The Indonesian government plans to grant amnesty to approximately 44,000 prisoners, including non-combatant political prisoners from West Papua Indonesia.

Minister of Human Rights Indonesia, Natalius Pigai, stated that the amnesty will specifically target those who hold ideologies differing from Pancasila, Indonesia’s national ideology. However, the amnesty will exclude political prisoners involved with the Free Papua Movement.

Pigai explained that President Prabowo Subianto’s intention behind the amnesty is to foster reconciliation and establish peace in West Papua. “To build lasting peace in West Papua, we are implementing dignified policies that prioritize human rights and reconciliation,” Pigai said.

The government is currently conducting assessments to determine the exact number of Papuan political prisoners eligible for amnesty. Pigai anticipates the assessment process will conclude within a year.

Prioritizing Dialogue for Peace in West Papua

Cahyo Pamungkas, a researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency Indonesia, believes that the amnesty for non-combatant political prisoners will only contribute to peace in West Papua if it is preceded by dialogue between the government and pro-independence groups. Unilateral amnesty, he argues, will be ineffective.

“The key is to initiate dialogue and reach a permanent political agreement. If amnesty is granted at the outset, it won’t be beneficial as it would be a unilateral and one-sided decision,” Cahyo stated.

He cited the example of President Joko Widodo granting clemency to five West Papuan political prisoners in 2015, including Numbungga Telenggen, who was serving a life sentence. Cahyo noted that Numbungga rejoined an armed group after his release, highlighting the need for dialogue to address the root causes of the conflict.

“Clemency, amnesty, or abolition will not provide a solution without prior dialogue or a peace process. The root of the problem is not amnesty, but the armed conflict that needs resolution through dialogue,” he emphasized.

Cahyo advocates for equitable dialogue between the government and West Papuan separatist groups. He also suggests that influential groups in Papua should hold a Peace Conference to unify their voices before engaging in dialogue with the government.

Groups such as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) and the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) would be key participants in such a conference.

While acknowledging that amnesty can be granted before dialogue, Cahyo stresses that it should be viewed as a gateway to initiate dialogue and build trust between both sides.

The Need for Dialogue to Achieve Peace in West Papua

Yan Christian Warinussy, spokesperson for the Papua Peace Network, identifies the differing interpretations of history as the root cause of the armed conflict in West Papua. He highlights that Article 46 of the Special Autonomy Law for Papua mandates the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to clarify Papuan history.

Warinussy emphasizes that the differing political views on West Papuan history are not limited to non-armed groups in cities and the diaspora but also extend to armed groups. “This is why the offered amnesty is still debated and cannot be solely relied upon to foster peace in Papua,” he said.

To achieve peace in West Papua, Warinussy urges the government to initiate informal discussions with pro-independence leaders, resistance groups, and the diaspora. He proposes the appointment of a presidential envoy by President Prabowo Subianto to facilitate this informal communication.