Recent Tension in Papua

Tensions in Papua, where a separatist movement has simmered for decades, have been running high in recent weeks where five people were killed in violent incidents across the restive eastern province recently and some Papuans have called for a boycott of the election.

Meanwhile three people were killed and two injured in stabbing attacks in the highland town of Wamena late Wednesday. In other incidents, a building at the Abepura University was set ablaze while a fuel depot on the island of Biak caught fire in suspicious circumstances, killing a four-year-old girl.

Calls for Papuan independence have grown ahead of the elections and police said the violence could be part of an effort to undermine the vote. Throughout the years, the central government and provincial administration found themselves at loggerheads over a number of issues. Their reasons are obvious.

First, socioeconomic development in the region is making little significant progress. The public health service is seen as inadequate, and the HIV/AIDS question is not being properly handled. The education sector remains plagued by a lack of facilities and teachers. Widespread poverty amid Papua's natural riches is still the order of the day.

Second, little progress has been made on the human rights and state violence questions. To mention but a few cases, the legal process in respect of grave rights violations in Wamena and Wasior has stalled in the Attorney General's Office. A 2004 military operation in Puncak Jaya (2004) that resulted in serious rights abuses has not even been officially reported yet. Worse still, the first permanent Human Rights Tribunal (2005) has failed to punish rights violators in Abepura (2000). The victims in the case were taken aback by a defense attorney's statement that the accused should be considered ""heroes"" and the injured parties ""separatists"".

Third, the demand for ""setting the historical record straight"" in Papua and hopes for reconciliation have not been responded to wisely.

The Papuans' demands for freedom are connected with the historical issue. This problem will hamper Papua-Jakarta reconciliation and the effort to build healthier political ties. The people of Papua will continue to question their political history in various local, national and international forums.