Keep the Dignity of the People

ANTARA FOTO/SEVIANTO PAKIDING

A Papuan man lights candles during a peaceful rally at the Timika Indah Peace Monument Roundabout, Mimika, Papua, on Monday (19/8/2019). Several public rallies took place in Papua to protest the treatment of Papuan students in Surabaya and Malang in East Java and Semarang, Central Java.

Efforts to end the upheaval in Papua and West Papua need to be done quickly, precisely, and wisely because its sensitivity can affect national unity.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo emphasized that the government is committed to safeguarding the honor and welfare of the people in Papua. Like it or not, the upheaval has tarnished not only the face of Papua and West Papua, but the face of Indonesia as a whole – and not only in the eyes of our own people, but also in the eyes of the international world.

Many of us were stunned by the process of tension that triggered upheaval in a number of cities in the land of Papua. As far as it was reported, the upheaval was triggered by racial abuse against Papuan students in Surabaya and Malang, East Java.

Perhaps members of social organizations and officials who had surrounded Papuan students in Surabaya and Malang did not expect news over the incident to quickly and simultaneously reach people in other parts of Indonesia, including Papua, and even abroad, because of the role of digital media.

There is practically nothing that can truly be hidden under the power of digital media technology, which can be described as a form of global dictatorship that is difficult to control.

ANTARA FOTO/TOMI

A motorcyclist passes in front of a building that was gutted by fire in Manokwari, West Papua, on Tuesday (20/8/2019). In the aftermath of riots that took place on Monday (19/8/2019), life in the town of Manokwari is slowly returning to normal with residents staying busy with their daily activities as usual.

Through social media, the problem of the land of Papua as a domestic issue can easily be drawn to the international stage, especially because of its sensitivity as it is related to the issue of human rights.

The problems in Papua certainly need to be dealt with thoroughly so as not to continually drain attention. Imagine, the incidents in Surabaya and Malang as well as the upheaval in the land of Papua took place in the midst of the joy of the celebration of independence on Aug. 17, 2019. Some commented that the challenges faced by this nation came out of nowhere.

Many people initially hoped that Indonesia\'s condition would be more favorable after carrying out simultaneous campaigns and the general election, especially the presidential elections, which were very tiring. However, unexpectedly there were sudden incidents in Surabaya and Malang as well as upheaval in Papua.

KOMPAS/DEFRI WERDIONO

Malang Mayor Sutiaji, Malang Deputy Mayor Sofyan Edi Jarwoko, and Malang City Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Asfuri have lunch with Papuan students in Malang, East Java, on Tuesday (20/8/2019).

Of course it is expected that the upheaval will end soon so that the people’s activities will resume normally. Furthermore, of course the issue of the land of Papua needs to be handled more seriously.

It is quite risky because the demand for secession still exists even though it is not openly expressed.

If the Aceh problem can be resolved by peaceful means, why not Papua? Some might be of the view that Papua has received special treatment with its special autonomy, even the massive infrastructure development during the past few years.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Protesters who are members of the People\'s Union for the Liberation of West Papua hold a demonstration while walking from the Papua Kamasan I student dormitory on Jl. Kusumanegara, Yogyakarta, toward the Zero Point area on Tuesday (20/8/2019). They demanded the arrest of perpetrators behind the siege of the Kamasan Papua Surabaya Dormitory a few days earlier.

All of that is very important, but no less important is to promote peace, maintain respect and mutual respect, protect human rights and create social justice.