In an effort to solve a problem, a leader has to avoid blowing an issue out of proportion or, in the extreme, playing it down as if everything is fine. Unfortunately President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is doing both.
When he learned that one or two Cabinet ministers had placed their
allegiance to him below loyalty to their parties, Yudhoyono did nothing,
despite his prerogative of coalition unity. But when fatal shootings
flared up in Papua, killing at least 16 civilians and security personnel
in the past month alone, the President saw no urgency to settle the
issue once and for all despite the fact that violence has been plaguing
the naturally resource-rich province for decades.
We are appalled
by the President’s latest statement, which described the recent
incidents in Papua as small-scale, merely taking into account the small
number of fatalities that were far below the number of lives lost in
violence in the Middle East. The President has sent the wrong message
about his administration’s knowledge of what is really happening in
Papua. More than that, the statement confirms that doubts over Jakarta’s
commitment to addressing the prolonged injustice in Papua are not
groundless.
Now the public at home and around the world
understand why there has been no comprehensive policy to deal with
Papua, despite a number of initiatives, like the formation of the Unit
for Acceleration of Development in Papua and West Papua (UP4B). The unit
has so far done much to open communications between local Papuans,
including rebel groups, and the central government, but Jakarta’s
propensity to underestimate the core problem of Papua — which is
injustice — undermines the hard work and achievements of the unit.
The
Papuan shooting spree comes against the backdrop of the international
community’s discontent with Indonesia’s human rights record in Papua
during the UN Human Rights Commission’s convention in Geneva a few weeks
ago. It is therefore imperative for Indonesia, the government in
particular, to regain the world’s trust through affirmative policies
aimed at delivering justice for the Papuan people, including an end to
impunity given to perpetrators of atrocities.
Post-New Order
Indonesia has resolved half of the Herculean job of keeping Papua as
part of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia through special autonomy for
the province in 2001, which allows Papua to enjoy and manage the lion’s
share of its revenue from natural resources. But distribution of wealth
has failed to materialize as most of the huge funds have been wasted —
or embezzled by the local elites — as is evident in the fact that Papua
and West Papua remain the most disadvantaged regions, mostly because of
Jakarta’s poor supervision and — more importantly — ignorance.
That
Jakarta has let Papua squander its golden opportunities to develop and
advance is not surprising given President Yudhoyono’s indifference to
the Papuan people’s right to security.
Reports of the imminent
restructuring of Papua’s military command may exacerbate the already
deteriorating security situation in the province. The chief post in each
of the three military commands (Korem) is currently held by a colonel
but will be given to a brigadier general. Only time will tell whether
the restructuring will result in the deployment of more troops to Papua.
Until
Yudhoyono, who himself promised a new deal for Papua after taking
office in 2004, agrees to hold talks with the Papuans and listen to
their grievances, the chance of a comprehensive solution to the Papua
conflict will remain slim.
Indonesia succeeded in ending armed
conflict and bringing peace back to Aceh in 2005 because there was a
will. The same determination must prevail in winning Papua’s hearts and
minds.