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Jokowi open to dialogue with pro-referendum Papuan leaders
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has opened the door for possible dialogue with Papuan pro-independence leaders after a deadly riot hit Wamena, Papua, last week, killing dozens of people and displacing thousands.
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President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo meets Papuan public figures at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Sept. 10. Jokowi has met with Papuan leaders and residents several times in Jakarta since tensions escalated in the restive provinces in August. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
P
resident Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has opened the door for possible dialogue with pro-independence Papuan leaders after a deadly riot hit Wamena, Papua, last week, killing dozens of people and displacing thousands.
"There's no problem in just meeting. I will meet anyone who wants to meet me," Jokowi said at the Bogor Palace on Monday, in response to a question of whether he would hold a dialogue with pro-referendum Papuan leaders.
Jokowi's reaction follows public calls for the government to hold talks with pro-referendum groups, the National Committee of West Papua (KNPB) and the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) amid the turmoil engulfing the country's easternmost provinces in the past two months.
Wamena, which is located in Jayawijaya regency, saw violent unrest erupt on Sept. 23, when a mob, reportedly of native Papuans, set buildings on fire, destroyed vehicles and attacked people with weapons. At least 33 people were killed in the incident — most of whom were of non-Papuan descent. Authorities said the victims had died of stab wounds or burns.
The speaker of West Papua's Maybrat Regional Legislative Council (DPRD Maybrat), Ferdinando Solossa, requested during a forum with Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko on Sept. 24 in Jakarta that the President meet with ULMWP and KNPB leaders.
Ferdinando suggested that the dialogues be held by involving independent, neutral and objective third parties to resolve the issues.
On the sidelines of the forum, Moeldoko told reporters that the government would have to further consider the request, which according to him would require "certain techniques".
