A New Approach for Papua

KOMPAS/ADITYA PUTRA PERDANA

Performers gather on stage during the Nusantara Cultural Arts "We Love Papua, We Are All Brothers" event on Saturday evening (7/9/2019) at Pancasila Field in Semarang, Central Java. The Central Java Regional Police and Kodam IV/Diponegoro military command organized the event, which saw the attendance of Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, Central Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Rycko Amelza Dahniel, Kodam IV/Diponegoro commander Maj. Gen. Mochamad Effendi and Papuan students in Semarang supervisor Samuel Wakku.

Conditions in Papua and West Papua are slowly returning to normal after a recent series of protests, in which buildings and public facilities were set on fire.

Since mid-last week, social life and public services in cities in Papua and West Papua have resumed. The presence of law enforcement personnel prevented protests from spreading.

Nevertheless, the roots of the problem in Papua and West Papua must be understood in order to resolve the problems comprehensively. This is especially due to the persistent effort to bring the Papua and West Papua issue to the international stage, especially through the United Nations (UN).

We believe that Papua and West Papua’s status as part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) is final, as it has gone through a mechanism recognized by the international community through the UN.

The government gives special attention to Papua by giving the region a special autonomy status through Law No. 21/2001. This enables Papuans to take care of local interests through their own initiatives based on their aspirations and basic rights.

In the first five years of his administration, President Joko Widodo has visited Papua, including Nduga, 12 times. Efforts to address disadvantages in the two provinces include prioritizing the development of the trans-Papua road, launching the one-price fuel policy and giving special attention to health and education.

In a dialogue to find solutions for the Papua and West Papua issue in Kompas last week, there was a conclusion that problems in the two provinces were persistent due to several issues. Among them is the feeling shared among a majority of Indonesians that Papuans and West Papuans are “others”.

The cycle of violence in Papua has never really been broken, even since before the 1969 Act of Free Choice (Pepera). The violence has left behind traumatic memories inherited through generations. Despite memories of improved welfare under Indonesia, many Papuans have yet to feel the impact of development, as seen from the provinces’ poor human development index compared to the national average.

A new approach is needed in the comprehensive solution to the Papua issue. Respecting the social identity of Papuans is a must. A new strategic power, comprising youths and college students, must be involved in dialogue; they have experience, knowledge and communication patterns that are different from those of customary and religious leaders.

When the government wishes to prioritize a cultural approach, the decades-long violence must cease. The special autonomy status must be evaluated, especially to ensure that the funds given to Papua and West Papua have truly addressed the people’s needs in education, health, food and job creation for youths. It is time to pay attention to demographic balance, so that it does not become a ticking time bomb.