President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono must take strategic action to defuse the violence in Papua that has already claimed many lives, the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) said.
In a statement on the Kontras Web site, the commission's coordinator Haris Azhar said that 22 members of the Indonesian military (TNI) and civilians died in 8 clashes and shootouts in Papua between July and August, namely in the Puncak Jaya, Ilaga and Timika districts. He argued that a new approach to resolving the conflict is needed.
“The situation grew worse when the government's response to the violence was to strengthen security and military operations,” Haris said. “Even worse, the National Police has now deployed their elite counterterrorism unit, Densus 88, to help secure the region.”
“We perceive the situation as proof of the government's helplessness to improve the situation in Papua. The government does not show serious commitment to the measures activists advocated at a recent peace conference in Papua,” he said.
On July 5, the Papuan Peace Network (JDP) held a conference on ways people could reduce conflicts and establish peace. The event drew participants from all elements of Papua's society - religious leaders, tribal leaders, the governor and other officials - as well as human rights activists in Jayapura.
“We hope the president of Indonesia will instruct the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, the defense minister, the military chief and the national police chief to work together and make persuasion-based policies for Papua,” Haris said.
Kontras also urged the government to push for more dialogue between Papua and Jakarta and evaluate the effectiveness of the military and police presence in Papua thus far.