based elites has parties, while Wellington Wenda- increased, corruption is widespread, Waynand Watory and Noak Nawipa- and the absence of district heads is Johanes Wob were running indepen- high. In order to avoid demands and dently. public protests, the district heads Until 1999, the Province of Irian and their inner circles spend sig- Jaya (renamed “Papua” in 2000) nificant amounts of time and state had only 9 districts and munici- funds around Jakarta instead of in palities. In line with the move toward their home districts. In Jakarta, or regional autonomy and decentraliza- the provincial capital Jayapura, they tion throughout Indonesia, a policy enjoy a life of luxury living in hotels, of regional division (pemekaran) driving luxurious cars, and marrying was implemented in Papua by Law non-Papuan women. Most are able to 45/1999. Since then, the number of buy a new home or apartment out- autonomous administrative units (dis- side Papua. Many of the local elites tricts) has increased rapidly. In 2012, fight for division primarily in order there were two provinces: Papua (with to exploit the political and financial as many as 2,833,381 inhabitants resources of the State. Nevertheless, in 2010) with one municipality and Minister of Home Affairs Gamawan 28 districts, while West Papua (with Fauzi said that the government will as many as 760,422 inhabitants in not stop the division and has pre- 2010) has one municipality and 12 pared a grand design for Papua with districts. In total there are 40 districts as many as five provinces. Even dprp and two major cities, with an overall Chairman John Ibo says that ideally population of 3,593,803. Based on Papua Province will be divided into the total number of inhabitants, the seven regions, based on customary new districts are already dispropor- territorial division. tionately small. However, the demand The new faction of the Papua for further division continued in 2012. People’s Congress III, which pro- On 13 July 2012, the dprp formally claimed a new Federal Republic of decided that 18 new districts could Papua in October 2011, shrank as it be created. Going further, the spokes- garnered little public support from person for the dprp said that 21 new Papuans and its main leaders were districts could be established in Papua jailed. During 2012, street politics Province, while West Papua Province was dominated by the West Papua also proposed creating 9 new districts National Committee (Komite Nasi- and even one new province. onal Papua Barat, or knpb), which The normal basis of division organized around twenty demonstra- is intended to narrow the span of tions. The main political agenda of government control, increase the knpb is a referendum on Papuan government’s connection to the independence. To pursue this goal, community, and ultimately improve knpb is relying on International 398 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:2 (2013)

Lawyers for West Papua (ilwp) and daily newspaper Suara Pembaruan International Parliamentarians for reported intimidation of thirty jour- West Papua (ipwp), which promise to nalists, including Victor Mambor, a bring the Papuan cause to the Inter- Papuan and chairman of the Alliance national Court. Consequently, knpb of Independent Journalists (Aliansi rejects any political agenda imposed Jurnalis Independen, or aji) of Jaya- by Jakarta. pura. knpb Deputy Chairman Mako Unfortunately, this year knpb Tabuni publicly stated that “we are engaged in more hostile and even opposed to all journalists and the violent conduct. For example, on 20 media in Papua and Indonesia. . . . If February 2012, knpb rallied to reject any of them still reports knpb activi- the creation of up4b and demanded ties, then knpb will kill him or her a referendum in the office of the and the office will be turned to ashes” Papuan People’s Council (Majelis (6XDUD3HPEDUXDQ6 May 2012). The Rakyat Papua, or mrp). Mobilizing same threat was also repeated during a 300 people, it forced mrp members large knpb demonstration on 19 May who were attending the speeches to 2012 that was focused on calling for remain against their will in the hot a referendum and rejecting the Indo- sunshine until the event ended. On 20 nesian government policies, especially March 2012, during the visit of United regarding local or provincial elections. Nations Secretary- General Ban Ki- On 3 June 2012, a non-Papuan moon, knpb mobilized its supporters student, Jimmy Purba (age nineteen), to stop traffic in Abepura and extort was found dead. The police indicated money from drivers. To make it worse, that the culprit was one of knpb’s protestors also blocked the gate of supporters who was participating in Cenderawasih University campus and a knpb motorcycle convoy in Waena. dispersed students who were having On 4 June 2012, when their march classes. was blocked by the police, about On 1 May, one knpb member, 500 supporters of knpb vented their Terjoli Weya, was shot and killed by anger with vandalism and attacks “unknown persons” (orang tak kenal, on migrants’ houses in Kampung or otk) in Abepura. The shooting Harapan. Two people were injured occurred when Weya boarded a truck during the violence. Mako Tabuni along with other members of knpb really shocked the public when he after a demonstration. The next day spoke out against the detention of a non-Papuan, Dedy Kurniawan (age knpb