Jayapura, Jubi – Head of the Cenderawasih University’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (KKR) Team Melkias Hetharia said that violations of human rights in Papua can be resolved through customary law. For this reason, the soon to be formed Truth and Reconciliation Commission must pay attention to the culture of the Papuan people, Hethaeia said in an online discussion held by the Alliance for Democracy for Papua, on Friday, July 29, 2022.
According to Hetharia, the settlement of human rights violations in Papua through customary law was the right choice because the life of the Papuan people was inseparable with customs. Therefore, a reconciliation according to the customary law might provide a sense of justice, especially to the indigenous Papuan people.
“In Aceh, they use religious law or Islamic law for the reconciliation of human rights violations,” he said.
Hetharia stated that although customary law is the main priority in resolving human rights violations in Papua, they still pay attention to settlements through state law and international law.
“The form and system of the KKR that we hope for is indeed proposed in the form of a Presidential Regulation by the Governor of Papua, but we need to pay attention to the local wisdom of the Papuan people,” he said.
Hetharia said he hoped the Truth and Reconciliation Commission could be permanent, not only ad hoc. “Usually when the human rights crimes is resolved, the KKR will also be dissolved. But we hope that it will be a permanent institution,” he said. (*)
