Observer voices concern about developments in Papua

Jakarta (ANTARA News) – A political observer has voiced concern about social and security developments in Papua saying the government should be alert and consistent in dealing with the situation there.
Ikrar Nusa Bhakti from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said the government had to take measures to anticipate an escalation of pro-independence activity in Papua.
He said the separatists now no longer used violent but political methods as well as international diplomacy.
He referred to the peaceful rally in Sentani, Abepura and Manokwari on August 2 that had drawn n empathy not only from domestic but also international communities.
“The government must not ignore the pro-independence movement in Papua. The government must no longer use a business-as-usual approach in dealing with it,” he said.

He also said that the government must not ignore the separatist movement by considering that it could be settled through government-to-government approaches with the US, Australia or Britain.

He said international politics were no longer determined by government relations alone but also by non-state actors.
“Papua pro-independence activists abroad have begun using the Timor Leste method,” he said.
They have built networks in the US called West Papua Network, in Australia called West Papua Freedom Association and others.
In response to that, he said, the government must collect detailed information to see what had really happened and why it had happened.
The government also must know who the figures behind the movement were and ascertain whether represented the groups that it could have a dialog with.
Source news: http://www.antaranews.com/en/news