Vice President Emphasizes The Importance Of Dialogue With KKB To Eliminate Distrust In The Government

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin when delivering a statement to reporters during a working visit at the Papua Governor's Office, Jayapura City, Papua Province, Tuesday (10/10/2023). (ANTARA/Andi Firdaus)

JAYAPURA - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin seeks to foster the trust of the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) in the government through various dialogue forums involving the role of local religious leaders.

"I think we are trying to eliminate this distrust through dialogue that we continue to do with religious figures," said Ma'ruf Amin, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, October 10.

The vice president said that the dialogue at the sectoral level with human rights figures, traditional leaders and various other related parties was also pursued by the government in the midst of an accelerated economic development and welfare program in Papua.

Through this effort, Ma'ruf hopes that everything that triggers misunderstandings between the two parties can be lost.

"We hope that the misunderstanding will disappear. We will continue to do it where it is located (the root of the problem)," he said.

The most important thing for the current government, said Ma'ruf, is to explore the aspirations of the Papuan people through discussion forums.

"When it comes to talking about independence, of course there is none. If independence is not a solution. But in other problems we talk about openly," said Ma'ruf when asked about the wishes of the KKB.

Previously, in the agenda of a joint meeting with a number of human rights activists and religious leaders at the same location, the Chairman of the Muhammadiyah Papua Regional Leadership (PW) Subhan Hamid Massa expressed his readiness to provide understanding to the parties in conflict.

"The Vice President's message should not disturb anyone about security. We understand what he wants, don't make trouble because after all, the victims are all from the side of our loved ones, including our apparatus and children in Papua," he said.

Subhan said all forms of dispute can be resolved through the legal instruments that are now available, including customary law.

"We play a more role in providing understanding alone, all safety factors are measurable, meaning that it can be resolved by customary law and other stages above it," he said.