The Promise
With uniquely restored 35mm archival footage, this documentary reveals the genocide of the West Papuans – a story of betrayal, oppression and a people in danger of disappearing.As the Netherlands prepared for the independence of Dutch New Guinea, Indonesia strongly opposed the move. Under pressure from the United States and the United Nations, the region was handed over to Indonesia in 1962, with the promise of a referendum. But the so-called ‘Act of Free Choice’ turned out to be a sham. Since then, Papuans in Indonesia have been persecuted, displaced, and killed on a massive scale – one of the world’s most neglected genocides.
Against the backdrop of the Cold War, The Promise shows how the future of West Papua was shaped not only in diplomatic backrooms but also by corporate interests, where influential members of the Western elite – including Prince Bernhard – appeared to prioritize economic gains over human rights. While West Papua’s vast natural resources continue to be exploited by predominantly Western companies to this day, the Indigenous population remains systematically oppressed.
Through powerful testimonies from exiled Papuans, director Daan Veldhuizen paints a painful picture of how colonialism gave way to neo-colonialism – and how the world remained silent (source: Movies that Matter).