Yasonna Responds to UN Human Rights Call for Dialogue with Papuan

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Legal and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly has responded to United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet’s call for dialogue between the Indonesian government and Papua and West Papua people.

Yasonna asserted that the government is still prioritizing to hold a dialogue in dealing with the conflict in Papua and West Papua. “The government concerns about it. We will hold dialogues,” said Yasonna in Gadjah Mada auditorium of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas), Jakarta, Thursday, September 5.

Yasonna refused to comment further. He said Coordinating Minister of Politics, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto has the authority to deliver statements regarding Papua.

“Let the Coordinating Minister make statements about it,” he said.

On September 4, through a written statement published on the UNHR’s website ohchr.org, Michelle Bachelet said there should be no place for violent acts in a democratic and diverse Indonesia.

“I encourage the authorities to engage in dialogue with the people of Papua and West Papua on their aspirations and concerns,” said Bachelet.

She claimed to have been disturbed by the escalating violence in the past two weeks in the country’s easternmost province, especially the deaths of some protestors and security forces personnel. 

Bachelet also demanded the authorities to restore the internet service and refrain from using excessive power in handling the public unrest in Papua and West Papua.

FRISKI RIANA