2) In quest of peaceful resolution to Papua conflict
3) Need joint action from authorities, people on Papua violence: lawmaker
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1) Intan Jaya pastor’s family ‘reluctantly’ signs investigation report
Victor Mambor The Jakarta Post
Thursday 15 October 2020 01:10 pm
Family members of pastor Yeremia Zanambani, who was recently shot dead in Intan Jaya regency, Papua, claimed they were reluctant to sign an investigation report (BAP) on the priest’s death and had only agreed to do so after they were promised that the report would be sent to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
Yeremia’s family, including his wife, was told to sign the BAP at 2 a.m. on Monday after the government-sanctioned fact-finding team (TGPF) launched an initial investigation into the case. The team had also questioned four of the priest’s family members as witness in the case.
Rode Zanambani, the pastor’s fourth daughter, said her family was encouraged to sign the report as the TGPF promised to hand over the report directly to President Jokowi. “
They [TGPF members] said they would be reprimanded if they returned to Jakarta with an unsigned BAP,” Rode said on Monday.
She added that the TGPF also promised that the government would punish Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel who allegedly shot and stabbed Yeremia to death. The priest’s family had provided information on the alleged perpetrators in the BAP.
“We have identified the [implicated] soldiers. We ask that they be prosecuted,” said Rode.
Read also: Fact-finding team of slain Papuan pastor concludes field investigation, returns to Jakarta
Before signing the report, Rode said the investigators read every sentence in the BAP before the family members signed each official copy of the report. She went on to say that the family members had corrected several mistakes in the BAP.
Rode also requested that the BAP should be copied three times, with one copy given to the family. Previously, Yeremia’s family members refused to sign the BAP because they claimed there had been a slight change made in the report. They would only sign it if they were accompanied by lawyers.
“We’re concerned that the police altered some provisions [in the report]; therefore, we didn’t trust the BAP and refused to sign it,” Yeremia’s relative, Bernard Kobogau, said.
In an earlier statement received by The Jakarta Post, the TGPF claimed the family was reluctant to sign the BAP due to a language barrier, limited knowledge of the law and input from other parties.
Benny Mamoto of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), who leads the field investigation unit, said the family members only signed the BAP after the team invited religious and community leaders to convince them and explain the legal process.
The TGPF team also convinced Yeremia’s wife and children to allow authorities conducting autopsies on the priest’s body as part of the investigation.
Read also: Papuans doubtful over govt team to probe shootings
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD recently defended the TGPF team, saying it comprised professionals with "unyielding independence". The coordinating minister also dismissed accusations that the team only followed government orders.
The Indonesian Communion of Churches, the Indonesian Evangelical Christian Church (GKII) and several local Papuan media claimed that Yeremia was shot by a TNI soldier on his way to his pigpen on Sept. 19. The military denied the allegation, claiming that an armed group was responsible for the incident.
The government responded by forming a fact-finding team to investigate not only Yeremia’s incident but also the deaths of civilian Badawi and TNI soldiers Chief Sgt. Sahlan and First Pvt. Dwi Akbar in Intan Jaya. The team was given two weeks from its formation on Oct. 1 to report the results of its investigation to the government. Benny claimed the team would continue to monitor the case even after its dismissal. (syk)
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2) In quest of peaceful resolution to Papua conflict
4 hours ago
The cycle of violence in the Indonesian province of Papua has remained unbroken with armed groups in the Intan Jaya and Nduga districts continuing to target innocent civilians and security personnel over the past two months.
Intan Jaya district recorded its bloodiest month in September this year, with armed groups mounting a string of attacks in the area, which left two soldiers and two civilians dead and two others injured.
The notorious armed groups in the Indonesian province have continued their acts of terror in October.
On October 6, 2020, for instance, several members of an armed Papuan group reportedly fired at an Indonesian Military (TNI) post in the Pasar Baru Kenyam neighborhood of Nduga district, injuring one civilian.
The civilian, identified as Yulius Wetipo (34), got shot while crossing the TNI security post on his way to work, according to information received by ANTARA. He was headed to the PT Dolarosa camp.
He reportedly sustained gunshot wounds on the left and right side of the waist.
Related news: Intan Jaya case TGPF's final report targeted on Oct 17
Related news: Mahfud MD claims ambush against fact-finding team premeditated move
On October 9, 2020, another armed group ambushed a joint fact-finding team (TGPF) set up by the government to probe a recent shooting in Mamba village, Sugapa subdistrict, Intan Jaya district.
The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) confirmed it was behind the attack on the members of the TGPF. One of the fact-finding team's members and a soldier were injured in the attack.
