He says that in order to identify and settle these deep-seated problems and prevent acts of violence from recurring, a series of genuine talks between the central government and indigenous Papuans are urgently needed.

Tebay suggests that the proposed peace talks and participants of the dialogue need to be prepared. For the talks to materialize, three things should be taken into consideration.

• The current violence must end to provide a favorable climate for dialogue.
• All parties should recognize that the violence and calls for independence in Papua have increased in the 10 years after implementation of the law on special autonomy for Papua.
• President Yudhoyono should appoint a special envoy to handle the Papua conflict. As the envoy will be responsible for initiating political communication with all Papuan leading figures in Papua, Jakarta and abroad, the figure should be carefully selected so as not to meet opposition from the Papuans.

Father Tebay and Father Gabriel Ngga, the provincial superior of the Franciscans in Papua have also issued a joint statement "What the Civitas Acaemia of 'Fajar Timor' School of Philospohy have experienced and seen post the third Papuan Congress.

A group of New Zealand human rights, development and peace organisations have issued a statement on their Facebook page endorsing the measures called for by Father Tebay

Source

• The Jakarta Post
• Papua Post
• West Papua Media Alerts
• Image: pure-papua.posterous.com

Last week police violently broke up a Congress of indigenous leaders in Jayapura with unconfirmed reports of at least seven deaths and many injured. An activist from the Secretariat of Justice and Peace of the Catholic Church, was one of about about 300 people arrested.

Hernawan says there are three key steps Jakarta should take:

• Use the legal system rather than relying on excessive force.
• Engage in real and genuine negotiations with Papuan leaders.
• Pay more attention to the problems in the region rather than treating them as a domestic matter, because under international law Jakarta has a responsibility to provide protection.

On Wednesday, the Reverend Socratez Sofyan Yoman says the university was surrounded by about two-and-a-half thousand Indonesian security personnel, both hidden and in cars.

"Round the congress is police and military TNI, they are watching there, they are there. They are put in their cars like the panther, but there's no problem. I think the international community is watching us, we aren't alone."

Reverend Socratez said the delegates want Indonesia, the United Nations and the international community to recognise their political right to self-determination.

However later on Wednesday Indonesian police fired tear gas and warning shots in eastern Papua on Wednesday, breaking up a meeting and detaining 300 people who had declared the province independent, a police spokesman told Reuters.

The detentions of members of the Papua People Congress follows a deadly clash between police and striking workers at Freeport's Grasberg copper and gold mine in the same province.

Source

• Radio New Zealand International
• Sydney Morning Herald
• Australia Network News
• Image: Vimeo Screenshot