Prabowo’s presidency sparks fear and faint hope in Indonesia’s restive Papua

By Victor Mambor, BenarNews

As Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto, the controversial former general, assumed the presidency on Sunday, residents in the restive Papua region grappled with anxiety and, for some, cautious optimism.

The remote and resource-rich region has long been a flashpoint for conflict, with its people enduring decades of alleged military abuse and human rights violations under Indonesian rule.

As a former military commander takes power, many Papuans fear that their future will be marked by further violence and repression.

In Papua, views on Prabowo, whose military record is both celebrated by nationalists and condemned by rights activists, range from apathy to outright alarm.

Many Papuans remain haunted by past abuses, particularly those associated with Indonesia's counterinsurgency campaigns that began after Papua was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 through a disputed UN-backed referendum.

For people like Maurids Yansip, a private sector employee in Sentani, Prabowo's rise to the presidency is a cause for serious concern.

"I am worried," Yansip said. "Prabowo talked about using a military approach to address Papua's issues during the presidential debates."

"We've seen how the military presence has worsened the human rights situation in this region. That's not going to solve anything-it will only lead to more violations."

In Jayapura, the region's capital, Musa Heselo, a mechanic at a local garage, expressed indifference toward the political changes unfolding in Jakarta.

"I didn't vote in the last election-whether for the president or the legislature," Heselo said. "Whoever becomes president is not important to me, as long as Papua remains safe so we can make a living. I don't know much about Prabowo's background."

But such nonchalance is rare in a region where memories of military crackdowns run deep.

Prabowo, a former son-in-law of Indonesia's late dictator Suharto, has long been a polarizing figure. His career, marked by accusations of human rights abuses, particularly during Indonesia's occupation of East Timor, continues to evoke strong reactions.

In 1996, during his tenure with the elite Indonesian Army special forces unit, Kopassus, Prabowo commanded a high-stakes rescue of 11 hostages from a scientific research team held by Free Papua Movement (OPM) fighters. The operation was deadly, resulting in the deaths of two hostages and eight separatist rebels.

Markus Haluk, executive secretary of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), described Prabowo's presidency as a grim continuation of what he calls a "slow-motion genocide" of the Papuan people.

"Prabowo's leadership will extend Indonesia's occupation of Papua," Haluk said, his tone resolute.

"The genocide, ethnocide, and ecocide will continue. We remember our painful history-this won't be forgotten. We could see military operations return. This will make things worse."

Although he has never been convicted and denies any involvement in abuses in East Timor or Papua, these allegations continue to cast a shadow over his political rise.

He ran for president in 2014 and again in 2019, both times unsuccessfully. His most recent victory, which finally propels him to Indonesia's highest office, has raised questions about the future of Papua.

Despite these concerns, some see Prabowo's presidency as a potential turning point-albeit a fraught one. Elvira Rumkabu, a lecturer at Cendrawasih University in Jayapura, is among those who view his military background as a possible double-edged sword.

"Prabowo's military experience and strategic thinking could help control the military in Papua and perhaps even manage the ultranationalist forces in Jakarta that oppose peace," Rumkabu told BenarNews.

"But I also worry that he might delegate important issues, like the peace agenda in Papua, to his vice president."

Under outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, Papua's development was often portrayed as a priority, but the reality on the ground told a different story. While Jokowi made high-profile visits to the region, his administration's reliance on military operations to suppress separatist movements continued.

"This was a pattern we saw under Jokowi, where Papua's problems were relegated to lower levels, diminishing their urgency," Rumkabu said.

In recent years, clashes between Indonesian security forces and the West Papua National Liberation Army have escalated, with civilians frequently caught in the crossfire.

Yohanes Mambrasar, a human rights activist based in Sorong, expressed grave concerns about the future under Prabowo.

"Prabowo's stance on strengthening the military in Papua was clear during his campaign," Mambrasar said.

"He called for more troops and more weapons. This signals a continuation of militarized policies, and with it, the risk of more land grabs and violence against indigenous Papuans."

Earlier this month, Indonesian military chief Gen. Agus Subiyanto inaugurated five new infantry battalions in Papua, stating that their mandate is to support both security operations and regional development initiatives.

Indeed, the memory of past military abuses looms large for many in Papua, where calls for independence have never fully abated.

During a presidential debate, Prabowo vowed to strengthen security forces in Papua.

"If elected, my priority will be to uphold the rule of law and reinforce our security presence," he said, framing his approach as essential to safeguarding the local population.

Yet, amid the fears, some see opportunities for positive change. Yohanes Kedang from the Archdiocese of Merauke said that improving the socio-economic conditions of indigenous Papuans must be a priority for Prabowo.

"Education, healthcare, and the economy-these are areas where Papuans are still far behind," he said. "This will be Prabowo's real challenge. He needs to create policies that bring real improvements to the lives of indigenous Papuans, especially in the southern regions like Merauke, which has immense potential."

Theo Hesegem, the executive director of the Papua Justice and Human Integrity Foundation, believes that dialogue is key to resolving the region's long-standing issues.

"Prabowo has the power to address the human rights violations in Papua," Hesegem said.

"But he needs to listen. He should come to Papua and sit down with the people here-not just with officials, but with civil society, with the people on the ground," he added. "Jokowi failed to do that. If Prabowo wants to lead, he must listen to their voices."

Pizaro Gozali Idrus in Jakarta contributed to the report.

-This article was originally published by BenarNews.