Three Approaches to Overcome the Papua Problem

Three Approaches to Overcome the Papua Problem

A number of other approaches are needed in addressing Papua's problems. Member of the House of Representatives Commission I Sukamta stated, military operations in Papua were not the main solution for solving the Papua problem. Military operations in Papua will only lead to antipathy and continued violence among Indonesian citizens and against the TNI-Polri apparatus.

For example, a security approach by prioritizing military operations in Papua was carried out during the New Order era to resolve the issue of separatism in Papua. Cases of Bloody Biak (1998), Bloody Wasior (2001), Bloody Wamena (2003), and Paniai (2014), and finally in Wamena 2019 are evidence that the military approach turns out to create an endless cycle of violence.

A number of other approaches are needed in overcoming the problem of Papua. First, an approach related to the basic needs of the people of Papua. The central government and the regional government of Papua must seriously meet the needs of minimum standards for health, education to upper middle level, welfare by reducing poverty rates below 10 percent, then the importance of communication.

Then the second approach is the de-radicalization and deideology of the Free Papua Movement. Namely by involving the BNPT who has experience in combating terrorism for Papua plunged into ideological pockets of the Free Papua Movement at home and abroad.

"The ideology of an independent Papua must be changed towards the nationalism of the Republic of Indonesia with a fixed price," he said.

The third approach, according to Sukamta, is improving local governance. The government through the Ministry of Home Affairs, Kemenpan RB in collaboration with the local governments of Papua, the National Police, the Attorney General's Office, BPK, KPK, must seriously deal with issues of budget efficiency, government management and public services in Papua.

He said, from 2001 to 2019, the total special autonomy fund for Papua and West Papua was Rp 83 trillion and in 2020 it was allocated 8.37 trillion, but the development of improving the quality of human resources, governance and public services did not change significantly. The central government must seriously oversee the special autonomy funds, management and achievement must be in accordance with the target.