The National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) plans to use anthropology to better understand Papuan aspirations in order to help the government maintain stability in the unstable area.
According to Budi, anthropology is necessary because there are various tribes and more than 400 languages in Papua. Moreover, anthropologic perspectives are necessary to determine the appropriate manners of raising awareness among Papuans regarding their relationship with the central government, which has granted special autonomy privileges for the provinces of Papua and West Papua.
“We want to invite anthropology experts to study this as part of soft approach to better understanding Papuan aspirations,” National Resilience Institute governor Budi Susilo Soepandji said on Friday as quoted by kompas.com.
Critics have called on the government to pay closer attention to Papua. Earlier this week thousands of people rallied in several cities in Papua in support of a conference in London calling for a referendum for Papua. Several shooting incidents have recently occurred in Papua, increasing public anxiety over security and stability there.
Budi said that the idea of holding a referendum in Papua must be rejected.
“Indonesia has to firmly reject a referendum in Papua because Papua is part of the Unitary State of Indonesia,” he said.
Budi, who met with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Friday, said the President suggested that maintaining stability could no longer be implemented in repressive ways.
“We have to abandon old ways [of maintaining stability]. The President told me that we could no longer carry out repressive actions against wrongdoers. We must encourage law enforcement,” Budi said.