New Approach Needed for Papua

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

Participants attend the "Analyzing the Root Problem and Present Condition of Papua" discussion, hosted on Thursday (5/9/2019) by the Kompas daily at its editorial offices in Jakarta. The discussion’s speakers included former House of Representatives member Simon Patrick Morin from Papua (far right), National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) commissioner Amiruddin (second right), former state minister of accelerated development for eastern Indonesia Manuel Kaisiepo (third right), and Indonesian Institute of Sciences researcher Adriana Elisabeth (not pictured).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – A cultural approach that focuses on dignity is needed to overcome the recent turmoil in Papua. The same approach should be adopted toward Papuan youths living in the region as well as those studying outside Papua. These youths have emerged as a new strategic group to replace the roles of Papuan religious and traditional leaders.

Manuel Kaisiepo, the former state minister of accelerated development for eastern Indonesia, has observed that the sociopolitical views of the new generation of Papuan youths were “an anomaly”.

“They were born and raised within the framework of special autonomy, but their way of thinking goes beyond the spirit of special autonomy. They must be taken as a strategic group and receive greater care,” Manuel said on Thursday (5/9/2019) during the “Analyzing the Root Problem and Present Condition of Papua” discussion, held at the Kompas editorial offices in Jakarta.

Attending the discussion as speakers were former House of Representatives member Simon Patrick Morin from Papua, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) researcher Adriana Elisabeth, National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) commissioner Amiruddin and National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) member Moksen Idris Sirfefa of the Papuan Desk.

Youths played a significant role in the recent demonstrations in the provinces of Papua and West Papua.

According to Manuel, the issues of alleged racial abuse of Papuan students in Surabaya and the long-unresolved issues of Papua had combined to become the main cause of the recent turmoil in Papua.

“The Papuan students’ narratives seem to indicate that, subjectively, the issues of integration, nationalism and nationality have not been resolved,” he noted.

Manuel believed that the ideas that the new Papuan generation has recently raised were drawn from personal traumatic. They had witnessed the unfair treatment of their parents, which formed the basis of their political views. Their views then expanded through the networks they established and information they obtained through information technology.

Cultural approach

Many studies on Papua had not taken notice of the emergence of this new generation of Papuans, said Manuel. The situation was compounded by the government’s misunderstanding and mismanagement of Papua.

Following the government of the fourth Indonesian president, Abdurrahman Wahid, the government’s Papua policy had been directed towards the more technical matters of development and infrastructure.

“It is time for the government to adopt a cultural approach that focuses on the Papuan people’s dignity. There is a psychopolitical [dimension] to the Papuan issue due to the collective memory of 30 years of bitter experiences under the New Order,” said Manuel.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

Former state minister of accelerated development for eastern Indonesia Manuel Kaisiepo (left) speaks during the "Analyzing the Root Problem and Present Condition of Papua" discussion, hosted on Thursday (5/9/2019) by the Kompas daily at its editorial offices in Jakarta. The event, which discussed alternative approaches for the government to open a dialogue with the Papuan people, also involved fellow speakers former House of Representatives member Simon Patrick Morin from Papua (right) and National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) commissioner Amiruddin (center).

This cultural approach should also be applied to the new Papuan generation. “Young people should be given greater care, because they will determine the future of Papua,” said Adriana.

Adriana also pointed to discrepancies between the views of the Indonesian government and the Papuan community, especially regarding the history of Papuan integration into Indonesia. “The government states that the issue is ‘final’, while the Papuan people talk about the process (of integration). A way should be found to bridge this discrepancy,” she said.

Before opening dialogue to overcome the divergent views, said Adriana, the Papuan people should be allowed to express their views, which had not been accommodated thus far. The government should also minimize its suspicion of some groups in Papua.

Special autonomy

Simon said that dialogue on Papua was certainly needed. However, the dialogue should take place on an equal footing.

“We have a means of entering into dialogue, which is through Law No. 21/2001 on Special Autonomy for Papua Province [the Otsus Law]. If it is missing anything and an addition is needed, we can perfect the law until the Papuan issue is settled properly,” he said.

Simon added that Law No. 21/2001 was intended to be a political tool from the outset to resolve the Papuan issue. In order to achieve this purpose, the Otsus Law should be adjusted to respond to the people’s demands.

Amiruddin said human rights could also be taken as an initial step towards dialogue. This was because the issue of past human rights violations had become the dominant narrative among young Papuans today.

“If the government refuses to address this issue, the potential for violence will continue to recur,” he said.

To resolve the issues in the “Land of the Bird of Paradise”, Moksen said, the Indonesian nation should be prepared to learn about the Papuan people without suspicion or underestimating them. This could be accomplished by involving the Papuan people in discussions on issues of strategic importance like economics, foreign affairs and the Pancasila state ideology.

(SAN/NIA)