Instead, Indonesian team can rely on Papuan soccer players. In 3 games against Cambodia, Singapore and Thailand, 7 out of 11 goals were scored by Papuan players. They are very dynamic, attractive, fast and very skilful. Titus Bonai, Patric Wanggai, Oktovianus Maniani, Stevie Bonsapia, Lucas Mandowen always cast a spell with attacking football. Indonesia will play semifinals and Indonesia pins hope on Papuan players to clinch gold medal.
It is not the first time Papuan strikers stunned us. In 1980s Adolf Kabo who played for Perseman Manokwari was also a powerful goal-hungry striker.
Unfortunately their dominance and great contribution in national team is plagued by the rise of long-standing problem of Papuan integration with Indonesia.
It’s been a long time for Indonesia to solve this problem.
Indonesia who was given mandate from United Nations should admit that the 1969’s Act of Free Choice was held unfairly. It’s gone afield of the Act. Pursuant to the act Indonesia should involve all adult Papuans to vote. But it turned out that Indonesia selected 1022 people – after influencing them - to vote publicly. To win the vote, it is said Ali Murtopo entertained the tribal heads at brothel in Semarang. Certainly the result was in favor of integrating with Indonesia. And United Nations approved it.
The process is utterly wrong, but it had also been legalized.
To compare the European never asked Indians for approval to grab American soil. Neither the prisoners from England asked Aboriginal for agreement to occupy Australia. Furthermore, the European massacred Indians in America and Aboriginal in Australia. Even they brazenly said about Indians: “the only good Injun is the dead Injun”. Now their offspring preach vehemently about human rights, freedom, justice etc.
All the process of colonialism/annexation was wrong. But, since it had been legalized, the world must accept it.
As a matter of fact Papuan soil is still for Papuans. The local leaders pervading governors, regents, etc are by and large still the Papuans. The Papuans have rights to select their representatives. It is the Papuans themselves to plan the development with huge budget without any obligation for Central Government’s approval. And there is no discrimination for Papuans in Indonesia the way white Americans did to the Negroes in the past.
How about natural wealth that allegedly goes to Central Government?
On August 17, 2005, Head Deputy of East Java Representative Councils (DPRD), Ridwan Hisyam, demanded 50% return of tax contribution. He expected East Java’s tax contribution was Rp. 100 trillion and in return East Java got only Rp. 24 trillion. He compared Aceh and Papua got 70% of oil & gas revenues. That’s special and that’s autonomy. In short, in the matter of enjoying local revenues, thanks to special autonomy, Aceh and Papua are luckier than East Java.
Finally, I hope Papuans will always be part of Indonesia. The government should work hard to right the wrongdoings and live up to its responsibility of welfare. And the Papuan players give more goals and attractive games.
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