Supporting Papuan Police Amnesty, PKB Legislator: The Door To End Armed Conflicts On Cenderawasih Earth

JAKARTA - Member of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the Indrajaya National Awakening Party (PKB) faction, supports President Prabowo Subianto's plan to grant amnesty to Papuan political prisoners (Tapol).

Indrajaya assessed that President Prabowo's move could be the opening door to end the armed conflict permanently on Earth of Cendrawasih.

"We consider President Prabowo's move to grant amnesty to political prisoners from Papua is a new approach in efforts to create peace in Papua. We certainly really appreciate and hope that granting amnesty will be followed by constructive steps towards lasting peace in Papua," said Indrajaya, Wednesday, January 29.

According to him, granting amnesty to Papuan political prisoners is a wise step from President Prabowo. Moreover, some inmates due to the armed conflict are already in dire condition.

"I heard that there are prisoners of this armed conflict who are seriously ill, permanently disabled, and mental disorders, the granting of this amnesty can treat revenge and defuse armed conflict," said Indrajaya.

Indra emphasized that the step to realize lasting peace in Papua must not stop at just an amnesty step. According to him, in the near future the granting of amnesty must be followed by a way of dialogue between the human government and stakeholders in Papua.

"Giving amnesty is the right of the president, but it must be accompanied by peaceful dialogue, reconciliation from human rights perspectives, and guarantees of security, justice, and equitable distribution of welfare," said the South Papua legislator.

Indra regretted that the armed conflict in Papua had not been resolved even though the government had changed. Instead, he said, this armed conflict has continued to show an escalation in the last five years.

In 2020, at least two incidents occurred, namely the shooting of Brimob members by KKB at Kenyam Nduga Airport in January and the attack on Marine Mupe Task Force personnel by the KKB in March 2020. Finally, in January-March 2024 there was an armed conflict between the TNI-Polri apparatus and the TPNPB.

"I hope that the government of President Prabowo this armed conflict will not happen again. I also believe President Prabowo is serious about creating peace in Papua," said Indra.

Indra reminded that Indonesia is a country that has good experience in providing amnesty due to armed conflict. He gave an example of amnesty given through the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indonesian Government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) through Presidential Decree No. 22 of 2005.

At the MoU, amnesty guarantees that security and all due to criminal law for all GAM members are abolished. Furthermore, the social, political, economic and other rights rights rights of GAM members are restored.

Indra said it was not easy to unravel the armed conflict that occurred in Papua. One of the allegations that emerged was the exploitation of natural resources by the central government which was previously felt unfair.

Therefore, the sense of opinion is that the government should be able to receive tangible benefits from development in Papua.

"President Prabowo must be sure that the Asta Cita Program which is proclaimed can provide equitable justice and prosperity for the people from Aceh to Papua," he said.