REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Commission I of the House of Representatives has urged the government to create a comprehensive road map to address issues in Papua, to ensure that its efforts are not in vain.

"Commission I calls on the government to create a road map to settle problems in Papua," Deputy Chairman of Commission I Tantowi Yahya said after a meeting among the commission, the TNI commander and the BIN head to discuss the subjects of amnesty and abolition here on Monday.

According to Yahya, the road map is needed to create a program in line with others.

He pointed out that the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the TNI and the BIN do not have sustainable programs to resolve issues in Papua.

"We assessed that there were no sustainable programs among the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the TNI and the BIN to resolve problems in Papua," he noted.

Several members of Commission I, Yahya added, had questioned the president's efforts after he granted amnesty to political prisoners in Papua without involving the parliament.

Yahya remarked that Commission I did not support the government's decision to grant amnesty to the political prisoners in Papua.

"Papuan people do not agree with the government's policy of granting amnesty to political prisoners in Papua," he reiterated.

This was indicated in the call for an independence movement raised by Papuan students in Yogyakarta, Surabaya and Malang.

In addition, Yahya stressed that it was crucial to create a road map because they cannot resolve the problems in Papua partially.

"The government, the parliament and stakeholders should jointly discuss and overcome the issues in Papua," he said.

Earlier, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno L. P. Marsudi had said that the Indonesian government has never banned foreign media or tourists from covering or visiting Papua.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strong evidence to prove that foreign reporters are allowed to carry out some of their activities in the Papuan region," Marsudi stated on the sidelines of a meeting with Commission I, the TNI commander and the BIN head to discuss the subjects of amnesty and abolition here on Monday.

According to the minister, in 2014, 22 visits had been approved by the government. There were practically no rejections of requests for foreign visits.

"We have data proving that in 2014, there were 22 visits. There was nearly no refusal. Papua is not an enclosed area," she remarked, adding that if requests for visits were rejected by the government, it was done due to less administrative requirements and security conditions.

As long as they fulfill all required procedures, foreign journalists should have no problem visiting Papua, she affirmed.

Marsudi further noted that international parties highly appreciated Indonesia after President Joko Widodo revoked restrictions that earlier applied to foreign media in Papuan provinces.

According to Marsudi, the president's efforts had restored confidence that foreign media finds Papua fascinating.

"The opening of Papua to foreign reporters was welcomed by the international community," she added.

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