Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Institute for Human Rights Study and Advocacy (ELSHAM Papua) assesses that the Indonesian government lacks seriousness in resolving past human rights violations. ELSHAM Papua also said that the non-judicial settlement of past rights violations carried out by the state was only meant to fulfil President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s political promises.
Director of ELSHAM Papua Rev. Matheus Adadikam said the government’s lack of seriousness could be seen from the fact that they kept sending Indonesian Military (TNI) and Police troops to Papua, resulting in armed conflict and displacement that were still occurring to this day. According to Adadikam, this shows that the state does not have good faith in resolving human rights violations in Papua.
“ELSHAM Papua questions the state’s commitment to resolve alleged human rights violations in Papua,” Adadikam said in a written statement received by Jubi on Tuesday, April 4, 2023.
Adadikam also said it had been 20 years since the 2003 Bloody Wamena incident and the victims had yet to receive justice while the perpetrators continued to receive state protection. In fact, according to Adadikam, the 2003 Bloody Wamena involved murder, torture, burning of houses and caused massive displacement.
ELSHAM Papua sees that the formation of the non-judicial settlement team through Presidential Decree No.17/2021 and the Implementation Team for Monitoring the Non-Judicial Settlement of Human Rights Violations (PPHAM) through Presidential Decree No.4/2023 have no impact on resolving human rights violations in Indonesia, especially in Papua, as the non-judicial settlement offered is only in the form of compensation from the state to the victims.
“ELSHAM Papua also sees that the state cannot provide and guarantee a sense of justice to the victims. It is safe to say that we highly doubt the promise to not repeat human rights violations,” he said. (*)
