The government says that it has been in talks with the separatist Free Papua
Movement (OPM) since last year — months before the start of the latest wave of
violence in Papua that has killed 17.
The talks with the OPM began in December and had not been easy, as members of
the group had to be coaxed to “leave the mountains and join society,”
Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Air Marshall (ret.)
Djoko Suyanto said on Monday.
“The government has continued to approach
the OPM by sending a delegation,” Djoko told reporters in Jayapura on Monday as
reported by Antara news agency.
The delegation, which includes several
high-ranking military, police and intelligence officials, left Jakarta for
Jayapura on Monday.
Among the delegation are Djoko, National Police chief
Gen. Timur Pradopo, Indonesian Military
(TNI) chief Adm. Agus Suhartono, and
National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Lt. Gen. Marciano
Norman.
The government has continued to blame the OPM for the
deteriorating security situation in Papua while declining to provide concrete
evidence of the group’s complicity in the violence that has wracked the province
in recent months.
Police officers, for example, shot and killed Papuan
activist Mako Tabuni in Waena on June 14 for allegedly resisting arrest for his
supposed involvement in seven violent attacks.
Mako was deputy chairman
of the National Committee for West Papua (KNPB), which supports a referendum on
Papuan independence.
Tabuni’s supporters retaliated by setting ablaze
dozens of vehicles and properties in the city.
The incident was the
latest in a series of bloody incidents involving civilians and security
officials.
The delegation from the central government held a closed-door
meeting with religious and tribal leaders soon after their Indonesian Air Force
Boeing 737 landed at Sentani Airport in Jayapura, Papua, on Tuesday.
Also
in attendance at the meeting were Papua Legislative Council speaker Jhon Ibo,
Papuan People’s Assembly speaker Timotius Murib and Interim Papua Governor
Syamsul Arief Rivai.
Djoko and his entourage then met with members of the
Papua General Elections Commission (KPUD).
Local politics have been
touted as one potential cause of the renewed violence, following the
postponement of the provincial gubernatorial election.
The officials
left Jayapura for Timika later on Tuesday and are expected to arrive in
Manokwari, the capital of West Papua, on Wednesday.
Djoko has said his
agenda in Papua was part of the government’s commitment to promote dialogue to
address the situation in the region rather than stepping up security
measures.
Contracted separately, Haris Azhar, the coordinator of the
Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), said he
welcomed the government’s initiative to promote dialogue.
Haris, however,
said that the security and intelligence officials had picked the wrong time for
the meeting, as many Papuans remained angered, fearful and on edge over the
violent attacks.
“Papuans are now psychologically uncomfortable. Papuans
are still losing confidence to the
government, particularly following the
amateurish actions of the National Police and TNI troops,”
Haris
said.