Theory and Praxis Meet Again: Nonviolence Training in West Papua

West Papua, a small province in the island of New Guinea, has been under Indonesian administration since its official annexation in 1969. The Indonesian rule has been characterized by violent repression including torture, assassinations, and aerial bombardments. Resistance has been active, but divided between armed and nonviolent groups. In January of 2007, Australian and West Papuan trainers held a workshop to train community leaders in conflict transformation, and explore the possibility of using nonviolent resistance in the West Papuan struggle.

Part of the larger West Papua Nonviolence Training Project, the workshop brought together twenty-nine community leaders with a training team experienced in nonviolent activism. Their goals were aimed at the development of a strategy to confront vertical conflict and included:
1. Developing an analysis of the root causes of conflict in West Papua, and the vision, goals, strategy and nonviolent tactics needed to create change
2. Building relationships amongst diverse West Papuan leaders in a safe environment
3. Developing skills for cooperative problem solving, decision making, and communication
4. Creating a supportive space to apply these skills
Additionally the conference set out to document human rights violations and plan for the future of the nonviolent effort in West Papua.

The trainers used experiential learning techniques like group work, exercises and games, which the participants reported to be very effective. There was also a strong effort to take into account the cultural context of their work, and promote West Papuan leadership.

The participants confronted several issues that had impeded the development of a concerted movement in the past. One of these was the problem of factionalism, which was approached in the communication and collaboration of the diverse group at the training. Another obstacle has been the internalization and perpetuation of negative stereotypes surrounding the West Papuan community. These conditions necessitated a focus on enfranchisement and empowerment. The participants also discussed the development of a clear vision and strategy, with the conclusion that the movement must first and foremost address the root causes of violence.

In their evaluation of the workshop the trainers judged it to be largely successful, and in light of their experience the training team has developed a vision of the future for their program in West Papua. Taking the example of the People Power struggle in the Philippines, they aim to bring in more trainers for longer periods of time. Also, they plan to expand their network by reaching out to Papuan organizations including faith communities, youth and student groups, women’s groups and NGOs. They hope to form and strengthen connections between indigenous and non-indigenous communities, as well as between activists from West Papua and Papua New Guinea. Finally, there is the hope internal leaders will gain the skills and tools to build their own movement, and that the need for outside trainers will be eventually phased out.