[Kabar-indonesia] Papua crackdown overshadows BP project

[John M Miller]

TAPOL Press release

Papua crackdown overshadows BP project

31 March 2008 - Amid increasing concern about 
Indonesia’s harsh treatment of peaceful 
protestors in West Papua, more than 30 human 
rights groups and individuals worldwide are 
warning BP that its new $US6 billion Tangguh 
natural gas project is a potential source of 
instability in the troubled region [1].

In a letter to the British company’s Chief 
Executive, Tony Hayward [2], the organisations 
highlight the pressing need for independent 
external scrutiny of the BP operation, 
highlighting reports of increased activity by the 
Indonesian military, TNI, in the area of the project.

The TNI’s past record suggests that it is likely 
to adopt a highly intimidatory approach, giving 
rise to possible conflicts with the local and 
wider Papuan community,’ they say.

A tribal leader recently wrote to BP complaining 
about military harassment because of his 
political activities and work in protecting the local environment.

In their letter, the organisations point out that 
the project is regarded by some Papuans as an 
obstacle to the realisation of their wider 
political aspirations.  BP is seen by them as a 
collaborator with Jakarta’s exploitation of West Papua’s natural resources.

The letter is prompted by BP’s decision not to 
extend the mandate of the Tangguh Independent 
Advisory Panel (TIAP) [3].  It is sent in the 
wake of a wave of arrests this month of Papuans 
peacefully protesting against a ban on regional 
symbols such as the Papuan Morning Star flag.

Most of the arrests took place in nearby 
Manokwari, the capital of the province in which 
Tangguh is located.  Those arrested are expected 
to be charged under Indonesia’s draconian 
anti-subversion laws.  If convicted, they could 
face prison sentences of up to 20 years.

The letter lists a number of other concerns 
relating to the social and environmental impacts of the project.

Two weeks ago, The Guardian newspaper reported 
receiving a letter from Papuan leaders 
complaining that BP has reneged on agreements and 
is ‘taking sides with the Indonesian government, 
as they are bypassed from all lasting benefits’ [4].

Earlier this month a large number of troops were 
deployed to the area to provide security for a 
visit to the project by Prince Andrew, the UK government’s business envoy.

ENDS

Contact: Paul Barber on +44 1420 80153 or +44 774 730 1739

Notes:

1. The Tangguh Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) 
project is located in the Bintuni Bay area of 
West Papua.  It is due to become operational 
towards the end of 2008.  BP is the lead 
contractor with a 37.16% stake.  The Tangguh 
fields contain around 14.4 trillion cubic feet of 
gas.  The project has secured sales contracts 
with China, South Korea and the US.

2. Available at [http://tinyurl.com/2jr285].  Text also below.

3. Although it purports to be independent, TIAP 
was set up by BP.  It advises on non-commercial 
aspects of the project and is chaired by former US Senator, George Mitchell.

4. ‘Shattered Illusions’, Society Guardian, 19 March 2008.

----------------------------------------------------

Tony Hayward Group Chief Executive BP 1 St James Square London SW1Y 4PD

31 March 2008


Dear Mr Hayward,

Tangguh LNG project, West Papua

As individuals and organisations who are closely 
following the Tangguh LNG project in West Papua, 
we are writing to express our concern about BP’s 
decision not to extend the mandate of the Tangguh 
Independent Advisory Panel, TIAP, beyond 2009.

We have serious reservations about TIAP’s 
independence, but we consider that external 
scrutiny of Tangguh’s political, economic, social 
and environmental impact is essential throughout the duration of the project.

It appears from the decision to wind up TIAP that 
BP perversely believes the project will have no, 
or fewer, adverse effects after it becomes 
operational in 2008.  Alternatively, according to 
a more cynical view of the company’s motives 
(which we hope is not justified), BP believes it 
can dispense with the public relations cover 
provided by TIAP after the construction phase has been completed.

At the April 2007 TIAP stakeholder meeting in 
London and subsequently, it has been suggested 
that BP will rely on ongoing monitoring by the 
Asian Development Bank.  We would consider this 
an inadequate measure that would provide neither 
comprehensive nor independent monitoring.

BP is aware that truly independent monitoring of 
the project is currently impossible because of 
the restrictions on access to West Papua, and on 
movement within the territory, by foreign 
journalists and international human rights 
organisations.  The Papuans’ lack of genuine 
freedom to express their opposition to, or 
concern about, strategic projects such as Tangguh 
means that the local community has little real 
control over how the project proceeds.


A number of issues remain unresolved or a source 
of potential problems in the future.  They include:

Security and human rights: Increased military presence

There is as yet no firm evidence of an increased 
military presence in the area of the Tangguh 
project.  However, anecdotal reports point to 
increased activity by Kopassus special forces 
troops, Brimob police special operations 
personnel, intelligence agents and other 
non-uniformed security forces personnel.  TIAP’s 
Reverend Herman Saud confirmed the existence of 
such reports at the stakeholders’ meetings in 
Washington DC and London in April 2007.  In 
November 2006, the Manokwari-based NGO LP3BH, 
which provides human rights training for BP, 
pointed out that the administrative changes in 
Bintuni Bay consequent upon the arrival of the 
Tangguh project would result in the establishment 
of a new district military command. More 
worryingly, at the recent TIAP meeting in 
Manokwari in November 2007, concerns were 
expressed that this enhanced presence could 
trigger increased human rights violations.

TIAP has, perhaps justifiably, proclaimed the 
success of Tangguh’s Integrated Community Based 
Security (ICBS) programme.  However, while it may 
have positive elements, the ICBS initiative is 
essentially about the micro-management of 
security and human rights issues around the 
project site.  It does not address the bigger 
picture of an increased presence by the 
Indonesian military, TNI.  This is an almost 
inevitable consequence of the development in 
Indonesia of major resource extraction operations 
such as Tangguh.  The TNI’s past record suggests 
that it is likely to adopt a highly intimidatory 
approach giving rise to possible conflicts with 
the local and wider Papuan community.

In its Fifth Report, TIAP warned that 
‘the 
situation could become less stable if new police 
or TNI units are stationed in the Bintuni 
area
’.  It said it expected new deployments of 
security forces to take place.  At the London 
stakeholders’ meeting, TIAP acknowledged the need 
for continued monitoring of the situation so it 
is surprising that BP is withdrawing its support for this vital task.

Social impacts

Although benefits have accrued to villagers 
re-settled to make way for the production 
facilities on the south shore of Bintuni Bay, 
there is ongoing tension among non-resettled 
villagers who feel they have been unfairly 
treated.  This applies in particular to villagers 
on the north shore who claim customary rights 
over some of the gas being exploited.  In its 
Fifth Report, TIAP expressed concern that it has 
been visiting the area for five years, but BP has 
not yet made sufficient progress in addressing 
this issue, which could become another source of 
conflict.  It has been reported also that the 
resettled villagers of Tanah Merah Baru, despite 
having new housing, are experiencing problems 
settling in and establishing their new livelihoods.

In addition, there continue to be tensions and 
unresolved disputes over long-term land ownership claims in the area.

BP faces a significant challenge when it lays off 
the majority of its construction workforce once 
the project becomes operational.  This will 
require careful handling and monitoring for a 
significant period after the lay-offs takes place.

All these issues point to major ongoing changes 
to the social order of the Bintuni area for which BP is directly responsible.

Environmental concerns

Environmentally, the major concerns are the 
impact of a massive increase in shipping and 
other activities in and around Bintuni Bay and 
carbon dioxide emissions.  Around 12.5 per cent 
of the Tangguh gas reservoir consists of CO2, 
which will be released into the atmosphere unless 
it can be captured. To our knowledge, no decision 
has yet been made on the appropriate disposal mechanism.

There is worldwide concern about the destruction 
of Papua's forests and Indonesian media reports 
concerning the use of costly wood for the new 
houses in Tanah Merah Baru raise questions about 
the environmental credentials of this whole enterprise.

Given BP's recent record of environmental 
disasters, we have reservations about whether the 
company can live up to its projected green 
image.  The situation is made all the more 
precarious by the vulnerability of the 
environment in Papua, the lack of protection 
given to it, the absence of independent 
monitoring and, above all, its unique 
value.  Withdrawal of BP's support for the 
monitoring process goes against all the 'green' 
rhetoric that is so prominent in BP's public relations and marketing exercises.

The wider context

Despite apparent local support, the project is 
regarded by some Papuans as an obstacle to the 
realisation of their wider political 
aspirations.  BP is seen by them as a 
collaborator with Jakarta’s exploitation of West 
Papua’s natural resources.  For these reasons, 
the project is likely to remain a potential 
source of instability unless and until the West 
Papua conflict is peacefully resolved.

All these and other issues will require careful 
monitoring in the short term and, in some cases, 
for many years to come until the project is completed.

Given the imminent demise of TIAP, we may try to 
organise a visit to the project by a delegation 
representing the signatories of this letter.  We 
trust that you would support our reasonable requests for access to the area.

We should make clear that nothing in this letter 
should be taken to imply our support for the Tangguh project.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Carmel Budiardjo, Director, TAPOL, UK

Andrew Hickman, Campaigner, Down to Earth, 
International Campaign for Ecological Justice in Indonesia, UK

Benny Wenda, Chairman, the Koteka Tribal Assembly 
(DeMMaK) & Leader of the West Papuan independence movement in the UK

Richard Samuelson, Co-Director, Free West Papua Campaign, Oxford, UK

Rains, fPcN InterCultural, UK

John Saltford, London, UK

Hugh Dowson, Bath, UK

Latifah Anum Siregar, Chief of Alliance Democracy For Papua (ALDP), West Papua

Jacob Rumbiak, Co-ordinator Management of Foreign 
Affairs, West Papua National Authority Victoria, Australia

Bonar Tigor Naipospos, Chairperson, SNUP/National 
Solidarity With Papua, Indonesia

Santina Soares and Maximus Tahu, Coordinators, 
La'o Hamutuk (Timor-Leste Institute for Development Monitoring and Analysis)

Carmen Lauzon-Gatmaytan, Secretariat, Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC)

Django Raitnaw, Papua Coordinator, International Action for West Papua

Joe Collins, Secretary, Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)

Matthew Jamieson, Secretary, Institute for Papuan 
Advocacy & Human Rights, Australia

Dr. Jim Elmslie, Co-convenor, West Papua Project, 
Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, Sydney University

Prof G Peter King, Government and International 
Relations, Faculty of Arts, Sydney University

Amanda & Michael Freund, Australia West Papua Association  Newcastle

Rob Wesley-Smith, Convenor, Australia NT, Australia

Andrew Johnson, Lindfield NSW, Australia

Ed Mc Williams, West Papua Advocacy Team, US

John M. Miller, National Coordinator, East Timor 
and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN), US

S. Eben Kirksey, PhD, National Science Foundation 
Postdoctoral Scholar, 2008-2010, US

Glenn Raynor, Executive Director, Pacific Peoples' Partnership, Canada

Maire Leadbeater, Indonesia Human Rights Committee, Auckland, New Zealand

Kevin McBride, National Coordinator, Pax Christi Aotearoa-New Zealand

Edwina Hughes, Coordinator, Peace Movement Aotearoa

Bakhtiar Amin, Acheh Support Group, Wellington, New Zealand.

Tim Howard, Community Development Worker, 
Northland Urban Rural Mission Whangarei, New Zealand

Heidi Hautala, Chairperson, Finnish AEPF (Asia-Europe People´s Forum) Committee

Ulrich Delius, Asia Desk, Society for Threatened Peoples, Germany


Cc: 	Senator George Mitchell (TIAP)
	Lord Hannay (TIAP)
	Reverend Herman Saud (TIAP)
	Ambassador Sabam Siagian (TIAP)
	John Hughes, BP Regional Director, Asia Pacific
	John Mingé, President, BP Indonesia


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Paul Barber
TAPOL
41 Cherry Way, Alton Hampshire GU34 2AX
Tel/Fax: 01420 80153
Email: plovers at gn.apc.org
Internet: http://tapol.gn.apc.org

Working for peace, human rights and democracy in Indonesia, 1973-2004
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