Jayapura, Jubi – The Papuan Peace Network (JDP) calls for a humanitarian pause to end all armed conflicts in Papua and start a peaceful dialogue.
JDP spokesman Yan Christian Warinussy stated that a humanitarian pause was very much needed in order to provide access for humanitarian workers to help the Papuan people who were trapped in the armed conflict. The prolonged armed conflict in Papua has led to a wave of internally displaced people.
Warinussy said a pause would stop the government from placing a large number of non-organic military forces in Papua. According to him, sending additional troops to Papua is not effective in solving the Papua problems.
“JDP has always believed that a security approach, such as by deploying more Indonesian Military (TNI) and police personnel in Papua, is very unhelpful in building a peaceful Papua,” Warinussy said via Whatsapp on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
He said the Papua Peace Network had repeatedly reminded all parties, especially President Joko Widodo, that social, cultural, political, and economic problems in Papua should be approached peacefully by using dialogue as a method or tool.
“A peaceful dialogue will indeed help all parties to stop armed conflicts and reduce violence across the Land of Papua,” he said.
Warinussy called on United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to voice and support peaceful dialogue to take place in Papua, in order to resolve socio-political conflicts in Papua. Papua peaceful dialogue needs international support from UN member states.
“It is important as it will give strong pressure and encouragement to the Indonesian government to start the Papua-Jakarta Dialogue in the near future,” he said.
Recently, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) met with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss Papua peaceful dialogue. The Papua Peace Network said such a step was in line with the Komnas HAM’s duties as regulated in Article 75 of Law No. 39/1999 on Human Rights and Article 4 and 5 of Presidential Decree No. 50/1993 on Komnas HAM.
