Wider autonomy granted to Papua in 2001 and a new deal to accelerate development in the resource-rich region in 2006 raised fresh hopes for its people to realize their long-standing quest for prosperity and long-lasting peace.
But a string of violent incidents plaguing the easternmost province and simultaneous rallies that demanded a referendum here in Jakarta and there as well indicate otherwise. Not only has a geographical distance of thousands of miles separated Jakarta from Papua, but it has also prevented dialogue, let alone a conversation of minds, between the two sides.
Clashes between supporters of regent candidates in the newly established regency of Puncak over the weekend claimed 19 lives. Less than 48 hours later, four people were killed by gunfire and machetes on the outskirts of Jayapura and, most recently, unidentified gunmen opened fire on the military in Mulia, the capital of Puncak Jaya regency.
There were many more acts of violence in Papua, either reported or not, that could discourage efforts to rebuild the territory into the land of peace that has been envisioned by local leaders since the reformation and regime change over a decade ago.
The road to reaching that dream has been winding and bumpy because of the central government's apparent lack of sincerity in developing the massive region.
For Jakarta's elites, Papua is a source of state revenue thanks to its lucrative extractive and forestry industries that they cannot let go of. Papua's special autonomy has forced the central government to pour Rp 28.8 trillion (US$3.4 billion) into Papua from 2002 to 2010 alone, but without adequate oversight.
The money bonanza quickly triggered conflicts between tribes and local elites that were settled simply through the creation of new regencies, while the abuse of regional budgets was left to run rampant.
Boven Digoel regent Yusak Yaluwo, who was sentenced to four and a half years in prison in March, was the latest Papuan public official convicted of graft, with many more waiting for prosecution, including 44 active West Papua legislative council members.
Implementation of the special autonomy has departed from its original objective, which was to improve the welfare of Papuans. Instead, the greater autonomy has been reduced to becoming a bargaining chip to silence popular demand for independence and comprehensive settlements of human rights abuses.
Political division that has been rife since the inception of special autonomy climaxed in the formation of the West Papua province in 2004 and of West Papua People's Assembly earlier this year without the approval of Papua. Jakarta's endorsement – if not initiation – of the political moves appears to confirm speculation that the central government has no commitment to Papua's special autonomy.
It comes as no surprise that many desperate Papuan community and religious leaders propose a withdrawal of the special autonomy. Others do not rule out a possibility of demanding a referendum.
The government's rejection to referendum request is final, regardless of the support for the cause either in Papua or overseas. But now that the Papua issue has gone international, as evident in the International Lawyers for West Papua conference in Oxford on Tuesday, immediate measures must be taken for comprehensive dialogue between the central government and Papuan leadership, including those with a referendum in mind.
A dialogue initiated by the Papua Peace Network last month, attended by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Djoko Suyanto, is a good start. But Papuans want more.