11 Jul 2011

West Papua peace conference calls for dialogue

3:30 pm on 11 July 2011

An official presence by Jakarta at a conference in Papua discussing peaceful solutions to the long simmering conflict in the region has been described as positive.

The over 500 participants at the Papua Land of Peace Conference at Jayapura's Cenderawasih University included religious, customary and resistance leaders from throughout Papua.

Among those speaking were Indonesia's Minister-Coordinator for Politics and Law, Papua's Governor, Chief of Police and a local military commander.

The West Papua National Coalition for Liberation's Rex Rumakiek says there was a unified call by Papuans to pursue dialogue for peace.

"The issues that normally are very sensitive to the military and the government were laid out in the presence of the officials and that is very good. But it's not enough. We have to wait. I advise people not to take it on face value and go ahead and make some more mistakes. Just wait for Jakarta to consume it and respond properly before we can take any more steps."

Rex Rumakiek