chairman Bukhtar Tabuni on twenty-eight), fell victim to an arbi- 7 June 2012 at the dprp office. He trary attack, which was perceived by blamed the detainment on dprp mem- knpb supporters to be revenge for the bers and expressed his anger by threat- previous day’s shooting. ening all dprp members openly: “We knpb has also displayed a nega- will hunt the members of dprp door tive attitude and unfriendly behav- to door in their houses. We will even ior toward journalists since March empty the offices” (Jawa Pos National 2012. From the knpb perspective, Network, 9 June 2012). all journalists are pro-Indonesia. The In addition to the numerous open political reviews ‡ melanesia 399 acts of hostility, the police alleged of democracy. During protests, its that Mako Tabuni was also involved leaders and supporters have shown in seven other cases of violence in a hostile attitude toward those not Jayapura, including the shooting of part of the group by threatening and a German citizen. On the morning carrying out violent actions against of 14 June, Tabuni was shot dead civilians, as well as other criminal by a special plainclothes police team acts. Due to their actions, knpb has when they attempted to detain him lost some legitimacy and public sup- near Cenderawasih University. The port for its cause, especially among killing enraged knpb supporters and migrants and coastal Papuans. Addi- sparked violent riots in which hun- tionally, the group faced the legal dreds of people attacked non-Papuans ramifications of its members’ actions and destroyed a number of proper- since the police had enough justifica- ties. Four migrants were mortally tion to search and detain its leaders. wounded. At the funeral ceremony of After the death of Mako Tabuni, Tabuni in Sentani, around 600 people the police intensified investigations were present. There were rumors that into knpb leaders suspected of crimes the ceremony would turn into a riot, in various districts in Papua and West but due to the large number of secu- Papua. In Timika on 23 September rity units present who were prepared and 19 October 2012, eleven leaders for that possibility, the anticipated riot and members of knpb were inter- did not take place. rogated and released. A camera and The details of the shooting of a laptop were seized. In Jayapura Mako Tabuni are disputed and pos- on 2 October 2012, the police also sible human rights violations were interrogated knpb leaders as they raised, not only by knpb, but also by disembarked from the passenger vessel local nongovernmental organizations Labobar. Reacting to these incidents, and the Baptist church. According the new knpb chairman, Victor Yeimo, to knpb, the police shot Tabuni five condemned the police for treating times without warning when he was knpb leaders arbitrarily. On 1 Octo- chewing betel nut with two of his col- ber 2012, the police searched the leagues, and he later died at the hospi- knpb secretariat in Wamena. Police tal. Conversely, the police claimed that found dangerous materials including Tabuni resisted arrest and tried to grab a pipe bomb with a 16 cm detonator, their weapons. Furthermore, the police one 200 ml bottle bomb, traditional found a Taurus revolver and sixteen weapons such as bows and arrows, bullets in Tabuni’s bag. Unfortunately, and a number of long machetes, along there has been no independent inves- with knpb and tpn/opm symbols and tigation into the shooting, so it has documents. Nine people—the owners turned into a political football. of these items and allegedly members During the second half of the year, of knpb—were detained. knpb tried to behave more peacefully. On 18 October 2012, police However, while knpb’s campaign did uncovered incriminating evidence expand the democratic space, it failed when three kilograms of TNT powder to maintain the nonviolent principles (allegedly intended for a high-explo- 400 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:2 (2013) sive bomb) were found in Kurulu, trolled by highlanders. Most of the around ten kilometers from Wamena demonstrations happened peacefully, town. After two more kilograms of except in Manokwari, where a clash explosives was found in the Wamena between police and supporters of area, police suspected that the knpb knpb occurred. Police also dispersed was training its members to assemble the demonstrations in Jayapura and bombs there. Based on the information Fakfak without opposition from obtained from the arrested suspects, knpb supporters. the knpb have been planning to bomb On 20 November 2012, knpb public facilities. They are alleged to celebrated its sixth anniversary with have tried to detonate a bomb in the prayer services in Jayapura and Jayawijaya local parliament build- Merauke. In Jayapura, there was ing on 1 September 2012 and at the heavy police and army surveillance Jayawijaya Police Post on 18 Septem- during the prayers. Hostilities almost ber 2012. Police have added five knpb erupted when the police tried to stop activists to the list of Wanted Persons a speech by knpb Chairman Victor (Daftar Pencarian Orang, or dpo). Yeimo. Though the scene was quite The searches and arrests contin- tense, the worship service went well. ued through the end of 2012. On 16 Similarly, the ceremony in Merauke December 2012, police and army joint was quiet and went smoothly. The forces arrested six knpb activists in first