Papua Conflict Resolution Challenges: The Linkage Of Relative Deprivation With The Spirit Of Separatism Of Indigenous Papuans

Abstract

For many years, the Land of Papua has experienced bloody battles as separatist parties fought for independence from the Indonesian government. Understanding how relative hardship contributes to complaints and drives violent action is one of the critical obstacles to resolving these disputes. Indigenous people in Papua have long felt exploited and marginalized by the national government and international businesses that take resources out of the area. Compared to others in a social group or society, the sense of unfair disadvantage is called relative deprivation. This feeling of relative deprivation has fostered demands for independence and violent confrontations with security forces. In order to analyze a specific phenomenon, this research study employs a qualitative methodology that includes a thorough literature review of reliable papers. The result of this study is that the Papuan people experience relative deprivation because they have lost what previously belonged to them, such as land and resource rights, political representation, cultural identity, human rights, and fair social services. This sense of loss has caused deprivation in the Papuan people. At the same time, this deprivation fosters a separatist spirit channelled through acts of violence that cause casualties. The central government's lack of concern exacerbates the relative deprivation conditions of the Papuan people. Thus, the people of Papua are increasingly marginalized by the central government.