The dialog must involve the central government and regional administrations
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) is encouraging the government to hold a dialog with customary, religious and social figures in Papua and West Papua to find fair, comprehensive and acceptable solution to the recent conflict in the two provinces.

"The dialog must involve the central government and regional administrations," MUI Deputy Chairman Zainut Tauhid Sa'adi said in Jakarta on Friday.

By holding the dialog, the solution can accommodate the aspirations of all interest groups in the two provinces.

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MUI also appealed to security agencies to take stern measures against those inciting a
spate of violent rallies in several parts of Papua and West Papua in the upshot of the alleged racist slurs against the Papuan students in Surabaya, East Java, on August 16.

"Stern measures must also be taken against intellectual actors and provocateurs of riots in Papua who want to tear the Papuan community apart," he said.

To solve the conflict in Papua and West Papua, MUI advised the government to take wise and firm steps through dialog, culture, law enforcement and human rights approaches.

The question of Papua must be solved seriously and cautiously by finding comprehensive solution so as not to cause a negative impact on the statehood and nationhood, he said.

A spate of violence erupted in several parts of Papua and West Papua following the Surabaya incident.

In the West Papua provincial capital of Manokwari, a rally against the alleged racist slurs turned into violence on August 19, with some protesters set fire to a local parliamentary building and tires in several parts of the city.

A violent rally again erupted in the Papua provincial capital of Jayapura on August 29, The brutal demonstrators went on a rampage, vandalizing and setting ablaze several government buildings.

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Translator: Muhammad Zulfikar/Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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