JOKO WIDODO’S THREE MAYOR POLICIES REGARDING THE WEST PAPUA CONFLICT

Abstract

The West Papua conflict is the only disintegration problem and last regional conflict in Indonesia. Previously, Indonesia also faced disintegration problems in Aceh, East Timor and Maluku. The Free Papua Organization is an organization that aims to fight for independence from Indonesia uses violent methods - armed struggle in west papua region and political struggle such as demonstrations, while abroad the United Liberation for West Papua and the Papuan diaspora carry out international lobbying to get support for independence for West Papua. Some of the main sources that cause the West Papua conflict are: historical issues, political violence and human right abuses, development failure and economic disparities, exploitation of natural resources, marginalization of indigenous Papuans and racial issues. In the era of President Joko Widodo (2014 – 2024), the government have attempted to resolve the conflict in West Papua. This study focuses on Jokowi’s policies in resolving the West Papua’s conflict. The results of this study show three main policies of president Jokowi, namely:  security, infrastucture development and the symbolic approach of Jokowi’s visit in West Papua. However, even these three policies have been implemented, the conflict of Papua has not been resolved.