Marzuki Darusman: The State Needs to Understand the Papuan Perspective

Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Marzuki Darusman, assesses that the government’s commitment to enforcing human rights in Papua still faces fundamental obstacles in the form of an unwillingness to confront the “truth” of history. “It is painful to confront the truth in Papua. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that what happened in Papua is colonialism,” said Marzuki when met at the launch of the Amnesty International Indonesia report in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, 21 April 2026. According to him, the social dynamics of Papuan society have undergone a long evolution due to historical pressures. He explained that Papuan society, initially consisting of life groups, developed into communities, and subsequently formed an identity as a nation that now claims its territory. “That is a natural evolution from life groups to a nation,” stated the former Attorney General. Marzuki emphasised that a military approach is not a solution to the Papua issue. He encouraged an approach he called “internal independence” within the Indonesian framework, stressing the importance of understanding the perspective of Papuan society. “For 75 years, we have been trying to Indonesianise Papua. Now it is time to Papuanise Indonesia. To understand what is happening there,” he said. He also criticised the way the state responds to the political expressions of Papuan society, which are often conveyed peacefully. According to Marzuki, such statements should be understood as a form of civil disobedience, not always interpreted as separatism attempts. On that occasion, he mentioned an incident several years ago when a group of Papuans crossed into Papua New Guinea and even to Pacific countries to voice conditions in Papua. The Indonesian government, he said, requested their return “as if they were property of the Republic”.