Indonesia is the world’s 3rd largest democracy with a population of around 280 million, the world's largest palm oil producer and the 17th largest economy with a GDP of around $1.319Tn in 2022.
The elections this week have resulted in the victory for Prabowo Subianto. Prabowo is a former general who was discharged from the military after the kidnap of political activists in 1998. He was also allegedly involved in targeted executions in West Papua in the 80s and 90s. There are fears that the world’s 3rd largest democracy is set to face renewed political and social repression under Prabowo’s rule. Prabowo has ambiguously indicated that his presidency will involve more state intervention “The government should be in front and intervene when needed.”
On Western Papua
Indonesia is accused of abuses in Papua in Western Papua or “Indonesian” Papua. West Papua was originally a Dutch colony and after being placed Into UN hands in 1962, it was handed over to Indonesia. As Indonesians moved into West Papua, resistance guerrilla groups were formed. These groups were never an organized entity, but their existence was used to give grounds for an increased Indonesian military presence. Papuans were subject to massacre and cultural repression, thus causing West Papuans to migrate back to Papua New Guinea (some of this was forced). Western Papua’s importance is rooted in Indonesia’s image and a slap in the face for their old colonizer, Indonesia is made up of five main islands and thirty archipelagos. If it were to concede Western Papua, ideas of independence would flare throughout the various islands. Western Papua also has a rich natural resource base, with the second-largest copper mine and largest proven gold deposit in the world.