Commenting on the latest string of violence in Papua, rights activist Al Araf says the government should handle incidents proportionally and avoid human rights violations.
“Please learn from the Abepura riots that claimed three lives. Handling problems with violence will only lead to more acts of violence,” Imparsial’s Araf told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
He also said that it was about time for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to commence dialogue with Papuan figures, as earlier requested.
“What has been holding him from conducting fair dialogues with his own people anyway?” He said.
He added that the President needed to visit Papua to understand the true condition of Papuans before initiating further dialogue in order, so that better policies could be produced in the future.
Many activists have said that Papuans have suffered the most in the prolonged conflict, with Papuans allegedly experiencing oppression from the authorities and the separatists.