Resolving conflict and violence in Papua is not a matter of\nterritorial integration, accelerating development, creating new\nprovinces (DOB), or disbursing trillions of rupiah, but rather about\nrestoring human dignity that has been wounded for six decades. An\nirrelevant and rigid security approach has shackled Papua in the shadows\nof human rights violations, political issues, and the stigmatisation of\nthe region as \u2018separatist-prone\u2019, silencing the cries of indigenous\nPapuans (OAP) longing for justice.<\/p>\n
History records a significant turning point when KH Abdurrahman\nWahid, or Gus Dur, visited Papua in late 1999 as the President of\nIndonesia, bringing the humanitarian spirit of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). Gus\nDur\u2019s presence corrected militaristic suspicions and replaced them with\na bridge for equal dialogue. This historic step demonstrates that peace\nin Papua must begin with existential recognition, rather than mere\nterritorial unification.<\/p>\n
For NU and Gus Dur, caring for Papua is an obligation to defend the\nweak when the state perceives Papua as a threat to sovereignty. Gus Dur\nspecifically saw the \u2018inner wounds\u2019 of a social community because their\nfundamental rights were seized and their natural resource wealth was\ndrained without justice.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur\u2019s most lasting policy was restoring the name \u2018Papua\u2019 in late\nDecember 1999, removing the traumatic name \u2018Irian Jaya\u2019. He also\npermitted the flying of the Bintang Kejora flag as a cultural symbol and\ncontributed Rp1 billion to the Papua People\u2019s Congress in 2000.\nFurthermore, many are unaware that Gus Dur was the inspirational figure\nbehind the birth of the Papua Special Autonomy policy (Tap No IV\/MPR\nRI\/1999) during his presidency, which was later continued by President\nMegawati Soekarnoputri (UU No 21\/2001).<\/p>\n
Gus Dur firmly formulated a vision for the Papuan people: they were\nnot seeking political independence, but rather freedom from injustice,\ndiscrimination, and fear. This legendary statement negates the idea that\npolitical discourse is paramount; the essence of Papuan humanity must be\nrestored first. The second principle of Pancasila must be practised, not\njust as rhetoric in state speeches or by officials visiting Papua.<\/p>\n
The human rights perspective upheld by the NU tradition views the\nPapua issue holistically, moving beyond mere civil-political conflict.\nHuman rights issues here encompass three crucial dimensions. First,\ncivil-political rights involving the cessation of repression, guarantees\nof freedom of opinion, and law enforcement for past violations. Second,\neconomic rights and the customary rights of indigenous communities to\nhave full sovereignty over their land. Third, socio-cultural rights such\nas access to proper education and health. The tragedies of malnutrition\nand maternal and infant mortality, which indicate minimal access to\nmedical services, are portraits of structural human rights\nviolations.<\/p>\n
The Chairman of PBNU 2010\u20132021, KH Said Aqil Siroj, reinforced this\nstance in a national forum: \u201cThe Unitary State of the Republic of\nIndonesia (NKRI) must not be maintained with drops of blood, but with\ndrops of justice. Protecting Papua means ensuring that the fundamental\nrights of indigenous Papuan people are fully met.\u201d<\/p>\n
Therefore, the only solution to breaking the vicious cycle of\nviolence in Papua is through transformative peaceful dialogue. This\nshould not be a formal, rigid, or bureaucratic dialogue, but an equal,\nhonest, and emancipatory \u2018conversation\u2019. The central government must not\nunilaterally monopolise the truth. It must emulate Gus Dur\u2019s strategy,\nwhere successful dialogue involves grassroots actors. A persuasive\nhumanitarian approach must replace the security approach. Law\nenforcement must be carried out for pure criminality that harms the\npublic, but militaristic instruments must cease to be the primary weapon\nfor responding to social demands.<\/p>\n
Papua is the most honest test of Indonesia\u2019s consistency regarding\nhumanity and nationhood. Therefore, the thoughts of Gus Dur and the\ncommitment to justice maintained by NU provide a valuable lesson: peace\nhas never emerged from security approaches, National Strategic Projects\n(PSN), or corporations that have long exploited natural resources while\nignoring human beings.<\/p>\n
The key to resolving conflict and violence is the political courage\nto sit together and sincerely listen to the aspirations and needs of the\nindigenous Papuan people. Caring for Papua within Indonesia means\nensuring indigenous Papuans feel recognised, loved, respected, and\nvalued as whole human beings. The blueprint inherited from Gus Dur for\nPapua is to place humanity above political interests, capitalist\neconomics, and oligarchy.<\/p>\n
I entrust the new NU leadership under Rais Aam KH Miftachul Akhyar\nand General Chairman KH Abdul Hakim Mahfud, or Gus Kikin (2026-2031), to\ncontinually urge the government. Only in this way can a future for Papua\nthat is just, equal, and peaceful under the umbrella of the NKRI truly\nbe realised.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nu-gus-dur-and-papua-1789080710", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }