2) Komnas HAM hopes talks with Papua pro-independence groups can start soon
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1) Benny Wenda : Komnas HAM does not have the capacity, dialogue has already taken place at MSG and PIF
Papua Peace Dialogue - Admin
March 13, 2022
The Papuan people, continued Wenda, actually already know that the dialogue proposed by Komnas HAM is only a diversion from the pressures of the international community on Indonesia.
Jubi TV – Chairman of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Benny Wenda emphasized that the Indonesian National Human Rights Commission does not have the capacity to organize or mediate a peaceful dialogue between the Papuan people and the Indonesian government. Komnas HAM, according to Wenda, is an institution that is part of the Indonesian state.
Komnas HAM RI targets a peaceful dialogue between the government and indigenous Papuans, including with the ULMWP and the Free Papua Organization (OPM) to be held this year.
"Hopefully this year, the government, OPM, community leaders, church leaders, traditional leaders can start to sit down," said Komnas HAM chairman Ahmad Taufan Damanik.
However, Taufan said that the peaceful dialogue in Papua will be a little different from what has been done in Aceh. The peaceful dialogue in Papua is planned to be mediated directly by Komnas HAM. This is different from the dialogue between the Government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) which was mediated by an NGO from Finland, namely the Crisis Management Initiative.
Taufan claims it was chosen because there are still many Papuans who believe in domestic institutions. So, they are willing to be mediated by Komnas HAM.
Benny Wenda gave a different response to Taufan's claim.
"It is impossible for dialogue to be mediated by one of the dialogue parties," said Wenda.
In addition, Wenda said that so far what Komnas HAM has done in cases of alleged human rights violations in Papua has never been completed or followed up by the Indonesian government. This fact shows the absence of trust from the Indonesian government itself in the state human rights institution that it established itself.
"This fact also makes the Papuan people distrust the Komnas HAM as well," said Wenda.
Wenda reminded that in 2019, President Jokowi had also said he was willing to have a dialogue with groups fighting for Papuan independence, but until now, this statement has never been proven.
Dialogue is already happening in MSG and PIF
According to Wenda, the Papuan people have been in dialogue with the Indonesian government for the past six years, mediated by the Melanesian Spearhead Groups (MSG) and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). In every MSG forum, ULMWP which has the same position as Indonesia as an Associated Member gets the opportunity to convey the will of the Papuan people along with human rights issues in Papua. Likewise, the Indonesian government has the opportunity to respond.
“Why is Indonesia included as an Associated Member at MSG? That's because MSG leaders expect Indonesia to bring a solution to the problems that occur in Papua," said Wenda.
But so far, there has been no common ground to continue the process of resolving the Papua issue. This is because, said Wenda, the ULMWP has brought up cases of alleged human rights violations, while Indonesia has brought up issues of development and Special Autonomy.
“This shows that Indonesia does not have good intentions to solve the problem. They even underestimate the problems that occur, “said Wenda.
The Papuan people, continued Wenda, actually already know that the dialogue proposed by Komnas HAM is only a diversion from the pressures of the international community on Indonesia to seek a resolution to the Papuan problem.
“The pressure that is happening is not pressure from non-governmental organizations or the initiative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. This is state pressure. Indonesia knows that, the Papuan people also know that. The issue of this dialogue is just a distraction from the people's attention,” explained Wenda.
MSG leaders on the occasion of the MSG Forum emphasized that the MSG recognizes Indonesia's sovereignty and can provide a platform or forum for dialogue between the Papuan people and the Government of Indonesia. A statement delivered by MSG in the forum "Ending Colonialism" organized by the United Nations, said that MSG has taken the initiative to create and institutionalize this dialogue, maintain and develop it in the medium to long term to address the concerns of Indonesia and the ULMWP. MSG's efforts to assist members will be assessed in due course and adjustments will be made to further enhance mentoring and constructive engagement with MSG members.
Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), Dame Meg Taylor, admitted that the Papua issue had been on PIF's agenda since 2000 and through engagement with Pacific civil society, became PIF's permanent agenda in 2015.
