2020: A year of meaningful diplomacy over Papua?

Ronny Kareni
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PREMIUM

Canberra / Mon, February 3, 2020 / 08:55 am

2020: A year of meaningful diplomacy over Papua?

Marginalized: Wearing traditional headdress, Papuan human rights activists Dano Tabuni (right) and Ambrosius Mulait wait for the start of their trial at the Central Jakarta District Court. The two face charges of treason for flying the Bintang Kejora (Morning Star) flag during a rally outside the State Palace last August. (JP/Seto Wardhana)

The year 2020 dawns with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s continued blatant avoidance of human rights violations and willful ignorance of West Papuans’ right to self-determination. But with Papuans’ increasing commitment to realizing peace with justice in their homeland, the time has come for Indonesia to act swiftly and decisively over the issues that are important to Papuans. The next 12 months will determine whether Jokowi’s multi-party coalition is capable of finalizing the timing of the visit of the United Nations high commissioner for human rights (currently Michelle Bachelet), which aims to address the Nduga humanitarian situation, and of entering into a third-party mediation with Papuan independence leaders for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in the territory. These events are pivotal as they will make or break Jakarta&rsquo...