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Papua: Opportunity in diversity
One suggestion is for the Indonesian government to fund a major social research project looking at Papuan values. This could potentially provide the sort of quality data that reveals and explains Papuan values and then, in turn, recommends how these same values can better inform progressive policy.
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Thousands of people in Dogiyai regency in Papua rally against racism and demand referendum on Monday, Aug. 26, 2019. (Handout/-)
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ast week The Jakarta Post editorial stated, “To build Papua anew, Jakarta needs to listen to voices that have so far been left unheard” (Sept. 8). My question is, what does “anew” look like? A recent Zoom seminar organized by the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra in cooperation with the Indonesian Academics and Researcher Network (IARNA) may provide an achievable starting point for this national conversion.
The online seminar was organized to discuss several questions, one of which was, “How can cultural valves accelerate the development of Papua”. The keynote speaker was Papuan Gracia Billy Mambrasar, special adviser to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. One of Mambrasar’s discussion points was that respect for local values builds trust, and that in turn, this trust creates opportunities in education and entrepreneurship.
The second speaker, Dr. Rob Goodfellow, one of Australia’s most experienced cross-cultural specialists, complimented this argument by suggesting three concepts.
The first was to accept the notion that embracing human diversity inevitably challenges status quo thinking.
The second that, when nonPapuan Indonesians adapt to respecting Papuan values, exciting human possibilities will emerge.
The third was for Indonesian society to consider adopting some Papuan ways of doing things as they have done with the tapestry of ideals that now make up an evolving national character. This includes the Javanese with their reputation for etiquette, politeness and reserve, the Sundanese with their respect for family, brotherhood and tradition, and the Bataks with their admiration for education, entrepreneurism and loyalty.
Significantly, and after more than 200 years of European occupation, Australians are finally pursuing an ‘accept, adapt, adopt’ process themselves, with the Morrison federal government committing over US$100 million to support 840 full-time indigenous rangers to conserve cultural resources, protect biodiversity and practice traditional land conservation (including fire management and the control of invasive plants and animals in national parks and state forests, www. countryneedspeople.org.au).
