Jayapura, Jubi – Member of the Religious Working Group of the Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP) Rev. Nicolas Degey condemned all forms of torture and killing of humans on earth, especially the killing of Papuans which kept recurring and had never seen justice. Degey mentioned the recent murder and mutilation of four Nduga residents by six Indonesian Military (TNI) soldiers and four civilians on August 22, 2022.
“The lives of the four Nduga residents seem to have no value to the killers. They are humans created by God, their rights and dignity must be respected. This can be considered sadistic because they already killed them but continued with mutilating them,” Degey told Jubi on Sunday, August 4, 2022.
Degey also strongly condemned the actions of TNI members who committed violence and torture against three civilians in Bade, Edera District, Mappi Regency, which resulted in the death of one of the residents.
As a servant of God and representative of the religious community, Degey felt that the state did not respect Papuan people at all, as could be seen from the various cases of violence and loss of human life in Papua, which, is very rarely brought to justice. Perpetrators met with impunity, especially those who are members of the TNI and police.
“If we count, there have been too many [violations of human rights]. Let’s start with major cases that have made it to the news and are recognized by state institution Komnas HAM, such as the Bloody Paniai. President Joko Widodo promised the resolution to the Bloody Paniai during Christmas at Mandala Jayapura field in 2014 but to date, it has not yet been completed. And now we have seen more and more cases of human rights violations in recent years, including murder cases in Timika and Mappi,” he said.
“This must be resolved. Perpetrators must be strictly punished according to the rules, including perpetrators who are members of the security forces, they must be removed from the forces and punished. The government must prove that the process of justice is working, only then Papuans can trust them. If not, it means the state does not respect the Papuan humans and our dignity. This only adds to the wounds of the Papuan people. Our wounds become even bigger and more painful,” Degey added.
Further, Degey appealed to all people in Papua to respect and appreciate each other. “As a servant of God and a representative of the people in the MRP, I also want to appeal to all people in this land, let us live with mutual respect, uphold humanity, the great work of God. For the families of the victims, may God give strength. May no more people of God be killed and die in Papua,” he said.
Similar to Degey, Nduga Student Association of Jayapura City protested in the Abepura Circle on Saturday, August 3, 2022, urging the government to investigate thoroughly and resolve the murder and mutilation of four Nduga residents. They also rejected allegations that one of the murder victims was a sympathizer or member of an armed group.
In the peaceful protest, students carried a variety of posters. The posters read, among others, “TNI Commander, Papua Police Chief immediately prosecute the murderers of civilians in Mimika” and “Four victims in Timika are the same as victims of human rights violations in Paniai”.
Action coordinator Benny Murib said that the Timika murder allegedly carried out by TNI personnel was an inhumane act, a gross violation of human rights. “We strongly urge that the case be investigated thoroughly,” Murib said. (*)