The TGPF member — Gadjah Mada University (UGM) lecturer Bambang Purwoko — was shot in the leg, while TNI soldier First Sgt Faisal Akbar of the Hitadipa Task Force sustained injuries on his waist.
According to the records of the Papua police headquarters, over the past nine months, armed groups operating in Intan Jaya have been involved in 17 cases of violence against innocent civilians and security personnel.
As a result of the increasing acts of lethal violence, six people, including the Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel, have died, Papua police chief, Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw, revealed recently.
Armed criminals have not only targeted civilians and security personnel, but also set ablaze several excavators and kiosks.
In the past, armed groups used to cross Intan Jaya's areas en route to several mountainous areas, including those in Tembagapura sub-district, Mimika district. However, at present, they have made the district their base.
Waterpauw revealed that six armed groups are currently active in Intan Jaya's areas, including Hipadipa sub-district. They are led by Sebinus Waker and reportedly possess 17 rifles.
They reportedly snatched the weapons during raids against TNI and police personnel, including a Steyr rifle, which they had grabbed in 2015, he pointed out.
In response to the ongoing cycle of violence, a legislator representing the Papuan constituency has appealed to the police and TNI to work closely with regional governments and Papuan communities for handling and seeking solutions to the conflict in the province.
"The prioritized policies of the law enforcement and security agencies in Papua are: how to create a sense of security and comprehensive peace on the land of Papua," Yan Permenas Mandenas, a member of the House of Representatives (DPR), said.
He opined that the armed groups behind the crimes must be arrested and brought to justice to allow local communities to resume their peaceful lives, and the regional administrations to continue serving the people.
The disruption of peace and stability in the province may pose serious threats to the sustainability of the government's development programs for bringing socio-economic prosperity for the entire Papuan people.
To seek solutions to the Papuan conflict, the Defense Ministry initiated a focus group discussion in Jakarta on October 14, 2020 during which, Indonesia's former vice president, Jusuf Kalla, was invited as a guest speaker.
Kalla argued that in principle, all violent conflicts can be resolved through peaceful settlement, but each conflict-torn area may demand a different approach. Regarding the Papua conflict, its resolution approach may be distinct from that of Aceh.
Since Indonesia's independence in 1945, the country has experienced 15 large-scale conflicts, most of which have been resolved through military operations, he noted.
"In an independent Indonesia, we have undergone 15 large-scale conflicts with around 1,000 fatalities. Thirteen of the 15 large-scale conflicts were resolved through military operations, while the remaining two were solved through peaceful settlement," he said.
As an initiator of the peaceful resolution to the Aceh conflict, Kalla highlighted the importance of firmly resorting to the basic principle of delivering a win-win solution to achieve everlasting peace.
Referring to his own experience in bringing about peaceful conflict resolution in Aceh, he said the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) never surrendered the firearms of its armed wing's personnel to the Indonesian government.
Instead, according to Kalla, GAM destroyed the weapons, considering that the best option for preserving its dignity. Therefore, in seeking a peaceful solution to an armed conflict, none of the warring parties must feel like a loser or feel their dignity has been lowered, he said.
"Aceh, that was so resistant, could be persuaded to resolve the conflict through a peace talk," he said, adding that in resolving the Papuan conflict, the same strategy used for conflict resolution in Aceh cannot be applied.
In Aceh, the armed groups had a clear chain of command so the approach was prioritized at the upper level, while in Papua, the armed groups belong to various factions without a well-defined chain of command, he argued.
In Papua, armed groups operating in one district or village have no clear chain of command with those in other districts or villages, he said. This fact does not imply that the conflict in the area cannot be resolved, he remarked.
"Ways to resolve it (the conflict) remain available, but I will not elaborate on them openly here," Jusuf Kalla said.
What Kalla has pointed out, however, still offers the hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for seeking a peaceful settlement to the Papua conflict, within a framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.
Related news: All violent conflicts can be resolved peacefully: Jusuf Kalla
Related news: Govt must prioritize peace diplomacy in Papua: House Speaker
Intan Jaya district recorded its bloodiest month in September this year, with armed groups mounting a string of attacks in the area, which left two soldiers and two civilians dead and two others injured.
The notorious armed groups in the Indonesian province have continued their acts of terror in October.
On October 6, 2020, for instance, several members of an armed Papuan group reportedly fired at an Indonesian Military (TNI) post in the Pasar Baru Kenyam neighborhood of Nduga district, injuring one civilian.
The civilian, identified as Yulius Wetipo (34), got shot while crossing the TNI security post on his way to work, according to information received by ANTARA. He was headed to the PT Dolarosa camp.
