The Internationalization of Internal Conflict and the Diplomatic Challenges: The Case of Papua

Abstract

Although Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono claims that he has stabilized the situation in Papua, his policies on Papua as a matter of fact have faced limitations. Papua remains one of the poorer provinces in Indonesia and, under his presidency, violence and conflicts escalated, while human rights abuse cases continue. These issues served as fertile triggers for the internationalization of Papua, where unresolved problems in Papua have raised the interest of other countries so that they voice their concern over the mishandling of Papua and place it under the international agenda;. This article will observe cases of Papua internationalization and the diplomatic responses and challenges during SBY's administration. This atticle argues that the internationalization of the issue Papua's self-determination is attributed to two factors: continuous internal domestic 'failure' to promote welfare and human rights in Papua and Indonesia's 'diplomacy weaknesses.'