Jayapura, Jubi – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) asked the Indonesian government to immediately find an alternative to resolve the root of the Papua conflict and end the violence that repeatedly occurs in Papua.
KNPB Spokesperson Ones Suhuniap said Papua was currently experiencing a very serious humanitarian crisis and human rights emergency because the Indonesian government was unable to protect and provide security for civilians, as well as a sense of justice to victims of various violence committed by security forces in Papua.
“Civilians, both indigenous Papuans and non-Papuans, continue to be victims of the Indonesian government’s negligence. The violence in Papua has never ended because the Indonesian government is not serious about solving the problem,” Suhuniap told Jubi via WhatsApp message service on Sunday, October 2, 2022.
Suhuniap said civilians continue to be victims of the armed conflict between the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) and the Indonesian Miltiary (TNI) and Police, such as what occurred in Nduga, Puncak, Intan Jaya, and Yahukimo in Papua Province, as well as in Maybrat, West Papua Province.
He further highlighted cases of violence committed by security forces in Papua, including the shooting of protesters who rejected the Papua expansion in Yahukimo Regency, the murder and mutilation of Nduga residents in Mimika Regency, and the persecution that killed a civilian in Mappi Regency. Suhuniap also highlighted the attack against Trans Papua Road workers in Bintuni Bay Regency.
“KNPB on behalf of humanity expresses our deep condolences over the civilian casualties that continue to fall in Papua,” he said.
Suhuniap assessed that violence in Papua seemed to be maintained by the State, which never seemed to care about humanitarian issues in Papua even though victims continue to fall, both on the sides of indigenous Papuans, non-Papuans, security forces and the TPNPB.
“Humanity must be upheld no matter what. We urge the government to stop the military deployment, stop any violence, and do a ceasefire with the TPNPB. We encourage peaceful negotiations to find the solution. And yet, until now, the State has not responded and ignored our requests. Such a request is not only coming from us KNPB but all parties convey the same thing as well,” he said.
He said that violence in Papua continued to occur but the State only focused on infrastructure, economic, and political development while ignoring humanitarian values in Papua. According to Suhuniap, sending the military to Papua would not solve the problem but rather exacerbated the problem.
“The workers who fell victim to the shooting incident in Bintuni Bay are also the result of the Indonesian government’s forceful attitude in infrastructure development while neglecting to resolve the root cause of Papua conflict. Civilians continue to be victims. The State must be responsible for civilian casualties that continue to occur from year to year,” he said.
KNPB encouraged political negotiations to end the conflict in Papua, which involve all parties namely the TPNPB, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), and all civil organizations in Papua.
KNPB also asked the government to withdraw all troops in Papua, and conduct a ceasefire between TPNPB and TNI and police. “Please immediately realize democratic space for the Papuan people, and let the Papuan people exercise their Right to Self-Determination,” Suhuniap said. (*)
