NU, Gus Dur, and Papua
Resolving conflict and violence in Papua is not a matter of territorial integration, accelerating development, creating new provinces (DOB), or disbursing trillions of rupiah, but rather about restoring human dignity that has been wounded for six decades. An irrelevant and rigid security approach has shackled Papua in the shadows of human rights violations, political issues, and the stigmatisation of the region as ‘separatist-prone’, silencing the cries of indigenous Papuans (OAP) longing for justice.
History records a significant turning point when KH Abdurrahman Wahid, or Gus Dur, visited Papua in late 1999 as the President of Indonesia, bringing the humanitarian spirit of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). Gus Dur’s presence corrected militaristic suspicions and replaced them with a bridge for equal dialogue. This historic step demonstrates that peace in Papua must begin with existential recognition, rather than mere territorial unification.
For NU and Gus Dur, caring for Papua is an obligation to defend the weak when the state perceives Papua as a threat to sovereignty. Gus Dur specifically saw the ‘inner wounds’ of a social community because their fundamental rights were seized and their natural resource wealth was drained without justice.
Gus Dur’s most lasting policy was restoring the name ‘Papua’ in late December 1999, removing the traumatic name ‘Irian Jaya’. He also permitted the flying of the Bintang Kejora flag as a cultural symbol and contributed Rp1 billion to the Papua People’s Congress in 2000. Furthermore, many are unaware that Gus Dur was the inspirational figure behind the birth of the Papua Special Autonomy policy (Tap No IV/MPR RI/1999) during his presidency, which was later continued by President Megawati Soekarnoputri (UU No 21/2001).
Gus Dur firmly formulated a vision for the Papuan people: they were not seeking political independence, but rather freedom from injustice, discrimination, and fear. This legendary statement negates the idea that political discourse is paramount; the essence of Papuan humanity must be restored first. The second principle of Pancasila must be practised, not just as rhetoric in state speeches or by officials visiting Papua.
The human rights perspective upheld by the NU tradition views the Papua issue holistically, moving beyond mere civil-political conflict. Human rights issues here encompass three crucial dimensions. First, civil-political rights involving the cessation of repression, guarantees of freedom of opinion, and law enforcement for past violations. Second, economic rights and the customary rights of indigenous communities to have full sovereignty over their land. Third, socio-cultural rights such as access to proper education and health. The tragedies of malnutrition and maternal and infant mortality, which indicate minimal access to medical services, are portraits of structural human rights violations.
The Chairman of PBNU 2010–2021, KH Said Aqil Siroj, reinforced this stance in a national forum: “The Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) must not be maintained with drops of blood, but with drops of justice. Protecting Papua means ensuring that the fundamental rights of indigenous Papuan people are fully met.”
Therefore, the only solution to breaking the vicious cycle of violence in Papua is through transformative peaceful dialogue. This should not be a formal, rigid, or bureaucratic dialogue, but an equal, honest, and emancipatory ‘conversation’. The central government must not unilaterally monopolise the truth. It must emulate Gus Dur’s strategy, where successful dialogue involves grassroots actors. A persuasive humanitarian approach must replace the security approach. Law enforcement must be carried out for pure criminality that harms the public, but militaristic instruments must cease to be the primary weapon for responding to social demands.
Papua is the most honest test of Indonesia’s consistency regarding humanity and nationhood. Therefore, the thoughts of Gus Dur and the commitment to justice maintained by NU provide a valuable lesson: peace has never emerged from security approaches, National Strategic Projects (PSN), or corporations that have long exploited natural resources while ignoring human beings.
The key to resolving conflict and violence is the political courage to sit together and sincerely listen to the aspirations and needs of the indigenous Papuan people. Caring for Papua within Indonesia means ensuring indigenous Papuans feel recognised, loved, respected, and valued as whole human beings. The blueprint inherited from Gus Dur for Papua is to place humanity above political interests, capitalist economics, and oligarchy.
I entrust the new NU leadership under Rais Aam KH Miftachul Akhyar and General Chairman KH Abdul Hakim Mahfud, or Gus Kikin (2026-2031), to continually urge the government. Only in this way can a future for Papua that is just, equal, and peaceful under the umbrella of the NKRI truly be realised.