Not only infrastructure, a number of other factors are the solution for Papua's peace

Until now, the Indonesian government continues to carry out all efforts to maintain peace in Papua with various strategies. One of them is through comprehensive development, where there is a non-violent and non-armed security approach. The government also does not want innocent civilians to become victims under any circumstances.

The existence of separatist groups, which must be acknowledged, still sometimes shows their existence in a guerrilla manner, which is a party that does not deal directly with the government, but as a criminal or separatist group that deals directly with law enforcement officials. The description of the problems faced by Papua is a legitimate part of the State of Indonesia. There is no room or tolerance for separatist groups. This is in accordance with the constitutional basis, Papera 1969, and UN Resolution No. 2504. Therefore, the government is involved in maintaining and creating peace for the Papuan people.

Peacekeeping Alternatives Apart from Infrastructure Development

In several studies and discussions by researchers, figures. and academics, it is stated that infrastructure development to respond to poverty conditions is not an absolute solution to ending conflicts, especially those that occur in Papua. There are still several factors that can be optimized to achieve sustainable peace.

The variety of development indeed contains the hope of increasing economic activity in Papua so that it can reduce the level of poverty and make the community more prosperous. There are many issues that according to researchers are not only related to economic problems, but also political, social, legal, and cultural issues. The complexities of the roots of the conflict need to be acknowledged together so that peace efforts in Papua no longer rely solely on infrastructure development policies and programs, but consider other factors beyond that.

An explanation was once delivered by a peace negotiator from the Philippines, Irine Morada Santiago in a discussion alluding to alternatives to the realization of peace apart from infrastructure development. According to him, development is not peace, and peace is not development. Peacebuilding (efforts to create peace) is a process that aims to increase connectors and reduce dividers so that development can take place. Meanwhile, development is a process of increasing capacity and reducing the vulnerability experienced by the community.

Development must also be understood as an effort to expand access and increase the choices that can be made by the community in continuing to live and determine their own destiny. In practice, development and efforts to create peace (peacebuilding) often intersect. However, this situation should not be a justification that development is the only way to bring about peace. To realize peace in conflict areas, for example, one must have a clear understanding of definitions, theories, and plans for change.

Transformative Development as Conflict Resolution

This is in line with Irine Morada Santiago's statement that not only rely on infrastructure development but also focus on studying conflict resolution in an effort to maintain peace. Practitioner and researcher, Delsy Ronnie also invites decision makers to re-evaluate what kind of development has been going on in Papua. The basic reason for this question is that there is a type of development that actually exacerbates conflict and does not contribute to efforts to create peace.

A development policy must be able to strengthen public trust in the government. If development is not able to build people's trust, these various physical buildings will not contribute much to efforts to bring about peace in Papua. Some types of development may actually have the potential to exacerbate tensions. For example, infrastructure development that does not benefit the local community, service programs that strengthen discriminatory practices, projects that support continued violence, and infrastructure development that the community protested.

On the other hand, development that contributes positively to peace efforts can be described, among others, strengthening health services, education, and other public services that include communities affected by conflict, ex-rebels and other minority groups. This can be referred to as transformative development, which can also be carried out through programs that involve the participation of wider community groups, especially related to the management of subsidies/assistance funds.

President Jokowi's Special Attention to the Development of Papua

The Indonesian National Police Chief General Pol Listyo Sigit Prabowo has given a description of the efforts of President Jokowi's government in building a paradise earth. According to him, currently there are several problems that hinder the development and improvement of welfare programs in Papua, one of which is the lack of socialization of these efforts.

The President has given special attention to Papua in order to accelerate development like other regions. This is a form of government commitment to change the development paradigm from Java-centric to Indonesia-centric.

In addition to infrastructure development, the government is also building superior human resources in Papua. From an economic perspective, it is in the form of assistance to MSMEs, village-based community development, development of superior pig breeds through artificial insemination. In terms of education, the construction of houses for teachers, dormitories for students and students as well as providing assistance for the rehabilitation of school infrastructure. In terms of health, the construction of a polyclinic building at the Jayapura Hospital, free medical treatment programs, and malaria control services.

Regarding the lack of socialization of the government's efforts to develop Papua. This needs to be resolved through face-to-face and dialogue with due regard to customs and the same frequency so that it becomes the basis for developing Papua. Therefore, it is necessary to have face-to-face and dialogue with religious leaders, traditional leaders, and community leaders in order to get support and input to solve all problems. Through dialogue, the Papuan people are expected to play an active role in realizing the development and improvement of human resources in the easternmost part of Indonesia, Papua.

This is in line with the statement by the Chairman of the Government Science Society (MIPI) Papua, Muhammad Musa'ad, that Special Autonomy (Otsus) is one of the instruments that can be used as a strategy to achieve accelerated development in Cenderawasih Earth. In addition, there are priority programs for Papua's 2019-2023 development which are the government's commitment to responding to challenges and strategic issues of Papua's development.

SOURCE: https://time.online/2022/08/29/10263/