Jakarta – We welcome the plan for a Jakarta-Papua dialogue that is now being pursued by the Indonesian Government. Peaceful dialogue is the only dignified way to resolve all the political and humanitarian problems that have persisted in Papua to the present day. A dialogue between Jakarta and Papua can also be an indicator of the government's seriousness in protecting and complying with the basic rights of the Papuan people.

However, we request that the entire process of dialogue should take full account of the aspirations of the Papuan people. In taking the dialogue process forward, we ask that the government consistently protects and complies with the basic rights of the Papua people by ensuring that that there is no repetition of violations of the Papuan human rights. The government should review the presence of the TNI security forces and the under-cover security operations that continue to occur.

On the other hand, we also call for the local political situation in Papua to be reviewed along with the Papua-Jakarta dialogue that is to be undertaken by the government. Building the confidence of the Papuan people in the seriousness of the government is a basic condition before a Jakarta-Papua dialogue can be held.

Bearing in mind the local political situation that is now developing, we ask the government not to proceed with the election of members of the Majelis Rakyat Papua which is planned for 28 February. The MRP is an institution that was mandated by Law 21/2001 on Special Autonomy for Papua (OTSUS). In a number of forums, the vast majority of the Papuan people have declared that OTSUS has failed because it has not taken sides with, given protection to, empowered and fulfilled the basic rights of the indigenous Papuan people. This is why the people have handed OTSUS back to the government in Jakarta.

The government has nevertheless pressed ahead with the election of a second-term MRP in fifteen districts of Papua, in accordance with Perdasus 4/2010. The second-term MRP is due to be sworn into office and will consist of 75 members, of whom 42 are from the province of Papua and 33 are from the province of West Papua.

The MRP elections are regarded by many people as having been forced through. The DPRP has called for the MRP elections to be postponed, while the leaders of three Protestant churches, the GKI, the KINGMI and the Papuan Baptist Church, have called for the MRP process to be halted. and for dialogue to take place between the Jakarta government and representives of the Papuan people, mediated by a neutral third party.

Moreover, the election of MRP members has not been transparent, it has failed to comply with the electoral stages stipulated by the Perdasus, while the counting of the votes has been deeply fraudulent. We are afraid that forcing through the swearing in of the members of the MRP will only reinforce the Papuan people's sense of disappointment towards a government that lacks any understanding and has shown no respect for local Papuan feelings.

This is why it is important to ensure that all initiatives taken by Jakarta involve the participation of the Papuan people and take account of their aspirations.

The creation of a special body to handle all the problems in Papua is extremely important and should take place in parallel with the holding of dialogue. This is extremely important in order to ensure that the government's initiative is seen in a positive light and free from suspicion and to ensure that the dialogue process for which the Papuan people have hoped can be speedily realised. We also urge the government to undertake a more comprehensive evaluation of the implementation of development that has taken place in Papua up to the present.

(The Alliance for Papua in Jakarta was set up as an expression of solidarity with humanitarianism, in support of fellow human beings in their struggle for justice and truth.)

Issued by Alliance for Papua:

KontraS, ANBTI, IKOHI, Imparsial, Foker LSM Papua, Setara Institute, HRWG, Komnas Perempuan, FNMPP, IPPMAUS, Forum Papua Kalimantan, PGI, Walhi, JIRA, LBH Pers

[Translated by TAPOL.]