Arnold Ap
Encyclopedia
Arnold Ap was a West Papuan
cultural leader, anthropologist and musician. Arnold was the leader of the group Mambesak
, and Curator of the Cenderawasih University
Museum. He also broadcast Papuan culture on his weekly radio show.
His prominent study and performance of Papuan culture and music was seen by many as a challenge to the efforts of the Indonesian government against Papuan nationalism and identity. At the time of Ap's death, strong attempts were being made to unify Indonesian peoples under a more Javanese culture.
In November 1983 he was arrested by the Indonesian military special forces Kopassus
and imprisoned and tortured for suspected sympathies with the Free Papua Movement
, although no charges were laid. In April 1984 he was killed by a gunshot to his back. Official accounts claim he was trying to escape. Many supporters believe Ap was executed by Kopassus
. Another musician, Eddie Mofu, was also killed.
Music is still a potent source of cultural resistance in West Papua. Arnold Ap and Mambesak are still popular in West Papua, and their works are seen as symbols of Papuan identity. Since the 1990s, however, the Indonesian government has cautiously allowed safe expressions of indigenous cultural forms. According to Danilyn Rutherford, Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Chicago, access to limited cultural expressivity facilitates images of tolerance and "unity in diversity," the official national motto.
Western New Guinea
West Papua informally refers to the Indonesian western half of the island of New Guinea and other smaller islands to its west. The region is officially administered as two provinces: Papua and West Papua. The eastern half of New Guinea is Papua New Guinea.The population of approximately 3 million...
cultural leader, anthropologist and musician. Arnold was the leader of the group Mambesak
Mambesak
Mambesak was a West Papuan folk-based musical group, formed in 1978 at Cenderawasih University. Mambesak articulated Papuan political concerns , and in 1984 the lead figure of the group Arnold Ap was killed by the Indonesian military in 1984...
, and Curator of the Cenderawasih University
Cenderawasih University
Universitas Cenderawasih is a university in Jayapura, in the province Papua, Indonesia. The university is the leading educational institution in the province....
Museum. He also broadcast Papuan culture on his weekly radio show.
His prominent study and performance of Papuan culture and music was seen by many as a challenge to the efforts of the Indonesian government against Papuan nationalism and identity. At the time of Ap's death, strong attempts were being made to unify Indonesian peoples under a more Javanese culture.
In November 1983 he was arrested by the Indonesian military special forces Kopassus
Kopassus
Kopassus is an Indonesian Army special forces group that conducts special operations missions for the Indonesian government, such as direct action, unconventional warfare, sabotage, counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, and intelligence gathering.Kopassus was founded on April 16, 1952...
and imprisoned and tortured for suspected sympathies with the Free Papua Movement
Free Papua Movement
The Free Papua Movement is a militant organisation established in 1965 to encourage and effect the violent overthrow of the current governments in the Papua and West Papua provinces of Indonesia, formerly known as Irian Jaya to secede from Indonesia, and to reject economic development and...
, although no charges were laid. In April 1984 he was killed by a gunshot to his back. Official accounts claim he was trying to escape. Many supporters believe Ap was executed by Kopassus
Kopassus
Kopassus is an Indonesian Army special forces group that conducts special operations missions for the Indonesian government, such as direct action, unconventional warfare, sabotage, counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, and intelligence gathering.Kopassus was founded on April 16, 1952...
. Another musician, Eddie Mofu, was also killed.
Music is still a potent source of cultural resistance in West Papua. Arnold Ap and Mambesak are still popular in West Papua, and their works are seen as symbols of Papuan identity. Since the 1990s, however, the Indonesian government has cautiously allowed safe expressions of indigenous cultural forms. According to Danilyn Rutherford, Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Chicago, access to limited cultural expressivity facilitates images of tolerance and "unity in diversity," the official national motto.