• Contact
7 / 02 / 2023
International Coalition for Papua
  • News
  • About Papua
  • Human Rights Report
    • Quarterly Reports
    • 2021
    • 2019
    • 2017
    • 2015
    • 2013
    • 2011
    • 2009
    • Genocide Report
  • Resources
    • International Law
      & Norms
    • National Laws
    • Political History
No Result
View All Result
International Coalition for Papua
  • News
  • About Papua
  • Human Rights Report
    • Quarterly Reports
    • 2021
    • 2019
    • 2017
    • 2015
    • 2013
    • 2011
    • 2009
    • Genocide Report
  • Resources
    • International Law
      & Norms
    • National Laws
    • Political History
International Coalition for Papua

Government changes conflict approach in West Papua – Real chance for peace or mere rhetoric?

16.12.2021
in 2021
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Indonesian Government, through the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Legal and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, announced in an interview with media outlet CNN Indonesia  that the government will change its policy regarding the conflict situation in Indonesia’s easternmost provinces Papua and Papua Barat, commonly referred to as West Papua. The announcement was broadcasted on 28 November 2021, one week before the freshly appointed armed forces chief,  Andika Perkasa, will travel to West Papua to announce his new conflict strategy there.

According to Mahfud, the current combat operations in West Papua will become territorial operations which shall include public services such as healthcare, agriculture and education programs for the people in West Papua. Observers are concerned that the government’s change in policy will be nothing more than mere rhetoric.

Mahfud excluded the possibility of a temporary stop of the security operations in West Papua. He underlined that the ongoing operations in the central Papuan highlands are ‘law enforcement operations’, which must be undertaken in all parts of Indonesia. However, Mahfud indicted that the new approach would be a reaction to ongoing calls from Papuan civil society not deploy non-organic military troops to West Papua.

“Papua, is just like any other area. There are murders and other crimes just as in other parts [of Indonesia]. Why should these crimes be responded with combat operations. These are just normal law enforcement operations“, Mahfud said.

Mahfud MD did not mention the existence of about 60,000 internally displaced persons in West Papua, which fled their homes in fear of being killed during these “law enforcement operations”. IDPs from the Pegunungan Bintang Regency even stated that the military dropped mortar grenades from helicopters on their settlements, destroying houses and gardens.

According to Mahfud, the change in policy is based on Presidential Instruction No 9/2020. The instruction stipulates that a prosperity-based approach should be implemented through synergetic and comprehensive efforts. All state institutions, including police and military, should stay in close coordination with each other to support the development process in West Papua.

The minister did not elaborate how such a change in policy will look like on the ground. However, Mahfud’s statements during the interview allow some careful predictions. He explained that the government will implement programs “with public services, healthcare services, agricultural and education programs with schools, for example. The police and the military can become teachers and teach agriculture there”.

The involvement of the military in civil service positions is not a new thing. In January 2019, President Jokowi himself announced plans to create sixty new job careers for brigadiers, majors and lieutenant generals who could no longer be employed in the Indonesian security force apparatus. More importantly, many indigenous Papuans are afraid of the police and the military. Accordingly, the appointment of military members as teachers or health personnel could even hamper the access for many indigenous Papuans to these essential services.

Human rights observers fear that the announced government plans are nothing more than mere rhetoric. This concern is supported by the views regarding the conflict situation in West Papua, which Mahfud expressed during the interview. „The root cause of the conflict is not independence or no independence because this issue does no longer exist. The issue of self-determination is already finished. The root cause of the problem is prosperity. […] Where does this pro and contra actually come from? There is no pro and contra. This approach was requested by many people. Nobody is opposing this approach apart from those [people] like Mr Sambom.” Mr Sebby Sambom is the spokesperson of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), the armed wing of the West Papuan independence movement.

The statement allows two more conclusions: Firstly, the governments ignorance of the diverging views on the historic integration of West Papua into Indonesia as one of the root causes of the conflict, and secondly, the lack of openness for criticism towards the new government plans. One can conclude form the statement that anyone opposing the government’s policy on West Papua could be stigmatized as a supporter of West Papuan independence.

In light of the government’s position which ignores the growing aspirations for self -determination in West Papua, it is doubtful that the new conflict approach will bring upon a sustainable and peaceful solution for the West Papua conflict.

Tags: new
Previous Post

Human Rights in West Papua 2021

Next Post

Update on law suit against Sorong Regent – Judges rule against palm oil companies

Related Post

Udeido art group launches „Tonawi Mana” virtual exhibition on human rights situation in West Papua

Udeido art group launches „Tonawi Mana” virtual exhibition on human rights situation in West Papua

17.11.2021
What’s wrong with the education and healthcare system in West Papua?  A case study in Yalimo provides insights

What’s wrong with the education and healthcare system in West Papua? A case study in Yalimo provides insights

17.11.2021
Amnesty International publishes new report – Human rights situation in West Papua shows no improvement

Papuan worker disappears as armed conflict near the Freeport Mine escalates – Amnesty International launches Urgent Appeal

18.11.2021

Category

  • 2013
  • 2014
  • 2015
  • 2016
  • 2017
  • 2018
  • 2019
  • 2020
  • 2021
  • About Us
  • Biennial Report
  • CCPR Review 2013
  • CESCR Review 2014
  • Human Rights Report
  • International Law & Norms
  • National Laws
  • News
  • Political History
  • Quarterly Reports
  • Resources
  • Special Reports
  • Uncategorized

Tags

new (17)

ABOUT PAPUA

West Papua is the western half of the New Guinea island and comprises the two eastern-most Indonesian Provinces (Province Papua & Province Papua Barat). After decades of transmigration from other parts of Indonesia, the indigenous Melanesian population makes up less than 40% of the population.

Links

  • News
  • About Papua
  • Human Rights Report
  • Resources

Instagram Feed

    Go to the Customizer > JNews : Social, Like & View > Instagram Feed Setting, to connect your Instagram account.

Recent Post

Update on legal processes in relation to attack on military post in Maybrat – Lawyers call upon judges to acquit juvenile defendant

Update on law enforcement process in relation to attack on military post in Maybrat – six defendants transferred to Makassar for trial

31.12.2021
18 September 2021 marks end of palm oil moratorium in Indonesia – NGOs demand extension

Palm oil company PT Subur Karunia Raya alleged of breaching multiple laws in Teluk Bintuni

31.12.2021

© 2021 ICP - Webdesign by ➤ digitaleformate

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Human Rights Report
    • Quarterly Reports
    • 2019
    • 2017
    • 2015
    • 2013
    • 2011
    • 2009
    • Genocide Report
  • Resources
    • International Law & Norms
    • National Laws
    • Political History
  • About Us

© 2021 ICP - Webdesign by ➤ digitaleformate

Skip to content
Open toolbar

Accessibility Tools

  • Increase Text
  • Decrease Text
  • Grayscale
  • Links Underline
  • Readable Font
  • Reset