of December is always celebrated and around the headquarters of the as the anniversary of West Papua’s Papuan Customary Council (Dewan “independence.” This year on that Adat Papua, dap) in Balim Valley, day, Yeimo was captured as he was Wamena. They allegedly were involved leading a long march from Waena in a plot to bomb public facilities. In toward the tomb of the great Papua Kurulu, where some of the explosives leader Theys Eluay in Sentani. He were found, two knpb activists were was taken to the Abepura police post shot, allegedly by a joint force of for questioning. Despite his detain- police and army. ment and the usual tight security, the knpb members did not lessen 1 December prayer celebration at the their opposition, even though Mako tomb of Theys Eluay was peaceful. Tabuni had been executed and the Other cases of violence occurred repressive searches by the police during 2012. Nine shooting incidents increased sharply. This was shown by took place in Puncak Jaya, which their willingness to organize multiple resulted in around 15 people being demonstrations on 23 September shot, including 1 member of the tpn/ 2012 to support the activities of the opm and 2 members of the police/ ilwp/ipwp in London. knpb managed army. Out of the 15 who were shot, to simultaneously hold demonstra- 3 people were killed. In the first week tions in eight districts/municipalities of the New Year, armed confronta- in the land of Papua and one each tions were started by the tpn/opm in Makassar and Manado. This when army troops from Infantry shows that the knpb network has Battalion 811 Nabire stationed around been expanding and is mostly con- Mulia were intercepted. Lindiron political reviews ‡ melanesia 401

Tabuni, one of the members of the protest openly and demand security tpn/opm, was shot. The military assurances. seized an ss1 firearm and seventy-five The tpn/opm in Paniai were not as bullets from Tabuni. Apart from this, active as their compatriots in Puncak real encounters between the police/ Jaya, with only four recorded cases of army and the tpn/opm were rare. violence in 2012. The casualties as a It was alleged that tpn/opm mostly result of these incidents were rela- ambushed their targets. For example, tively low, with 2 civilians killed and on 20 January 2012 at Mulia Lama, 1 injured, while 2 police officers were Krisna Rofik, a migrant settler who killed and 1 was injured. Most of the was keeping his stall, was approached tpn/opm actions here were ambush by three OTK and shot for unknown shootings. For example, on the eve- reasons. On 28 January 2012, a ning of 16 August 2012, one migrant member of the Mobile Brigade was shot dead by OTK near the Obano Sukarno was shot in the left cheek and airport, while his friend was shot killed. He and twelve other soldiers and injured in his left hand. On 21 were guarding a private contractor’s August 2012, Police Brigadier Yohan heavy equipment for a road project in Kasimatau was shot in the chest and the Wandigobak subdistrict. killed by unknown persons, possibly It appears that the tpn/opm now tpn/opm from the direction of Paniai not only targets migrant settlers or Lakes. The victim was washing a car individual members of the police/army when he was targeted, and the per- but also seeks to disrupt transporta- petrators escaped in speedboats after tion. On 8 April 2012, a Trigana Air seizing police firearms. Kasimatau was Service plane that had just landed at evacuated from Enarotali to Nabire, Mulia airport was attacked by the and then his body was sent to Jay- tpn/opm. Four people were injured, apura for an autopsy. including the pilot and copilot, One attack, allegedly by the tpn/ and one passenger, local journalist opm, took place in a new area Leiron Kogoya, was killed. Indo- of resistance, Lanny Jaya. On 27 nesian President Susilo Bambang November 2012, a police post in Yudhoyono urged that the perpetra- Pirime was ambushed by about fifty tors be arrested. This incident led to attackers. Police Chief Rolfi Takubesi the suspension of flights into Mulia and his two subordinates were shot and pushed a number of migrants dead and burned inside the post. to take refuge in Wamena. Regular The police explained that the attack- flights into Mulia remained suspended ers were from a new group of tpn/ until the end of June 2012, with only opm led by Yani Tabuni. The group one or two charter planes operating. also seized three revolvers and two Supplies ran low as all the needs of assault rifles. In reaction, the police the city and the surrounding area had sent members of the Mobile Brigade to be filled by limited road transport platoon and one special team of the between Wamena to Mulia. The Papua police to pursue the perpetra- shootings terrified migrant settlers and tors. On 27 November 2012, one of led them, especially public workers, to Puncak Jaya opm’s prominent leaders, 402 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:2 (2013)

