BY ANNIE FEITH
Lake Sentani, near West Papua's capital Jayapura, is home to traditional Sentani bark paintings. The bark from the Kombou tree is soaked for a few weeks, then pounded until flat and dried in the sun before being painted, using charcoal, lime and ochre. The designs signify mutual harmony in social relationships. Common motifs include the fish, which represents peoples' livelihood, and the lizard, which is believed to have oracular qualities.
Sentani is probably more famous for being home to Theys Eluay, the independence leader who was murdered in 2001. Since his assassination, repression by the Indonesian government has intensified and the movement for self-determination in West Papua has become more internationalised.
In September, two police officers were acquitted over their involvement in the December 2000 Abepura case, in which more than 100 people were detained, beaten and tortured, and two students were tortured to death. The investigating team from Indonesia's human rights commission found that 25 police officers should be brought to trial for gross human-rights abuses. Eventually, the attorney-general's office decided only two would stand trial. Widely considered a test case for Indonesia's new permanent human rights court, there was outrage and despondency over this travesty of justice.
Papuan church leaders have recently gone to the US to lobby members of congress to support a bill calling on the State Department to re-examine the incorporation of West Papua into Indonesia. It urges Jakarta to support and respect West Papua's special autonomy status and to ensure perpetrators of human rights abuses are made accountable. The bill is seen as an opportunity to get international exposure and support for West Papua.
An exhibition of Sentani bark paintings will open on November 17 at the Victorian Trades Hall bar at 7pm. Melbourne's Papuan students will perform dances and sing. Some of the proceeds will go to the Women's Centre for Training and Development, a church organisation that works with women from all over the province. For more information, phone Philip or Annie on (03) 9885 8996.
From Green Left Weekly, November 9, 2005.
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