Steve Mara, a PhD student from Papua currently studying in the United Kingdom, continues to inspire young Indonesians through his latest book titled We All Want to Live in Peace. This powerful work highlights a simple yet profound message: that peace is both a right and a responsibility for all people, especially the people of Indonesia.
In the book, Steve reflects on the various conflicts occurring across the globe, including those in his homeland of Papua. Rather than ignoring the reality, he invites readers to understand the root causes and seek hope. The book broadly outlines how conflicts arise in Papua and the ongoing efforts by researchers, communities, and the Indonesian government to find peaceful and sustainable solutions.
“As a Papuan, I feel a deep responsibility to help create peace in my region,” Steve says. He emphasizes that true peace must be built through strategic and systematic approaches to ensure what he calls positive peace, rather than merely the absence of conflict or negative peace.
This publication marks Steve’s fourth book and his first written in English. He sees writing not only as a form of expression but also as a way to shape his thinking and retain valuable lessons.
“I write articles and books to help myself remember important things. Writing helps construct our thoughts as young people. In the future, we’ll face many challenges. But if we cultivate good thinking, we can make meaningful contributions to Papua and to Indonesia,” he shared.
Steve earned his undergraduate degree from the Umel Mandiri School of Law in Jayapura (now Universitas Doktor Inggratubun), completed his postgraduate studies at the Indonesian Defense University, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Peace Studies in the UK. He received his scholarship from the Indonesian Ministry of Finance under the LPDP program.
Through his writing and leadership, Steve Mara is a shining example of how young Papuans can become agents of change — not just for their local communities, but for the nation and the world.
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