Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Indonesia Red Cross chairman asked to help end Papua conflict

Posted at 01:20 on 10 February, 2010 UTC

A newspaper in the Indonesian region of Papua says the National Human Rights Commission, Komnas HAM, has asked a former vice-president, Jusuf Kalla, to help solve the Papua conflict.

Bintang Papua says the commission approached Mr Kalla, who is now the chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross, because of his role in solving several past conflicts - in Poso, Ambon and Aceh.

The chairman of Komnas HAM, Ifdhal Kasim, says the former vice-president played an important role in solving these conflicts by peaceful means.

Mr Kasim says moves, such as upholding the rule of law, wouldn’t solve the problems in Papua.

He says the matter needs to be dealt with comprehensively, through dialogue.

Mr Kasim says since the recent killing of the Papuan separatist leader, Kelly Kwalik, conditions in Papua had become more tense.

He says there is a lot of dissatisfaction over Mr Kwalik’s death.