Motion for a resolution

pursuant to Article 47 of the Rules of Procedure

tabled by Olivier Dupuis, Gianfranco Dell'Alba and Jean-François Hory on behalf of ERA Group

on the situation in West Papua (Irian Jaya)

The European Parliament

- considering its previous resolution on West Papua adopted on 14 March 1996;

A. Considering the New York agreement from 15 August 1962 between the Netherlands and Indonesia over West Papua and the questionable results of "Act of Free Choice" in 1969, a referendum over the future status of West Papua, after which the West Papua was under UN supervision incorporated into Indonesia;

B. Concerned by the transmigration programme pursued for the past 30 years by the Indonesian government, aimed at moving people from densely populated Indonesian islands to West Papua, thereby changing the demographic structure of region;

C. Concerned by the consequences of this programme, such as deforestation and other environmental effects, and the destruction of the cultural heritage at the same time as forcing movement of the local population in "assimilation campaigns";

D. Deploring the fact that the Indonesian Government, Security Forces and military (ABRI) are continuously exercising serious restrictions on both freedom of expression, of assembly and of association throughout much of the territory of Indonesia, including West Papua;

E. Concerned by the human rights violations committed by the Indonesian authorities in West Papua, including arbitrary arrests and detentions, political trials, torture and ill-treatment (including electrocution, repeated beatings, burning with cigarettes and sexual abuse) and frequent extrajudicial killings;

F. Deploring that it remains difficult for both domestic and international observers to monitor the human rights situation in West Papua, as the Indonesian government continues to prevent or restrict such monitoring;

G. Noting the increase in local resentment in West Papua over such issues as environmental degradation, natural resource exploitation, slow socio-economic development, commercial dominance of immigrant communities and abuse of power by the authorities, since 1996, and resulting serious incidents, many of which have led to violence and deaths, causing further tension in the political situation;

H. Concerned by the massive environmental destruction caused by multinational, transnational and Indonesian mining, oil and logging companies operating in West Papua, in particular PT FI (subsidiary of the US-Based Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold Corporation);

I. Alarmed by the reports on serious incidents between the tribes of indigenous peoples since the beginning of 1997, caused by tension created by the operations of these companies, particularly the PT FI;

J. Concerned that many indigenous communities in West Papua have been forcibly removed from their ancestral lands or made leave through intimidation, bribery and human rights violations to make way for the exploitation of the natural resources of their lands;

K. Alarmed by the recent reports that famine and disease caused by the worst drought in a half-century have claimed at least 413 lives in West Papua and that the attempts to deliver emergency supplies have failed;

L. Considering that the organization of indigenous people of West Papua - OPM (Organisasi Papua Merdeka - Free Papua Movement) and WPPF (West Papua Peoples' Front) are struggling for the right to self-government under international law, and thereby the ability to live on their traditional lands with the possibility of controlling the economy of West Papua;

1. Calls on the Government of Indonesia to put an immediate end to the population transfers to West Papua and all kinds of assimilation campaigns focused on the indigenous peoples of West Papua and their culture and tradition;

2. Urges the Government of Indonesia to sign the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and to assure all its citizens of these rights, including the indigenous peoples of West Papua;

3. Urges the Indonesian authorities to fulfil the principles of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, signed by Indonesia;

4. Appeals on the Indonesian authorities to stop immediatelly all violations of human rights in West Papua and to release all political prisoners;

5. Calls on the transnational corporations operating in West Papua, particularly the PT FI, to suppress environmenal destruction, to respect the economic and social rights of West Papuans including the land rights, and to open a constructive dialogue in this matter with the representatives of indigenous peoples of West Papua;

6. Calls on the Indonesian authorities to open peaceful political negotiations with OPM and WPPF, the organizations of indigenous peoples of West Papua;

7. Urges the Indonesian authorities to assure the international human rights and humaitarian organization and observers of the access to West Papua;

8. Decides to send a fact-finding mission of the European Parliament to West Papua as soon as possible;

9. Requests its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Member States, the Government of Indonesia, the Board of Directors of Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold Corporation, and the representatives of OPM and WPPF.