2) ‘Resignation’ movement feared to spread throughout the conflict areas
3) A driver shot by security forces at Nduga Regency
4) Chief Security Minister Accuses Papuan District Official of 'Political Maneuver'
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1) Papua Police Handle 23 Armed Group Cases in 2019: Police
Translator: Antara
Editor: Petir Garda Bhwana
29 December 2019 16:30 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Papua Police recorded that, during 2019, there were 23 shooting incidents involving the armed Papuan groups that claimed the lives of 10 members of the Indonesian police and military, and 10 civilians, a police officer revealed.
The shooting incident took place in the administrative areas of Puncak Jaya, Jayawijaya, Mimika, and Paniai Districts during 2019, Papua Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw said here on Saturday.
ANTARA noted that the Papuan armed separatists have repeatedly launched deadly attacks and killings over the past years.
On December 2, 2018, for instance, a group of armed Papuan rebels had brutally killed 31 workers from PT Istaka Karya, who were engaged in construction and building the Trans Papua project in Kali Yigi and Kali Aurak in Yigi Sub-District, Nduga District.
The armed rebels, who launched the brutal killings, also killed a soldier named Handoko and injured two other security personnel: Sugeng and Wahyu.
Acknowledging this grim reality, Paulus Waterpauw's predecessor, Inspector General Rudolf A. Rodja, said the security disturbances, caused by the rebels, remain a persistent challenge for Indonesia's security apparatuses in Papua.
In the first semester of 2019, at least 10 shooting incidents involving these armed separatists have occurred that claimed seven lives.
Five of the dead victims were soldiers, while two others were a policeman and civilian, Rodja stated on July 3, 2019.
The shooting incidents that took place in the working areas of the Puncak Jaya and Jayawijaya Police Precincts during the January-June period this year had also resulted in six soldiers and two policemen suffering from gunshot wounds.
On Nov 30, a group of Papuan gunmen also opened fire at an escort car owned by PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) at around Mile 60 in Tembagapura Sub-district, Mimika District, Papua Province, but no casualties were reported in the incident.
The gunmen who fired at PTFI's "Delta Zone" escort car might belong to an armed Papuan rebel group, led by Hengki Wamang, according to Spokesman of the XVII/Cenderawasih Regional Military Command Colonel Eko Daryanto.
Apart from the central and provincial governments' endeavors to persuade the rebels to end their acts of violence and return to their families to resume a normal life, the Free Papua Movement (OPM) has officially declared war against Indonesia.
The implication of this OPM's war declaration that its spokesman Jeffrey Bomanak made in Port Moresby, the capital city of Papua New Guinea (PNG), on Jan 31, 2019, has prolonged a circle of violence.
ANTARA
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2) ‘Resignation’ movement feared to spread throughout the conflict areas
Published 16 hours ago on 29 December 2019
By Admin1
Illustration of the meeting between the regent and deputy regent of Nduga in the yard of Kingmi Church, Weneroma Congregation together with the people who sought refuge in Wamena. – Jubi / Islami
Jayapura, Jubi – Following the resignation of a local government official in Nduga, youth activist Benyamin Gurik expressed his concern that the same action would raise throughout the conflict areas if the central government does not change its approach in solving problems in Papua.
“I strongly believe that the act of the former deputy regent of Nduga will inspire all conflict areas. Even all legislative and executive members will take the same action in favour to attract global attention,” said Gurik on Tuesday (12/24/2019).
Further, he said if all leaders in the conflict area decided to resign from their position, it would cause new problems which intricate the central government.
“Therefore, I suggest that the central government to immediately change its approach in solving the conflict in Papua by adopting the non-violence approach,” he added.
He hopes the central government would immediately withdraw the military troops from all regions in Papua as it has only increased the human right violations against indigenous Papuans and ruined the reputation of the Government of Indonesia in the international community.
Moreover, Gurik encouraged the government to immediately open a peaceful and dignified dialogue as suggested by LIPI (the Indonesian Institute of Science) and JDP (the Peace Papua Network).
“Only a peaceful dialogue could bring peace to the people and avoid victims from both sides, military and community. Therefore, peace would be through upon us all,” said Gurik.
Mahfud promised a comprehensive solution for Papua.
Mahfud MD, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, ensured that problems in Papua would be comprehensively resolved with some approaches during the discussion ‘Chat with the Media’ held in Bakso Boedjangan, Jakarta, Thursday (12/26/2019).
“The government, as conveyed by President Joko Widodo, will conduct some comprehensive approaches towards the problems in Papua, in particular, the economic approach. Meanwhile, the cultural, educational and legal approaches would be more synergised given it requires huge financial resources,” said Mahfud.
However, he said, the security approach must be kept to protect the people. According to him, it is impossible to exclude the police in terms of security.
“Even a country as safe as New Zealand set their police officers everywhere. Why do we not be allowed to use the security approach? If not, it is not a country,” he said.
Moreover, he said the security approach aims to protect and ensure the welfare of the people. He also stressed that the government’s attitude towards the problems in Papua refers to the international conventions.
