Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – A delegation of Papuan politicians has called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to appoint a special envoy to improve Papua's image in the international world.
Speaking in separate meetings with the leadership of the House of Representatives and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) here on Thursday, the 10-member delegation representing the West Papua provincial legislative council, said the President could recruit the special envoy from career diplomats or from Papuan figures.
"The urgency of the special envoy is connected with the increasing 'black campaign' against Papua in international fora which has given an impression that human rights abuses continue in Papua," West Papua chief councilor Jimmy Demianus Ijie, who led the delegation, said during the meeting with the regional representatives.
He claimed the campaign against Papua was related to Indonesia's efforts to bar American Samoan Congressman Eni Faleomavaega from visiting Papua in July, 2007, and the failures of special autonomy in Papua and West Papua.
"We have been informed that the Germany-based World Churches Council just sent a letter of protest to the President on the accusation of continued human rights abuses in the two predominantly Christian provinces," he said.
After submitting to the US congress a bill asking Washington to look into human rights abuses in Papua, which was vetoed by President George W. Bush in 2006, Eni has campaigned against an Indonesian government he accuses of disregarding Papuan people's human rights and stealing its wealth.
Regional Representatives Council deputy chairman Irman Gusman expressed his deep concern over the "black campaign" and the poor condition of most Papuans, but said a special envoy would not settle the roots of the problem.
"Indonesian diplomacy should be boosted, without a special envoy on Papua, to have all friendly countries have a perception similar with ours on conditions in the two provinces," he said.
Irman said that in an informal meeting with the DPD leadership on Friday, the President showed a strong commitment to settling unresolved problems in the two provinces, including the immediate issuance of an emergency law on the formation of West Papua province.
He said it would be better if the President appointed a deputy foreign minister to improve the country's diplomacy.
Erwin Kawilarang, a regional representative and chairman of the ad hoc committee on Papua issues at the DPD, said the government should improve conditions in the two provinces if it wanted to improve international perceptions.
"The government will regain the Papuan people's confidence if the special autonomy aimed at settling the complicated Papuan issue go on effectively to make changes and improve the people's lives," he said.