Jayapura – It has been proven that applying a security approach in Papua just continues to result in the sacrifice of civilians. It is hoped the Indonesian government will immediately open space for a peaceful dialogue to resolve the armed conflict in the land of Papua.

In a written statement on Monday April 15, Papua Peace Network (JDP) spokesperson Yan Christian Warinussy stated that the armed conflict in the land of Papua must be immediately ended by prioritising peaceful means through dialogue.

"the JDP is calling on the government so that armed conflict in Papua must be ended by prioritising peaceful means through dialogue", said Warinussy.

Warinussy said that the JDP has been consistent in its principle mission of continuing to encourage a peaceful dialogue to solve the problems in the Land of Papua. This mission was pioneered in 2010 by conducting discussion forums in major cities in Indonesia.

The JDP emphasised that social and political conflicts in the land of Papua have lasted for more than 50 years and cannot be allowed to continue any further. The government must pursue peaceful means to end this.

"The President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko [Jokowi] Widodo together with the ranks of his government must take responsibility for ending the armed conflict and violence in the Land of Papua. Armed conflicts will never solve any problems, but in fact [the problems] will continue to grow. Therefore, the JDP has always called for an approach to efforts to resolve social and political conflicts in the land of Papua that can only be done through peaceful and dignified Jakarta-Papua dialogue", said Warinussy.

Between March and April 2024, according to National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) data, there were at least 12 incidents of armed conflict and violence in the land of Papua that targeted members of the TNI (Indonesian military) and Polri (Indonesian police) as well as civilians.

Moreover, over this period five members of the Indonesian national police and three civilians died, four civilians and five members of the police were injured, and two women suffered sexual violence crimes (TPKS).

The continuation of the state policy of applying a security approach is increasingly tangible with the unbroken deployment of armed forces to the Land of Papua. According to Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) data, 1,147 TNI and Polri officers from outside Papua, consisting of 142 police and 1,005 TNI members were sent to Papua between January 2023 and February 2024.

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Atasi Konflik Papua, JDP Desak Pemerintah Buka Ruang Dialog".]

Source: https://suarapapua.com/2024/04/15/atasi-konflik-papua-jdp-desak-pemerintah-buka-ruang-dialog/