Internal progress are the progress within West Papua. External progress covers the progress in Indonesia and other countries in the world.
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Demmak successfully channeled the voice of the people, by refusing the plan of the Papua Presidium Council to announce a Transitional Government of West Papua as a resolution of the Papua National Congress II 2000.
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Demmak also refused the plan to lower down the Morning Star Flag of West Papua by force on 1 December 2001. The outcome of the negotiations with Indonesian government was that the Indonesian police lowered down with official police ceremony.
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Demmak was successful in establishing its branches among all tribes in the highlands and also in Maroke and Sorong.
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Demmak was also successful in saying "No!" to war and anarchy when the PDP Chair and Ondofolo (Tribal Chief) Dortheys Hiyo Eluay was kidnapped on 10 November and found dead on 11 November 2001 in Numbay, West Papua.
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Also Demmak succeeded by saying "No!" to war, or violence when Demmak's Secretary-General Benny Wenda) was arbitrarily arrested and detained by Papua Police on 8 June, 2002. Normally, Papuans react angrily, but this time, Demmak did its best to keep peace in West Papua.
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Demmak has produced its by-laws, which includes the organisational structure, and areas of activities.
Books Publications
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Demmak has produced some booklets and books. Some books were produced in co-operation the the Alliance of Papuan Students (AMP) and some were by Demmak itself. Here are some of the books and papers. From all organisations and NGOs in West Papua, Demmak has produced most of the original books in Papuan style of story-telling.
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The most successful one was the book on Theys Eluay entitle: PAPUA MENGGUGAT: 11 November 2001, Hari Kematian HAM, Demokrasi dan Perjuangan Damai di tanah Papua? (PAPUA SUES: 11 November 2001, The Day Human Rights, Democracy and Non-Violent Movement Died in Papua Soil ?)
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The second very important book is entitled: PAPUA MENGGUGAT II: 22 Oktober 2002, 22:30 WIB, Politik Otonomisasi NKRI di Papua Barat (PAPUA SUES II: 22 October 2002, 22:30 WIB, The Politics of Autonomisation by NKRI in West Papua)
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Demmak presented appeal to the UN Working Group on Indigenous Peoples in 2000 on the environmental destruction and the Mamberamo Hydro-electric Mega-Project in West Papua.
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Demmak presented appeal to release Theys H. Eluay and co. from prison at the UN Working Group on Minorities in May, 2001, supported by the Minority Rights International.
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Demmak, in co-operation with the AMP, on behalf of the Papua Presidium Council, presented Appeal to the Irish Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, and got support from the Parliament on West Papua cause in 2001.
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So far, Demmak only sponsors two websites: http://www.westpapua.net, in co-operation with MySpinach.org, and
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http://www.westpapua.org.uk, in co-operation with the AMP.
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Due to the brand "tribal" and "koteka", Demmak has been regarded a fanatic organisation in negative sense. This is a pure misinterpretation. In fact, the Secretary-General of Demmak was arrested with three charges, where two of them related to setting up scenarios and calling for meetings to destroy military and police posts in West Papua. Are the charges justifiable? Legal proceedings prove that the charges are baseless. But Benny Wenda is still in prison, and the trials will continue until a final decision from the judges.
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The criticisms from Demmak are normally viewed as strong and extreme by the Papua Presidium Council (PDP). However, Demmak stands on its own principle: to channel the voice of Papuan people, without modifications, without alterations, and without filtering. We channel the voice as it is. PDP wants some modifications on the people's aspirations. Will Demmak stand on its principle?
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As a mass organisation, most of Demmak's members are villagers, who do not now the other parts of the world, i.e., modern world. Therefore, most the problems among them are not well exposed to the world. Most violations of human rights, and exploitations occur in their villages, but they are unable to do their best to report. They do the reporting but after some weeks, and even months or years. They think telling a fact after sometime is still valid to use for campaigning for West Papua cause, but in fact it is not so.
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