[nasional_list] [ppiindia] Conflict resolution in Papua
- From: "Ambon" <sea@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <"Undisclosed-Recipient:;"@freelists.org>
- Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2006 22:30:43 +0100
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Conflict resolution in Papua
Jaap Timmer, Jakarta
As an anthropologist dedicating much research to Papua, I follow developments
in the region closely. Encounters with critically informed people and careful
reading of public sources highlight to me an ongoing paradox in the way Papua
and Jakarta approach each other. Both sides often fall back upon long-standing,
more often than not stereotypical assumptions. In light of the progressive
democratization in Indonesia, I would like to share my ideas about ways to
overcome this paradox with the policy-makers responsible, in Jakarta as well as
in Papua.
Over the last few years, Papua has experienced the often-unsettling effects of
inconsistent policies. Attracting greatest criticism on these lines are the
conflicting laws for special autonomy for Papua as a whole, on the one hand,
and a policy of pemekaran (administrative subdivision) allegedly designed to
divide the people of Papua on the other.
Policy-makers at all levels, both in Papua and in Jakarta, find themselves
caught between protest and support for the new province of West Irian Jaya. At
the same time, special autonomy did not get off the ground properly because of
a four-year delay in the establishment of the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP)
due to political scheming in Jakarta. On top of that, there is lack of capacity
in the formal sector in Papua to implement special autonomy properly and to
control mounting corruption.
It was feared that the MRP would become a "superbody" for Papuan separatists,
as if such sentiments cannot be accommodated in a country that is fostering
democracy with rapid strides. For the lack of control over corruption in Papua
no excuse has been given, which is curious at a time when the nation's leader
are intent precisely on curbing corruption.
At the same time, we see that demonstrations, statements to the news or efforts
at pressing Jakarta to enter into dialog with Papua are often perceived as a
threat to the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia. The unity of
Indonesia is also supposedly threatened by non-governmental organizations,
activists and government forces in the outside world.
Papua is Indonesia's problem. What the people of Papua need from Jakarta is a
sustained engagement with the myriad problems they face. These problems range
from extreme poverty, unsustainable extraction of resources to lack of capacity
in implementing proper models of governance.
Poverty levels in the highlands are the highest in Indonesia and economic
disparities lead to regional tensions. Poor governance is widening the gap
between local people and the government. On top of that, decades of poorly
controlled military action have generated a widespread collective memory of
violence and humiliation. These accumulated factors conjure up the demon of
independence that so easily mobilizes Papuans and paralyses Jakarta.
There are two reasons for both sides to refrain from frenetic reactions.
First, local demands for independence vary immensely and are generally not
about an independent state. Instead, they signal the widespread demand for full
political participation, respect for people's dignity, and equal sharing of the
benefits of resource development projects.
Second, policy paralysis reflects the fact that Jakarta knows very little about
Papua.
What to do? What has often been suggested but never actually pursued
constructively is a frank dialog between leading people from all political and
social movements in Papua. This would involve representatives of the DPR Papua
(Papuan Legislative Council, Dewan Adat Papua (Papuan Traditional Council),
Presidium Dewan Papua (Papuan Presidium Council), non-governmental
organizations and all religious organizations searching together for policy
strategies for development of the region.
Instead of Jakarta reacting to demands from Papua, the President should
proactively initiate such a dialog with a precise plan. This plan should focus
on interests of the most vulnerable people (women and children) and the poorest
regions, and on ameliorating the social and economic disparities between
Papuans and non-Papuans. Obviously, positive results will not occur if the
skills and workforce are inadequate.
The plan must include a comprehensive capacity-building program for the
government in Papua, beginning at the lowest levels. This capacity-building
component should above all tackle the incompatibility between models of
governance structured upon institutional principles of modern statehood and a
variety of everyday social realities.
Local ways of organizing communities and their ways of managing resources
should form the backbone of development efforts. This is a formidable
challenge, currently beyond most administrator's imagination, and not
anticipated in by the legislative or executive bodies. Special autonomy
regulations provided for this, but these were not implemented due to lack of
capacity, and distraction by other concerns, such as meeting the inconsistent
policies from Jakarta.
People's protest against the special autonomy and the Papua's Legislative
Council and the MRP's current involvement in the forthcoming gubernatorial
elections indicate that there is strong involvement in politics at most levels
of society. Last year, the high turnout of voters and the generally smooth
implementation of the national elections in Papua clearly demonstrated the will
to support civilian-led government and the rule of democracy in Indonesia.
Jakarta should capitalize on these positive developments and assist those in
Papua who are keen to foster democratization. In so doing, Jakarta should
refrain from the current inclination to intervene in Papua's internal politics.
Those most appalled by Jakarta's interference are those provincial leaders
whose political agendas show sincere commitment to the region and its people.
In fact, Jakarta should engage these leaders in a genuine partnership with the
central government.
As a response to the Papuan gambit of "independence" Jakarta should not back
off but stress to all stakeholders that it knows how to channel into
non-dependency within the republic. The suffering of Papuans at the hands of
the state also informs that with people's distrust of Jakarta, reconciliation
needs to take place.
It is time to reflect on what has gone wrong over the last few decades and
formulate adjustments. When the formal sector in Papua functions properly, the
judicial system serves local communities, development materializes for all the
people of Papua and the presence of the military no longer leads to violations
of human rights, then the demands for secession will become groundless.
The final chapter of full integration of Papua into the Republic of Indonesia
is around the corner; it is now the President's turn to address the root causes
of growing local dissatisfaction by delivering the long-promised reform.
Dr. Jaap Timmer is a research fellow at the Centre for Pacific and Asian
Studies at Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands. He is conducting
research on the culture and history of Indonesian Papua, Solomon Islands and
Papua New Guinea. He can be reached at jaap.timmer@xxxxxxxxx
.
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