In 2021, PIF calls on the UN Human Rights Council to encourage all relevant parties to immediately facilitate a mission to West Papua by the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
“Without broad access from independent media, civil society or human rights groups in Papua, it is difficult to verify individual claims. However, reports of alleged human rights violations cannot be underestimated. I remain deeply troubled by the conflict and human rights violations in West Papua,” said Dame Meg Taylor.
Dialog conditions
To carry out the dialogue process, Wenda said that he had put forward conditions in 2019. Only if these conditions were met could a peaceful dialogue between the Government of Indonesia and the Papuan people take place. Those conditions are:
. Papuans who have long been determined to demand a referendum, are included in the meeting;
Meetings are conducted through third party mediation (For example organized by the United Nations or an agreed third party country);
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights was allowed to visit West Papua in accordance with an agreement made by 18 Pacific nations at the 50th Pacific Islands Forum in August 2019;
The 16,000 Indonesian military and police personnel deployed since August 2019 were immediately withdrawn;
All West Papuan political prisoners released;
All restrictions on entry to West Papua for international media and NGOs were lifted.
Wenda emphasized that Indonesia should allow the United Nations to visit Papua and see the real facts. Are the Papuan people's reports true or the Indonesian government's reports? After the facts and evidence for each claim are obtained, then we can continue with a dialogue to resolve the Papua issue.
"We will solve it with a cold heart after getting evidence for the claims of each party," said Wenda.
Wenda continued, the problems faced now occur because of the involvement of international parties. So the solution must also involve mechanisms and the international community. (*)
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2) Komnas HAM hopes talks with Papua pro-independence groups can start soon
Vitorio Mantalean, Jakarta – National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) Chairperson Ahmad Taufan Damanik hopes that peace talks between Papua and Jakarta can begin to be held this year.
"The hope is that this year the initial stage can begin, and the government, the OPM [Free Papua Movement], social figures, church figures, traditional figures, can begin to sit down [together and talk]", said Damanik at the Shangri-la Hotel in Jakarta on Wednesday March 9.
Despite this, Damanik did not deny that efforts to develop peaceful dialogue between Papua and Jakarta will not be easy.
And although he hopes that the dialogue can be held this year, he could not predict however whether it would really be as hoped.
This is because dialogue between Jakarta and Papua will be a long process that is very much dependent upon the political situation, the armed conflict and security situation.
Nevertheless, Komnas HAM will be the first party to initiate dialogue by opening up communication with figures in Papua, and primarily with Papuan pro-independence groups.
"But we will do it and next week we will depart to initiate it, it will be a long process and we'll need to seek out [opportunities] all over the place", added Damanik.
Earlier it was reported that Damanik had confirmed that peace talks with Papuan pro-independence groups would soon be initiated, and that this has already been agreed to by senior state officials.
"It's been agreed to by the president. Several times we've met with him and he agrees", said Damanik.
"Pak Menkopolhukam [Mr Chief Security Minister Mahfud MD], also the TNI [Indonesian military] commander – the previous and current one – also appreciated it. In the case of the Kapolri [Indonesian police chief], right from the start he appreciated it", he continued.
Damanik explained that pro-independence camp will be the groups that are prioritised in the peace talks, and aside from them there will also be traditional community figures, church figures and others.
If these figures are prepared to hold a dialogue with Jakarta – and on the other hand the Palace is also ready – then face-to-face peace talks between the two camps can go ahead.
"[Including] (United Liberation Movement for West Papua Chairperson) Benny Wenda", explained Damanik.
"Especially the pro-independence [groups], they must be invited to talk, if not it won't work. What's most important, is yes, them. I also said to the government at that time, we can't refuse to start communication with Papua independence figures who indeed many people still listen to", he said.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Komnas HAM Harap Dialog Damai Papua-Jakarta Bisa Dimulai Tahun Ini".]
Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2022/03/09/21250951/komnas-ham-harap-dialog-damai-papua-jakarta-bisa-dimulai-tahun-ini
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