12 Jun 2012

Indonesia urged to seek Papua dialogue to end international attention

2:20 pm on 12 June 2012

The Indonesian Government has been urged to begin an initiative for a peace dialogue for Papua to avoid international intervention.

A lawmaker T B Hasanuddin is reported in the Jakarta Post as saying the problems in Papua would not have attracted the international community if the government had seriously resolved them.

He also says foreign influence is apparent in the recent escalation of violence.

The paper reports some in Indonesia are suspicious that the US marines deployment in Darwin in Australia is related to problems in Papua and that it might serve as an intervention force - an allegation which has been denied by the US.

Another politician, Mahfudz Siddiq, says the people of Papua understand the need for a dialogue, but are uncertain about how it should be carried out.

He says this means the government must take the initiative because President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed his desire for a peaceful dialogue there.