Nabire, Jubi – The Executive Director of ULMWP, Markus Haluk emphasised that the ULMWP decided not to meet the Special Working Committee on Papua Issue (Pansus Papua) of Indonesian Regional Representative Council (DPD RI). Instead, they will deliver a message through an open letter. Haluk also admitted that ULMWP had received an invitation from Pansus DPD RI for sitting a dialogue. However, in responding to this letter, and for finding solutions of the political conflict that occurred in Papua for 56 years (May 1963-2019), ULMWP has set six points to address by Pansus Papua DPD RI.
First, Pansus Papua must consider to include the West Papuan people’s demand for a referendum on Self-Determination in the meeting agenda.
“Secondly, the meeting should conduct through the mediation of the Secretary-General of the United Nations or the third party appointed and agreed by both sides,” he said.
And the third, he said, the UN High Commissionaire for Human Rights must be allowed to visit West Papua in accordance to an appeal made by 18 Pacific countries at the 50th Pacific Islands Forum in August 2019.
“The Indonesian Government should withdraw all the additional troops of 8,000 military and police personnel deployed to Papua since August 2019. It is our fourth point,” he said.
“Meanwhile, the fifth, he continued, all West Papuan political prisoners must be released, including Buchtar Tabuni, Bazoka Logo, Steven Itlay, Surya Anta, Agus Kossay, both university and high school students arrested during the conflict against racism.”
Moreover, the sixth point urges the Indonesian Government should remove all restrictions on access to international media, NGOs, humanitarian workers, scholars, parliamentary members and religious leaders to visit West Papua.
Concerning their points, Haluk said ULMWP has also delivered their message to President Joko Widodo in October 2019.
In the meantime, Edison Waromi, the Chairman of ULMWP Legislative Committee, said ULMWP and the Government of Indonesia had sat together around the same table in Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) since 2015. Also, both sides attended in other international forums to talk the same issue.
“However, the Indonesian Government has indicated its lack of commitment to solve the root of conflict that occurred in Papua. They have not indicated a sincere desire to involve the conflict peacefully,” said Waromi.
In contrast, Waromi continued, the only response of the Indonesian Government to the conflict is by deploying more additional military and police personnel and keeping terror and intimidation against people that cause death, displacement, arrest and detention as well as the arbitrary transfer of political prisoners among West Papuans.
“We also think the Government of Indonesia keep continuing to spread propaganda and criminalise the organisational movement of UMLWP. But our desire to achieve a democratic referendum, to uphold our right to self-determination has never died,” he said. (*)
Reporter: Abeth You
Editor: Pipit Maizier
