Extremely high infant mortality Result of Discrimination
Extremely high infant
mortality in West Papua result of discrimination
Press statement
Amsterdam, 12
November 2012 – New research on the position of
the native population of West Papua reveals that systematic
discrimination of Papuans in Indonesian society has resulted
in extremely high child mortality. The differences between
Papuans and non-Papuans on the Indonesian island are
devastating; whereas the rural Papuans have an infant
mortality rate of 18,4% non-Papuans have a rate of 3,6%.
These statistics indicate a society where Papuans are
structurally disadvantaged and discriminated against. As a
result of years of Indonesian transmigration politics 50% of
the population of West Papua consists of non-Papuans.
Interviews held with both population groups confirm that
discrimination is deeply rooted into society. Decades of the
harrowing Indonesian regime has reduced Papuans to being
second-class citizens in their own land.
“The way they treat us, it feels like we
don’t even have a government.” Papuan
woman, 30 years old
“When my grandson fell
ill we took him to the hospital in the city, but they kept
asking questions and weren’t helping us. He was very sick.
When we finally got some help it was too late.”
Papuan woman, 48 years old
“ We
can only watch from a distance. We don’t belong, we are
the others in our own land.” Papuan man, 32
years
Invisible victims The research
report ‘Invisible Victims: The effects of structural
violence on Infant and Child mortality in Papua Barat,
Indonesia in the context of Human Rights’ demonstrates
that the Indonesian government is in violation of the Rights
of the Child and the Maastricht Guidelines. Observations
show that medical care in the cities is better equipped than
the remote inland populated almost entirely by Papuans. The
Indonesian government has not taken sufficient steps to
improve the dire situation, which has led to the appalling
infant mortality rate of 18,4% among rural Papuans. Health
centers are often vacant or even abandoned; there is not
enough medical personnel or equipment and there is an
insufficient, unvaried stock of medicine that is often past
the expiration date. This despite the fact that Indonesia
has ratified the Rights of the Child on September 5, 1990
which obligates the state to uphold the special rights
accorded to children. Additionally the situation is in
violation with the Maastricht Guidelines, a document which
is used within international law as a guideline for
prevention of the violation of the Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights that enumerates the judicially required
minimum standard of healthcare. The Indonesian state has
ratified the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights in 2006 and is thus obligated to adhere to these
guidelines. Nevertheless despite the legal obligations both
treaties have been violated in the province West Papua.
Papuans are a vulnerable group and within the current system
created by the Indonesian government as a result of the
transmigration policy they have no chance of a decent
future.
“The discrimination of Papuans in their own land has affected me deeply. The lack of opportunities for a brighter future for the native population of West Papua is heart wrenching, especially compared to the non-Papuans who have a better life. The fact is; Papuans are badly discriminated against and there is little concern for their predicament in the media. Hopefully this research will contribute to generating more attention for West Papua resulting in action being taken by politicians and Human Rights organizations to give these forgotten people a proper chance for a future’ Stella Peters, Master student Conflict Studies & Human Rights
About the
research:
The research report ‘Invisible
Victims: The effects of structural violence on Infant and
Child mortality in Papua Barat, Indonesia in the context of
Human Rights’ has been conducted for the master
Conflict Studies & Human Rights at Utrecht University. The
thesis was written by Stella Peters in collaboration with
the NGO Stichting Duurzame Samenleving Papua Barat (SDSP).
To explore discrimination in West Papua three groups were
investigated; the Papuans in rural areas, the Papuans in
urban areas and non-Papuans. More information at:
www.sdsp.nl.
Stichting
Duurzame Samenleving Papua Barat http://www.sdsp.nl/
ENDS