“UN Resolution 2504 of 19 November 1969 stated that Papua is a legitimate part of the Republic of Indonesia. Then, when a movement or separatism arose, we have to face it. Separatists should recognise as separatists, aren’t they?” said Mahfud.
Then, this former Chief of the Constitutional Court also mentioned about the protection for the community at the grassroots level; those who know nothing but often brought into difficulties and troubles, they must receive legal and human rights protection. (*)
Reporter: Hengky Yeimo
Editor: Pipit Maizier
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3) A driver shot by security forces at Nduga Regency
Published 16 hours ago on 29 December 2019
By Admin1
A rally in Nduga. Residents held a protest at Kenyam Airport on Saturday (21/12/2019) regarding the shooting on Hendrik Lokbere. – the courtesy of Jubi
Jayapura, Jubi – Hendrik Lokbere, a resident of Kenyam of Nduga Regency reportedly shot on Friday (20/12/2019) at 7 p.m. Papua time. Lokbere, who was a public transport driver, was travelling to the border of Asmat Regency to pick up his passenger.
Lokbere’s relative Samuel Tabuni said the family confirmed Lokbere was passing down Yosema road where he gave a sign to a group of vehicles by turning his car’s headlights. It found that it was the security forces’ vehicles. “The security forces suddenly shot their gun and hit Lokbere on his chest,” said Tabuni on Sunday (22/12/2019).
Tabuni said that Lokbere’s uncle, who was with him at the time, jumped out of the car immediately. While Lokbere was trying to reverse his car but struggling because it was on the climb. The security forces then neared the car and ordered him to open his side window. When it opened, the security forces pointed a gun facing him and dragged him out of the vehicle. Then, they shot him once again within a short distance where the bullet went through his neck. Watching this upon his eyes, his uncle ran away immediately to escape from the scene.
According to his family, Tabuni said there was a firefight between the Indonesian security forces and the West Papuan National Liberation Army from the morning until late afternoon at Kenyam Road to Batas Batu on Friday. Lokbere came by to his sister’s house to buy gasoline at 3 p.m. Papua time.
He told his sister that he wanted to pick up his passenger at the border of Nduga and Asmat regencies, but his passenger could not pass Kenyam due to the armed conflict. His sister then told him to hold his plan because the area of Batas Batu where he should pass by still happening the firefight.
“At around 7 p.m. Papua time, Lokbere thought the situation was quite conducive, so he asked his uncle to accompany him to the border (Nduga-Asmat). But, they shot him while he was in the car,” said Tabuni.
They just left his body at the scene before his family, accompanied by the vice-regent of Nduga, came to take his body on Saturday. The residents then took his body to Kenyam Airport for a protest. They asked for clarification from the Papua Police Chief and the Regional Military Commander of Cenderawasih.
Tabuni admitted that he already contacted both police chief and regional military commander for further clarification. “Together with their investigation team, we would go to Nduga for examining the current situation there,” he said.
According to his family, Lokbere had a genial personality. He was friendly and helped those who need help, including the security forces.
Regarding the shooting incident on Lokbere, Jubi attempted to ask the Papua Police Chief for a clarification. However, he did not reply to the questions either through Whatapps nor a mobile phone. (*)
Reporter: Angela Flassy
Editor: Pipit Maizier
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4) Chief Security Minister Accuses Papuan District Official of 'Political Maneuver'
BY :NUR YASMIN
DECEMBER 27, 2019
Jakarta. Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud M.D. accused a Papuan district official of engaging “political maneuver” by publicly declaring resignation and fabricating story about a fatal shooting.
Wentius Nimiangge, deputy head of Nduga district, resigned on Monday after claiming that his driver and right-hand man Hendrik Lokbere was shot to dead on Dec. 20.
Mahfud said the claim was baseless as law enforces couldn’t confirm the fatal shooting.
"Don’t get provoked, [Wentius’ resignation] could be just a political maneuver,” Mahfud said after leading an inter-ministerial meeting discussing Papua at his office in Central Jakarta on Friday.
Hendrik reportedly was killed as he was caught in crossfire between government security personnel and a separatist group in Nduga.
Mahfud said there was no proof that the driver was shot in the clash.
“He said his driver and henchman was shot, but we found no one. The TNI [Indonesian Military] and the National Police have confirmed that they did not found his identity," Mahfud said.
Wentius, who has been in the post since 2017, announced his resignation as he participated in a rally in Kenyam, Nduga. He has not officially submitted his resignation letter to the government.
Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian, who was present in the meeting, said that there was no immediate plan to withdraw security personnel from the restive province. Jakarta has beefed up security in Papua since the killing of at least 19 construction workers by a separatist group last December.
“No one can guarantee that such an incident will not happen again. That’s why there is a joint task force by the TNI and the National Police to enforce the law,” Tito said.
He also said that senior police officers stationed in Papua had been instructed to take punitive measures against their subordinates if proven guilty of attacking innocent civilians.
Apart from security issues, the meeting also discussed development programs to drive economic growth and prosperity in Papua.
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