The death of Suharto: What next for Papua?

Free to mourn or cheer , I quote those from the Economist which just like other Western medias, put the coverage story of former President Suharto in a bad taste. I like the expression of Free to mourn or cheer, and I interpret that as a freedom of expression. Indonesia now is showing such situation, that people can freelly expressing their feeling without fear.

As we can see from Indonesian mass media including TV, internet and printed news, that most of Indonesian respect the death and full of forgiveness. That is Indonesian culture and the Western people can not dictate us what should we do. The most unique situation is that the mourning expression was not only in Java, but also in many other places including in the land of Papua (see kabar papua).

What would be an appropriate Indonesian response to the death Suharto could not be forced  by only one perspective. The propaganda and counter propaganda regarding bad and good memorial to his presidency is a natural fight within the space of public opinion.

How about the problem that Suharto left in the land of Papua? One most important thing that  came to mind was to persuade the separatist movement in Papua to get involve in the development of Papua. Another important factor that can help the improvement of social and security condition in Papua is further reform of Indonesian Military. We should start to take further step towards the brighter future of Papua. Stop fighting and conflict of interest in Papua.

We don’t need more problems from the conflict between OPM and Indonesian Military. Freedom for West Papua is freedom from fear and suffering. Both OPM and his collegues abroad and Indonesian Military shadowing us with so much suffering.

I read another typical Western provocateur writing on Free West Papua by jolies_couleurs. He simplifies the case of Papua by suggesting a gift of freedom to West Papuan people. Hopefully his interpretation of freedom is the same as mine. If his interpretation is in accordance to the separatist movement, he just further firing more bullets to the conflict between OPM and Indonesian Military.