Papuan rights issues will be solved without deception: Luhut

Jakarta, Tabloid-Wani — Indonesia is committed to taking a holistic approach in its push for an immediate settlement of human rights cases in Papua, Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said on Thursday.

Luhut, who flew to Papua on Wednesday night and will be in the province until Saturday, plans to meet with all stakeholders, including religious leaders, students, military and police personnel, and NGOs to prove the country’s commitment to settling the issue.

“The government wants to show the world that we are serious and accountable and [will resolve these cases] without any deception,” Luhut said in a statement.

An integrated team responsible for investigating and analyzing alleged rights abuse cases in Papua, formed in May by Luhut, has concluded that from the 22 cases that were investigated, three constitute human rights violations and those three are currently in the process of being settled, Luhut said.

The three are the 2014 Paniai shooting, the 2001 Wamena incident and the 2003 Wasior incidents.

Confirming a statement made by National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) commissioner Nur Kholis, Luhut said a plenary meeting of the commission had agreed to create a task force that included Komnas HAM commissioners that would assist the government in resolving the cases.

New Zealand Ambassador to Indonesia Trevor Matheson, Solomon Islands Ambassador to Indonesia Salana Kalu, Fijian Ambassador S.T. Cavuilati and Papua New Guinean Ambassador Peter Ilau also presented as witnesses of Indonesia’s efforts in Papua, Luhut said.

The results of the investigation carried out by the integrated team will be submitted to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.