TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Association of Indonesian Travel Companies (Asita) asked President Joko Widodo or Jokowi to immediately resolve the issues in Papua and West Papua. Asita said that travel agents need to be able to convince potential tourists that Indonesia is safe.

"Now if Mr. Jokowi intervenes, it will be more comfortable. As the leader of Asita, I will treat Mr. President's statement as a reference to convince foreign tourists to come to Indonesia," Asita chairwoman Nunung Rusmiati told Tempo on Thursday, August 29.

According to Nunung, foreign tourists pay attention to what is happening in Indonesia. If the conflicts re not protracted, she believes they can understand the notes issued by Asita.

When the conflict first started, Nunung said, she was quite pleased with how East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa and Papua Governor Lukas Enembe addressed the situation, by quickly trying to defuse tension.

The problems in Papua and West Papua were triggered by racism against Papuan students in Surabaya by a group of people. The conflicts have spread and escalated, causing mass protests in a number of areas in Papua and West Papua. At the same time, the Ministry of Communication and Information decided to block internet access on the pretext of preventing the spread of fake news and hoaxes.

Yesterday, President Joko Widodo said that he always follow the developments in Papua, especially Jayapura.

He has ordered Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto; National Police Chief Tito Karnavian, BIN chief Budi Gunawan, and TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto to take firm actions against anyone who violates the law.

CAESAR AKBAR | ANTARA