Jakarta – Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Ahmad Taufan Damanik hopes that peace talks between Papua and Jakarta can start this year.
“Hopefully this year the early stages have started, from the government, OPM, community leaders, church leaders, traditional leaders, they can start sitting,” said Taufan when met at the Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta, Wednesday (9/3/2022). .
However, Taufan does not deny that making plans for peace talks between Papua and Jakarta will not be easy.
Although he had hoped that peace talks would take place this year, he could not predict that it would actually turn out as expected.
This is because the Jakarta-Papua peace dialogue is a long process that depends on the political situation, conflict and security.
Even so, the National Human Rights Commission will be the first to initiate a dialogue by involving Papuan leaders, especially those in the pro-independence Papuan camp.
“But we will do it, next week we will go, the initiation, the process is long. Aceh also used to be a long process, we had to meet everywhere,” added Taufan.
Earlier reports said that Taufan confirmed peace talks with pro-independence Papuans would start soon and had been approved by state officials.
“It was approved by the president. We have met several times and he agreed,” said Taufan.
“The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, and the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces then and now also appreciate it. The National Police Chief appreciated it from the start,” he continued.
Taufan stressed that the pro-independence camp would be a priority group for peaceful dialogue, along with traditional leaders, churches, and others.
If these figures are willing to have a dialogue with Jakarta, and vice versa with the Palace, then a direct peaceful dialogue can take place between the two camps.
“Benny Wenda (Chairman of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua/ULMWP, United Liberation Movement for West Papua,” explained Taufan.
“Especially those who advocate independence must be invited to dialogue, otherwise we cannot. What matters is them. I also told the government at the time that we could not refuse to initiate communication with them. Many party politicians still listen to the opinions of Papuan independence figures,” he said.
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