Councilor Deerd Tabuni – Jubi
Jayapura, Jubi – President Joko Widodo’s visit to Papua last week has drawn criticism from Papuan councilors.
Councilor Deerd Tabuni criticized Jokowi for not bringing up a dialogue between Papua and Jakarta, which he proposed last year.
“What Papuan people have been waiting for is the fulfillment of the promise from December 2014 for a Jakarta – Papua Dialogue that has not yet happened until now. What happened to it?” he said by phone on Wednesday (13/5/2015).
According to him, the most important thing should be resolved in Papua is the never ending conflict. The president should not only have done ceremonial activities.
“Though Mr. President came to Papua but if he didn’t solve the conflict, it would mean nothing. Papuan people are waiting for a conflict resolution. It must be considered as priority,” he said.
He futher said the president must talk about the Papuan issues first, especially the conflict resolution.
“So we must solve the conflict in Papua first before talking about economy and infrastructure. One of many ways to resolve the conflict in Papua is by opening access for peaceful dialogue between Jakarta – Papua, as promised by president,” he said.
The Papuan councilor Ruben Magay earlier said during the time the Papuan people expected a dialogue with Jakarta to resolve many problems occurred in the eastern province of Indonesia.
“During Christmas Celebration in Papua in December 2014, Jokowi promised a dialogue. Now Papua people are waiting for his promise. But his visit had no influence to the people of Papua,” Ruben Magay said at that time.
“Until now Papuans continue to be killed, arrested and accused as separatist, OPM and so on. It becomes the reason why Papua indigenous people want the dialogue to find solution of the problems in Papua. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
