Despite many challenges, Pastor Neles continue to fight for the 'Jakarta-Papua dialogue'

Father Neles Tebay Kebadabi

Born as the Papuans, making Father Neles Tebay Kebadabi feel directly the history of the Papuan people who are full of what he called 'memoria passionis'.

Human rights violations in the form of shootings, beatings, intimidation by the Indonesian military, as well as by the pro-independence become an everyday reality, which is almost taken for granted.Pastor Neles admitted, he saw this as a challenge.

"My faith teaches that all human beings are the image of God, has the same dignity, because it all must be respected. Problems that afflict many years Papuans should be terminated immediately, "he told ucanews.com in Jakarta some time ago.

That's why, since 2010, with the team from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), the priest who was born in Godide, Dogiyai Regency, Papua province, February 13, 1964 it initiated the Papua Peace Network (JDP), which aims to bring all parties to the conflict in Papua by peaceful means.This group consists of young people from various ethnic, religious and racial voluntarily working to encourage the realization of dialogue.

Pastor Neles admit, the dialogue is not the idea itself. "This is the will of the Papuans who had appeared in the Papuan People's Congress in the year 200o, but after the congress, the idea sank. I tried again membangkitnya to be done ", he said.

Commission members and Commission Missionary Theology at the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Indonesia (KWI) is sure, the dialogue is the best way to end the violence. He called it the democratic way, civilized and dignified.

Violence, he said, with the motivation and purpose whatsoever will never resolve the problems in Papua.

"The ways it was even more humiliating and trampling values ​​championed peace. Therefore, all parties need to sit together, to find solutions for what happened, "said the Rector School of Philosophy and Theology Abepura the Fajar Timur.

The impetus for ongoing dialogue delivered by Pastor Neles writing since 10 years ago, published in some local media, national, or international, also through seminars and discussions.

He explained, would be achieved in this dialogue is to bring together two different and conflicting paradigms between the government and the people of Papua that has been going on for more than 50 years.

"So far, no Papuan military or military look that's there as a representation of the invaders. Indonesian government considered an invader ".

It comes from a perception problem of West Papua's integration into Indonesia, Papua is considered by some to be full of manipulation.

Because of that, he said, the Papuans who have bergerylia with their guns, do not feel guilty when Indonesian soldiers shoot.

"Shooting is considered as justification, part of efforts to fight the invaders. This paradigm is still alive among the Papuans. The presence of the Indonesian government considered illegal. Because it is illegal, then countered, "he said.

Meanwhile, he said, from the government, any form of Papuans protest against the government, is considered as part of the separatist movement.

"Therefore, when the army killed Papuans, then this is not considered wrong, as part of an effort to root out enemies of the state".

According to Father Neles, it can not be tolerated. "If both parties do not feel guilty, in the future there will be more violence. Its roots must be resolved, "he said.

Pastor Neles believes violence is the result of more fundamental problems in Papua.

"Violence only smoke. There is a fire which led to smoke it. During the causes have not been found, during the same violence will continue to occur and disrupt development and peace in Papua, "he said.

Because of that, he said, JDP aims to bring together these two paradigms.

"Both sides should sit together, should go out of their paradigm and find common ground to take a new paradigm. Here's what to look for in the dialogue, "he said.

He explained that the dialogue is done in stages and gradually. Tribes in Papua dialogue first. Then, their dialogue was held again at the district level. Not only that, people in the forests of Papua into Papua guerrillas and people abroad must also be met for dialogue.

"At the same time, the central government in Jakarta should conduct public consultations, dialogue with all stakeholders in Papua. The political views of the migrants in Papua also be accommodated, "he said.

This dialogue, also must involve the security forces and the companies that are in Papua to the same perception.

"Finally, there needs to be a national-level conference to identify problems and find realistic solutions".

Regarding the dialogue mechanism, according to him, the President can establish dialogue team. '"This team is going to arrange a dialogue mechanism so that the process can be more inclusive and participatory. The team will also represent the government to cooperate with the people of Papua in regulating the process of dialogue, "he said.

He added that the dialogue team should consist of people who have the reputation and integrity as well as nationally and internationally recognized, including of course by the Papuans themselves.

"They will think how to structure the dialogue mechanism. If this team does not exist, the dialog will remain discourse. Concrete action to resolve the Papuan problem will not arise ", he said.Although actual dialogue has not happened, but he admits, was no light to get there.

If the first, he said, the dialogue always suspected the government and security forces as part of the separatist movement, and is considered taboo and is seen as an expression of Papuan separatism."However, today, the Papuans are no longer taboo to talk about dialogue. As soon as violence broke out, the dialogue always take precedence to resolve the issue ", he said.

Persistence Pastor Neles memperjungkan this dialogue led to his election as the recipient of the Tji Hak-Soon Justice and Peace Award on Wednesday (13/3), which is given by the Foundation for Justice and Peace Tji Hak-Soon is based in Seoul, South Korea.

Reverend Socrates Sofyan Yoman, Chairman of the Synod Fellowship of Baptist Churches in Papua (PGGBP) judge, what diperjuangan Pastor Neles an effort to concretize the dream of all the people of Papua.

"In dialogue is the will of all the people of Papua. Pastor Neles presented represent what is desired Papuans, to make Papua a land of peace ", he said.

He added that now is the openness of the anticipated government to immediately implement this.Similarly, Marthen Goo, National Coordinator Papuan Solidarity (breathing) rate, Pastor Neles is a true warrior figure.

"He knows what the will of the people of Papua. Perseverance to continue to voice this, hopefully it will soon manifest itself in the implementation of dialogue ", he said.

He added a note, Pastor Neles need to continue to move the internal consolidation in Papua, embracing groups is still not accepted the idea of ​​this dialogue.

Ryan Dagur, Jakarta 

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