Prabowo’s Human Rights Credibility Test: Orang Asli Papua Demand Papua be Opened to Journalists

Описание: Prabowo’s Human Rights Credibility Test: Orang Asli Papua Demand Papua be Opened to Journalists

As Indonesia prepares to take on greater visibility in global human rights forums, President Prabowo Subianto faces a defining test of credibility: whether he will open West Papua to independent journalists and international observers. For decades, Papua has remained largely closed to the world, shielded from scrutiny by restrictions that contradict Indonesia’s stated commitment to transparency and human rights.

I am Raki, international spokesperson of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP). On January 12, Interim President Benny Wenda made a clear statement that Indonesia is unfit to lead the UN Human Rights Council while it continues to block access to Papua. This message is especially urgent for leaders across Melanesia and the Pacific. Without truth and accountability in Papua, there can be no justice—climate, human, or political—in our region.

The demand is simple and reasonable: allow journalists into Papua and permit a long-overdue UN visit. Independent reporting is not a threat to democracy; it is the foundation of it. When media access is denied, allegations of abuse, displacement, and environmental destruction multiply in the shadows, unanswered and unresolved. Opening Papua would allow facts to replace denials and dialogue to replace fear.

President Prabowo has the power to choose a different path from the past. By lifting restrictions on journalists, his government can demonstrate genuine leadership and respect for international norms. If Indonesia wishes to be seen as a responsible regional and global actor, it must start by telling the truth about Papua—and letting the world see it for itself.

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