Goliath Tabuni, denied that his group ing and have been searching for the was involved in the attack. Chairman perpetrators. It was during this search of the Lani Pago Papuan Customary when the police shot Mako Tabuni, Council (dap) Lemok Mabel insinu- one of knpb’s important leaders. On ated that the incident had been engi- 20 July the police also shot dead Pieter neered by the government. Penggu, who was the village head in Timika and the Freeport mining Tolikara District. Penggu is believed area were relatively quiet in 2012. In to have been involved in knpb–tpn/ February, three shooting cases took opm–related activities. However, the place within the mine’s concession reason for the killing was unclear and area, resulting in three deaths and four almost no one has questioned this. injuries. The victims included police muridan s widjojo and civilians. It was difficult to be sure whether the perpetrators were Appreciation to Meki Wetipo, who tpn/opm members or an army unit. helped collect materials for this review. This latter suspicion always emerges, as the rivalry between the police and the army for control of security in the References Freeport area is still rampant. On 23 June 2012, a group of tpn/opm tried Antaranews.com. http://www.antaranews to seize weapons from a police officer, .com/ but his colleagues helped him fend Bintang Papua. Daily. Jayapura. Online at off the attackers. It was clear that the http://bintangpapua.com/ perpetrators were tpn/opm members, Cenderawasih Pos. Daily. Jayapura. Online as the police saw them. at http://www.cenderawasihpos.com/ From May through July, the inhab- itants of Jayapura were caught in Detikcom. Indonesian online news portal. fear as about eleven reported violent http://news.detik.com/ incidents took place, mainly shoot- jpnn, Jawa Pos National Network. ings. Most of the perpetrators were http://www.jpnn.com/ unknown. At least 12 lives were taken kbr68h. Radio news agency. Online at and 3 persons injured. The victims http://www.kbr68h.com/ were varied: 9 migrant settlers, some of whom worked for a military-related knpb, Komite Nasional Papua Barat. Organisasi pergerakan http://knpbnews institution; 1 highland Papuan; 1 .com/ and http://knpbsentanidotorg German citizen; and 3 army soldiers. .wordpress.com/ The series of killings started on 1 May with a mysterious death of a highland Kompas. Daily. Jakarta. Online at Papuan, followed by the death of a http://www.kompas.com/ migrant the next day. The German, Koran Tempo. Daily. Jakarta. Online at Dietma Pieper, was shot when he http://www.tempo.co/ was enjoying the warmth and beauty Laporan Hasil Investigasi: Koalisi of Base G Beach near Jayapura on Masyarakat Sipil untuk Penegakan Hukum 29 May. The police believe that knpb dan ham di Papua, 2012 (Report of Inves- people were involved in the shoot- tigation: Coalition of Civil Society for the political reviews ‡ melanesia 403

Rule of Law and Human Rights in Papua, stitutional and leadership crisis in the 2012). Unpublished nongovernmental history of the country. The crisis put organization report. to test the thirty-seven-year-old consti- Majalah Selangkah.com. tution, challenged the principle of the http://majalahselangkah.com/ separation of powers among the three MediaIndonesia.com. arms of government (executive, leg- http://www.mediaindonesia.com/ islative, and judicial), and shook the foundations of the Westminster system Merdeka.com. http://www.merdeka.com/ of government adopted by Papua New Papua Pos Nabire. Papua Pos Lokal Guinea. Additionally, business houses Network. http://papuaposnabire.com/ and landowners around the Lique- Pasific Post. Daily. Jayapura. Online at fied Natural Gas (lng) project area http://www.pasificpost.com/ warned that if the impasse between the two groups claiming to be the Radar Sorong, Cenderawasih Pos Lokal Network. http://www.radarsorong.com/ legitimate government continued, it could negatively impact investor Suara Papua. http://suarapapua.com/ confidence and the economy at a time Suara Pembaruan (Voice of Renewal). when the lng project was at its peak Daily. Jakarta. Online at construction phase (Post-Courier, http://www.suarapembaruan.com/ 19 Dec 2011). Tabloid Jubi Online: An Alternative Media Fortunately, 2012 was an election in Tanah Papua. http://tabloidjubi.com/ year, which meant that Parliament was dissolved and political incumbents Tribunnews.com. http://www.tribunnews .com/ had to re-contest their seats. This somewhat ended the leadership tussle Umaginews. http://www.umaginews.com/ between the Peter O’Neill and Somare vivanews.com. http://www.vivanews.com/ factions, who were forced to renew their leadership mandate through the ballot box. This was timely because the political impasse could have Papua New Guinea devolved further into social chaos, as The year 2012 and the events in the the stalemate was gradually politiciz- latter part of 2011 leading up to the ing and dichotomizing the different infamous “political impasse” in Papua groups in the country who supported New Guinea (PNG) will go down in one faction or the other. the annals of PNG political history for There was a sense of political inse- a number of reasons. Most significant, curity and uncertainty when Somare’s it was a year that saw the end of nine family announced that he was not years of rule by the National Alli- medically fit to continue as the coun- ance Party–led government of Prime try’s leader in 2011. Somare’s absence Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael from the country for almost three Somare—cutting short what would months created a leadership vacuum have been a historic two full terms as despite his having appointed Sam Abal prime minister. (the member for Wabag and minister These events led to the biggest con- for foreign affairs and immigration)