He reportedly sustained gunshot wounds on the left and right side of the waist.
Related news: Intan Jaya case TGPF's final report targeted on Oct 17
Related news: Mahfud MD claims ambush against fact-finding team premeditated move
On October 9, 2020, another armed group ambushed a joint fact-finding team (TGPF) set up by the government to probe a recent shooting in Mamba village, Sugapa subdistrict, Intan Jaya district.
The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) confirmed it was behind the attack on the members of the TGPF. One of the fact-finding team's members and a soldier were injured in the attack.
The TGPF member — Gadjah Mada University (UGM) lecturer Bambang Purwoko — was shot in the leg, while TNI soldier First Sgt Faisal Akbar of the Hitadipa Task Force sustained injuries on his waist.
According to the records of the Papua police headquarters, over the past nine months, armed groups operating in Intan Jaya have been involved in 17 cases of violence against innocent civilians and security personnel.
As a result of the increasing acts of lethal violence, six people, including the Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel, have died, Papua police chief, Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw, revealed recently.
Armed criminals have not only targeted civilians and security personnel, but also set ablaze several excavators and kiosks.
In the past, armed groups used to cross Intan Jaya's areas en route to several mountainous areas, including those in Tembagapura sub-district, Mimika district. However, at present, they have made the district their base.
Waterpauw revealed that six armed groups are currently active in Intan Jaya's areas, including Hipadipa sub-district. They are led by Sebinus Waker and reportedly possess 17 rifles.
They reportedly snatched the weapons during raids against TNI and police personnel, including a Steyr rifle, which they had grabbed in 2015, he pointed out.
In response to the ongoing cycle of violence, a legislator representing the Papuan constituency has appealed to the police and TNI to work closely with regional governments and Papuan communities for handling and seeking solutions to the conflict in the province.
"The prioritized policies of the law enforcement and security agencies in Papua are: how to create a sense of security and comprehensive peace on the land of Papua," Yan Permenas Mandenas, a member of the House of Representatives (DPR), said.
He opined that the armed groups behind the crimes must be arrested and brought to justice to allow local communities to resume their peaceful lives, and the regional administrations to continue serving the people.
The disruption of peace and stability in the province may pose serious threats to the sustainability of the government's development programs for bringing socio-economic prosperity for the entire Papuan people.
To seek solutions to the Papuan conflict, the Defense Ministry initiated a focus group discussion in Jakarta on October 14, 2020 during which, Indonesia's former vice president, Jusuf Kalla, was invited as a guest speaker.
Kalla argued that in principle, all violent conflicts can be resolved through peaceful settlement, but each conflict-torn area may demand a different approach. Regarding the Papua conflict, its resolution approach may be distinct from that of Aceh.
Since Indonesia's independence in 1945, the country has experienced 15 large-scale conflicts, most of which have been resolved through military operations, he noted.
"In an independent Indonesia, we have undergone 15 large-scale conflicts with around 1,000 fatalities. Thirteen of the 15 large-scale conflicts were resolved through military operations, while the remaining two were solved through peaceful settlement," he said.
As an initiator of the peaceful resolution to the Aceh conflict, Kalla highlighted the importance of firmly resorting to the basic principle of delivering a win-win solution to achieve everlasting peace.
Referring to his own experience in bringing about peaceful conflict resolution in Aceh, he said the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) never surrendered the firearms of its armed wing's personnel to the Indonesian government.
Instead, according to Kalla, GAM destroyed the weapons, considering that the best option for preserving its dignity. Therefore, in seeking a peaceful solution to an armed conflict, none of the warring parties must feel like a loser or feel their dignity has been lowered, he said.
"Aceh, that was so resistant, could be persuaded to resolve the conflict through a peace talk," he said, adding that in resolving the Papuan conflict, the same strategy used for conflict resolution in Aceh cannot be applied.
In Aceh, the armed groups had a clear chain of command so the approach was prioritized at the upper level, while in Papua, the armed groups belong to various factions without a well-defined chain of command, he argued.
In Papua, armed groups operating in one district or village have no clear chain of command with those in other districts or villages, he said. This fact does not imply that the conflict in the area cannot be resolved, he remarked.
"Ways to resolve it (the conflict) remain available, but I will not elaborate on them openly here," Jusuf Kalla said.
What Kalla has pointed out, however, still offers the hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for seeking a peaceful settlement to the Papua conflict, within a framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.
Related news: All violent conflicts can be resolved peacefully: Jusuf Kalla
Related news: Govt must prioritize peace diplomacy in Papua: House Speaker
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