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Resolution of conflict in Papua remains an unfinished business for re-elected president of Indonesia

 
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyon’s popular reforms have given him a second term in office, but the peace process has been at an impasse since 2001 and has not witnessed any progress during his term · Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have reported the impunity of the Indonesian army against Papuan population.

Although the final results of today presidential elections are yet to be released, all sources seem to confirm that Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is to serve a second term as president of Indonesia. He has gained a landslide majority throughout the territory, the fourth most populated country in the world (230 million people). He has been successful in bringing about an steady economic growth, fighting corruption and making peace in Aceh.

Nevertheless, Yudhoyono has yet to deal with the West Papua issue, a question which has replaced Aceh as the centre of political turmoil in Indonesia. Yudhoyono has not been able in his five years in office of making any progress regarding the development of autonomy for the western half of New Guinea's island. West Papua, also known as Western New Guinea or Irian Jaya, has suffered the most violent side of the reformist government. Under the pretext of defeating the secessionist guerilla, the Indonesian army and police have crushed peaceful protests, banned Papuan political and cultural symbols and infringed human rights by unjustifiably detaining dozens of people and subject them to torture.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW), two of the most prominent international NGO's for human rights, have reported the impunity of the abuses perpetrated by Indonesian security forces. HRW published the report 'Indonesia: Abuses by Special Forces Continue in Papua' recently, in which the NGO requests the government to conduct an independent and impartial investigation into abuses by its elite special forces, Kopassus (Komando Pasukan Khusus). Amnesty International has asked for an explanation on the police shooting in a demonstration at Nabire, Papua.

A part from abuses from the military, the Papuan population has to put up with the Indonesian judiciary. People bearing pro-independence flags and slogans such as "Yes to the referendum; no to autonomy" in peaceful demonstrations are sentenced to prison if arrested.

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