Conflict Management in Indonesia â An Analysis of the Conflicts in ...
Conflict Management in Indonesia â An Analysis of the Conflicts in ...
Conflict Management in Indonesia â An Analysis of the Conflicts in ...
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A major obstacle to dialogue has always been<br />
Jakarta’s contention that Papuan society is too<br />
fragmented and so it is hard to identify Papuan<br />
representatives. This is a reasonable concern given<br />
that, s<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong> death <strong>of</strong> Theys Eluay, <strong>the</strong>re is no<br />
s<strong>in</strong>gle, recognised Papuan leader ei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong> Papua<br />
or <strong>in</strong> exile. However, this problem is <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g addressed through <strong>the</strong> civil society public<br />
consultation process. Groups brought toge<strong>the</strong>r<br />
from across <strong>the</strong> political spectrum have recognised<br />
<strong>the</strong> need for unification and, despite differences <strong>in</strong><br />
approach, about 90 per cent <strong>of</strong> those who participated<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> consultations expressed support for dialogue.<br />
Over <strong>the</strong> past year, <strong>the</strong> notion <strong>of</strong> a dialogue<br />
between Jakarta and Papua has ga<strong>in</strong>ed traction.<br />
In June 2010, <strong>the</strong> MRP made 11 recommendations,<br />
<strong>the</strong> two most important <strong>of</strong> which were to hand<br />
back <strong>the</strong> Special Autonomy Law to Jakarta and to<br />
urge Jakarta to hold a dialogue with <strong>in</strong>digenous<br />
Papuans. 109 The prom<strong>in</strong>ent Papuan Catholic priest,<br />
Neles Tebay considered <strong>the</strong> MRP’s actions and stated:<br />
“Although <strong>the</strong> special autonomy policy implemented<br />
s<strong>in</strong>ce 2001 was hailed by many as <strong>the</strong><br />
only viable solution, it was not <strong>the</strong> result <strong>of</strong><br />
genu<strong>in</strong>e dialogue between <strong>the</strong> <strong>Indonesia</strong>n government<br />
and <strong>the</strong> Papuans. This evident lack<br />
<strong>of</strong> ownership is one important element to<br />
understand better why <strong>the</strong> government never<br />
implemented <strong>the</strong> autonomy consistently and<br />
comprehensively, and why <strong>the</strong> Papuans can<br />
easily hand <strong>the</strong> law back to <strong>the</strong> government.<br />
What Papuans want <strong>in</strong>stead is first and foremost<br />
to be taken seriously and to have <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
grievances acknowledged. The mention <strong>of</strong><br />
referendum and recognition <strong>of</strong> Papuas’ sovereignty<br />
is to be understood as underl<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong><br />
necessity <strong>of</strong> dialogue.” 110<br />
109 The o<strong>the</strong>r MRP recommendations were: <strong>the</strong> hold<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> a referendum<br />
directed towards political <strong>in</strong>dependence; <strong>the</strong> GoI recognizes <strong>the</strong><br />
restoration <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sovereignty <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> People <strong>of</strong> West Papua which was<br />
proclaimed on 1st December 1961; urg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternational community<br />
to impose an embargo on <strong>in</strong>ternational aid be<strong>in</strong>g provided for<br />
<strong>the</strong> implementation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Special Autonomy Law; no need for revisions<br />
to be made to Law 21/2001 on Special Autonomy; halt<strong>in</strong>g all<br />
proceed<strong>in</strong>gs for <strong>the</strong> election <strong>of</strong> heads <strong>of</strong> district <strong>in</strong> Papua, end<strong>in</strong>g<br />
transmigration and impos<strong>in</strong>g strict supervision on <strong>the</strong> flow <strong>of</strong> migration<br />
to Papua; urg<strong>in</strong>g releas<strong>in</strong>g all Papuan political prisoners be<strong>in</strong>g<br />
