President Joko "Jokowi"
Widodo's dual approach and inconsistent policies in Papua during his two-year
administration have emerged as obstacles in his efforts to resolve the
long-standing conflicts in Indonesia's easternmost region, a rights watchdog
has said.
Imparsial director Al-Araf said while it
was striving to restore Papua people’s trust in the government through various
economic and infrastructure developments, the Jokowi administration had at the
same time continued to use security approaches to solve problems in the region.
Among the security approaches are the formation of Kodam XVIII/Kasuari, a new
military command in West Papua's capital Manokwari, which had the potential to
heighten military abuse in the area.
Such a contradictory approach has led to
more human rights abuses in Papua, including murders, shootings, torture and
arrests of activists carried out by security personnel, Al-Araf said.
"President Jokowi should take a
breakthrough approach for conflict resolution in Papua, in which he pushes
instead for more inclusive dialogue and negotiations between Jakarta and
Papua," the rights activist told journalists on Wednesday.
He questioned Jokowi’s belief that
improving Papua could be done through economic and infrastructure development.
This was because Papua’s main problems lay in the government’s inability to
reach local people to fully address the alleged marginalization of the Papuans
and past human rights abuse cases that remained unsolved.
To further develop Papua, Al-Araf said the
government should push for independent agencies such as the Corruption
Eradication Commission (KPK) to control the flow of Papua special autonomy
funds, as these were vulnerable to corruption by both central and local
governments.
Marguerite Afra Sapiie
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