Constructing Papuan Nationalism: History, Ethnicity ... - ScholarSpace

Constructing Papuan Nationalism 49notwithstanding, the transition to the new regime was unlikely to be easy.They shared the rivalry with and antagonism against the Indonesians thathad been experienced in the Netherlands administration.After 1963, they had had to deal withmany more Indonesians in the positions ofauthority. It was as if, to use Grootenhuis’ terminology,they had been cut off from their source ofadvancement. Thus, their experience ofIndonesian rule turned their initial acceptance toalienation and rejection. As Clemens Runaweriobserved in 1969, the Indonesian government’sattempts to extinguish Papuan nationalism by these means were counterproductive,for they served to increase Papuan national consciousness andalienated people from Indonesia. 78The sense of competition with Indonesians for positions within thebureaucracy and the resentment felt about Indonesian domination of keypositions remains a strong motive force in Papuan nationalism among theeducated elite. For example, Michael Menufandu, a senior Papuan civilservant in Jakarta and a former Mayor of Jayapura, complains of the intellectualarrogance of officials who believe that policy can only be made inJakarta, even though it is the local people who know the region and itsproblems best. 79 Another cause of resentment among Papuan officials isthat they not only have to compete with Indonesians for senior positionsin Papua, but also are rarely appointed to positions in other provinces. 80 Aparallel point was recently made in the context of the controversy over theIndonesian government’s intention to divide Papua into three provinces.In response to the proposal, the Rev. Socrates Sofyan Yoman argued thatthe division of the province was intended simply to create more jobs forIndonesian civil servants, as there would not be sufficient numbers ofPapuans with the qualifications and experience needed to fill the most seniorpositions in all three provinces. 81the Indonesiangovernment’s attempts toextinguish Papuannationalism…werecounterproductiveIndonesianization, Marginalization, and the Fear of ExterminationThe rivalry with and antagonism toward Indonesians was felt most keenlyby educated Papuans, because they aspired to the jobs that had beenheld by Indonesians and Eurasians. This circle of educated Papuans hadbeen growing since the Pacific War. More Papuans were completing primaryeducation, and schools had also been established to train Papuans as