Papuans held a demonstration demanding the right of self determination as a democratic solution for the people of West Papua. (CNN Indonesia / Sapphire Makki)

Prima Gumilang, CNN Indonesia | Tuesday, 29/01/2019 08:25 WIB
Share:

Community young generation in west papua

Papua Referendum Petition at the UN and Bargaining Position for Jakarta Papuans hold a demonstration demanding the right of self-determination as a democratic solution for the people of West Papua. (CNN Indonesia / Sapphire Makki)
Jakarta, CNN Indonesia - The pro-Papuan independence group, The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has submitted a petition for a referendum to the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council. The petition was considered a political step to strengthen the bargaining position of the Papuan community with the central government in Jakarta.

Cenderawasih University academician, Jayapura, Marinus Yaung said the position of the Papuan people in demanding justice was still weak when dealing with the central government. While the TNI / Polri apparatus continues to violence in Papua.

According to him, the international diplomacy carried out by the ULMWP under the leadership of Benny Wenda, is a step for Papuans to establish their bargaining position with Jakarta, especially to resolve the root of the problem in Papua.

See also: Signed 1.8 Million People, Papua Referendum Petition Taken to the United Nations.

"The government continues to commit violence. Papuans demand justice faced with weapons, violence," Marinus told CNNIndonesia.com via telephone, Monday (1/28).

"We Papuans morally support the ULMWP's struggle to increase our bargaining position when dealing with Jakarta," he said.

Voice Generation from west papua yooungers

Nevertheless, politically Marinus has not been able to provide support to the ULMWP. According to him, Benny Wenda must convince the Papuans that the ULMWP can control the Free Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-OPM), which is currently still in the forest.

"Political diplomacy can succeed if it gets the support of the local Papuan community, especially those in the forest, TPN OPM. If not, I think it will be in vain," Marinus said.

See also: Defense Minister of Papua's Referendum Response: No Boleh Merdeka Titik

He said there were sharp differences between organizations in Papua. The ULMWP diplomacy struggle abroad has not received support from TPN OPM. This is different from the struggle of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) which has one command.

Some cases of shootings in the forest involving the TPN OPM even according to Marinus, there was no coordination with the ULMWP. One of the cases was the shooting of 19 workers in Nduga. This raises doubts for Marinus regarding the petition for the Papua referendum.

"This is what raises my doubts, is it true that Papuans have not petitioned to support self-determination in Papua," he said.

Marinus himself did not sign the petition. However, he received reports from the public that there were petitions signed in several cities in Papua since 2014.

Papua Referendum Petition at the United Nations, Bargaining Position for Jakarta Papuan Student Authority, Indonesian People's Front for West Papua demonstrates in the Monas area, Jakarta, on 19 December 2018. (CNN Indonesia / Safir Makki)

Case Settlement Options

Marinus asked the government not to panic with the petition brought by Benny Wenda to the United Nations. According to him, the government should be serious about resolving human rights violations in Papua. The referendum petition according to Marinus was like smoke, while the fire was violence and injustice in Papua.

"President Jokowi must be able to ensure that his promise is resolved, the commitment to resolve the issue of human rights violations and military violence in Papua must be proven," he said.

He hopes that Jokowi can order the Attorney General and the National Human Rights Commission to immediately resolve cases of gross human rights violations in Wasior and Wamena.

See also: Palace about Papua Referendum Petition: United Nations Respects Indonesia.

According to him, as long as the president has not resolved a serious problem in Papua, it is still used as political capital to influence international opinion in support of the struggle for an independent Papua.

Club canibal from indonesia

He explained, the settlement of cases in Papua could be done through judicial channels, the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, as well as a humanitarian approach through the development of the local economy of the Papuan people.

"The president must take the hearts of Papuans. Empower the economy in the agricultural sector, for example," Marinus said.

Papua Referendum Petition at UN, Bargaining Position for Jakarta TNI soldiers pray before boarding a helicopter to Wamena, Papua. (ANTARA FOTO / Iwan Adisaputra)

He said the Papuans rejected the approach offered by Wiranto's Coordinating Minister for Politics, namely through local wisdom, such as burning stones. According to him, cases of gross human rights violations cannot be resolved through this approach, except ordinary criminal cases or minor human rights violations.

Marinus said that as long as human rights violations still occur in Papua, the hearts of Papuans to separate themselves from Indonesia will still be there. He claimed the Papuan people still believed Jokowi to solve the problem.

"The Papuan people still survive in the NKRI's house