Father Neles Tebay – Jubi
Jayapura, Jubi – A better future for Papua should be built through constructive communication to avoid conflicts, said the Chairman of Peace Papua Network (JPD) Pater Neles Tebay.
“Today’s discussion reminds us that Papuans could not be built upon the violence, but communication could involved many parties in the efforts to manage the future of Papua,” Tebay said at a public discussion held by the Indonesian Journalism Network (IJN) at Grand Abe Hotel in Monday (24/8/2015).
“I emphasize the need for discussions between Papuans to collectively build understanding to develop the better future of Papua,” he said.
Therefore, according to him, if the outsiders are coming and asking, Papuans could explain what is the meaning of Papua Land of Peace according to Papuans. “Today, we want build Papua as Land of Peace but we who are living in Papua have not similar understanding about what it is, therefore a discussion is needed to determine its indicator,” he said.
Tebay further added there are many factors that slow down the turning process of Papua to become the land of peace. He asked Papuans to identify the problem together, so that the problems could be accommodated and it becomes the common problems of Papuans.
“All of us in Papua have a problem. Therefore, through a discussion we could resolve the problem in order to achieve Papua the Land of Peace. We are not forcing the government or president to create Papua as the Land of Peace, but it’s us who should do it. For whatever our background, religion or ethnic is, those who live in Papua should be involved in the efforts to materialize better future of Papua as the Land of Peace.
In order to materialize Papua as the Land of Peace through constructive communication, he recommended two options. First, the Central Government through the Coordinating Ministry of Politic, Law and Human Rights need to formulate a team consisting of three people who are responsible to build communication with all related stakeholders and to manage the feasible mechanism.
“These three people are not indigenous Papuans but they are trusted by the People of Papua, support the constructive communication and officially assigned by the President,” he said.
Secondly, the Local Government at provincial, regional and municipal levels of Papua and West Papua provinces should be actively involved. The Coordinating Minister of Politic, Law and Human Rights need to invite all governors, regents and mayors of Papua to discuss about the role of Local Government to support Papua as the Land of Peace.
“With endorsement from the Central Government, the Local Government could facilitate meetings such as seminar and workshop at the entire regencies/municipalities, to discuss about the indicators of Papua the Land of Peace, to identify any problems that prohibit the process of peace in Papua, and to offer some concrete and measured solutions. These meetings should be involved both indigenous people and Non-Papua associations, therefore they could sit together in materializing Papua to become the Land of Peace,” said Neles Tebay.
He further said the methodology of constructive communication need to be considered and prepared carefully. “We knew without proper methodology, a communication –even it was admitted as constructive communication—would never produce a constructive result for relevant stakeholders. Sometimes we are tempted not to account the lack of appropriate methodology, either because it requires a long time or for pursuing the results. Therefore, it should be stressed once again that the constructive result would be obtained through a methodology of constructive communication,” said Tebay. (Roy Ratumakin/rom)