held <strong>in</strong> prisons everywhere <strong>in</strong> <strong>Indonesia</strong>; demilitarize Papua; clos<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Freeport <strong>Indonesia</strong>. The recommendations are available at: www.<br />
etan.org/issues/wpapua/2010/1007wpap.htm#Special_Autonom<br />
110 Tebay, Neles, “Papuans want a Negotiated Solution”, The Jakarta<br />
Globe, 5 July, (2010).<br />
Reactions from Jakarta were mixed. Some<br />
blamed Papuans for fail<strong>in</strong>g to implement OTSUS.<br />
Initially, <strong>the</strong> President decided to <strong>in</strong>crease special<br />
autonomy and regional funds allocated to Papua,<br />
West Papua and Aceh for 2011, as well as beg<strong>in</strong> an<br />
evaluation <strong>of</strong> OTSUS <strong>in</strong> Papua. 111<br />
OTSUS failed, Inpres 5/07 had no impact,<br />
<strong>the</strong>re is no law and order anymore <strong>in</strong><br />
Papua, <strong>the</strong> security situation deteriorates,<br />
prosperity decl<strong>in</strong>es, <strong>the</strong> culture <strong>of</strong> violence<br />
gets a boost and marg<strong>in</strong>alisation cont<strong>in</strong>ues.<br />
Only through dialogue can <strong>the</strong> conflict<br />
be solved.<br />
<strong>An</strong> encourag<strong>in</strong>g development was <strong>the</strong> President’s<br />
Independence Day speech on 17 August 2010 <strong>in</strong> which<br />
he expressed his wish to engage <strong>in</strong> “constructive<br />
communication” with Papua. As an <strong>in</strong>itial step,<br />
<strong>the</strong> President sought to improve communications<br />
between <strong>the</strong> Government and <strong>the</strong> Parliament <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Papua Prov<strong>in</strong>ce (DPRP), Parliament <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
West Papua Prov<strong>in</strong>ce (DPRD), and <strong>the</strong> MRP.<br />
Critically, <strong>the</strong> President’s statement has helped<br />
streng<strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> position <strong>of</strong> progressives with<strong>in</strong> government.<br />
In more conservative government circles<br />
even <strong>the</strong> term “dialogue” is sensitive, as it raises<br />
fears about <strong>the</strong> dis<strong>in</strong>tegration <strong>of</strong> <strong>Indonesia</strong> and is<br />
<strong>in</strong>terpreted as bestow<strong>in</strong>g both parties with equal<br />
stand<strong>in</strong>g. Their fear is that dialogue will lead to <strong>the</strong><br />
contestation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> New York Agreement <strong>of</strong> 1962<br />
and <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Act <strong>of</strong> Free Choice <strong>of</strong> 1969, question<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>the</strong> very basis <strong>of</strong> <strong>Indonesia</strong>n sovereignty <strong>in</strong> Papua,<br />
and that acknowledg<strong>in</strong>g human rights abuses<br />
committed by <strong>the</strong> government could tarnish<br />
<strong>Indonesia</strong>’s image.<br />
More progressive elements <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> government<br />
<strong>in</strong>clude a number <strong>of</strong> senior <strong>of</strong>ficials <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> M<strong>in</strong>istry<br />
<strong>of</strong> Defence and M<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>of</strong> Foreign Affairs. As<br />
General (ret.) Bambang Dharmono has noted:<br />
“OTSUS failed, Inpres 5/07 had no impact,<br />
<strong>the</strong>re is no law and order anymore <strong>in</strong> Papua,<br />
<strong>the</strong> security situation deteriorates, prosperity<br />
111 In addition to <strong>the</strong> evaluation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> GoI, <strong>the</strong> West Papua parliament<br />
has also announced an evaluation. This evaluation is a consequence<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> MRP decision <strong>in</strong> June and shall enable <strong>the</strong> local government to<br />
def<strong>in</strong>e its policy towards <strong>the</strong> GoI.<br />
<strong>An</strong> <strong>An</strong>alysis <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Conflict</strong>s <strong>in</strong> Maluku, Papua and Poso<br />
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