Thursday, July 8, 2021

1) Although he cannot guarantee security, the Regent of Puncak asks the refugees to return home


2) Papuan rebels disrupt Ilaga stone-burning ceremony: military
3) Jakarta: Papua governor completes self-isolation, prepares to fly home 
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A google translate. 
Original Bahasa link
https://jubi.co.id/meski-tak-bisa-beri-jaminan-keamanan-bupati-puncak-papua-minta-pengungsi-pulang/

1) Although he cannot guarantee security, the Regent of Puncak asks the refugees to return home

Papua No. 1 News Portal | Jubi


 Lantipo July 9, 2021 12:22 am

Ilaga, Jubi – The Puncak Regency Government held a pork stone burning ceremony in Ilaga, the capital of Puncak Regency, Papua, Thursday (8/7/2021). The Regent of Puncak, Willem Wandik, stated that the burning of stones marked the end of the war and the escalation of the armed conflict that had occurred in Puncak since the end of April. During the stone burning ceremony, a number of gunshots were heard, until the participants had time to disperse.

The pig stone burning ceremony on Thursday was held at Trikora Square, Ilaga. Hundreds of residents and refugees in Ilaga also attended the relief fire. During the burning of stones, Wandik addressed hundreds of residents and refugees, declaring the war, which in the local language is called “wim”, was over. "Wim is done," said Wandik after eating together at that location.

To reporters, Wandik stated that the stone burning ceremony was carried out to equalize the perception of all parties that the armed conflict in Puncak had ended. “For the past two months, the community has had no activity [because they were displaced]. So, [burning stones] is a sign to equate perceptions between yesterday's situation, [because] we see people are a bit traumatized. We are present [in burning stones] as the beginning of how people can go to their respective villages. The point is to be able to go home,” said Wandik.

Read also: The chairman of the Puncak DPRD hopes that the government can return refugees

Wandik asked the displaced civilians to return home immediately so that they could return to building houses, opening gardens, and repairing cattle pens that had been damaged due to being abandoned since the end of April. However, Wandik admitted that he could not provide security guarantees for returning refugees.

Wandik said the refugees in Ilaga had been released to return home. However, if the conflict escalates again, they may evacuate to Ilaga again. "So, officially today we have gone home. If anything else happens, let's come back here," he said.

When the stone burning ceremony took place, around 13.45 WP, gunshots were heard. Over the next hour, at least 12 more gunshots were heard. Residents who gathered at Trikora Field had time to run to save themselves. But then they came again and followed the burning of stones.

At around 15.00 WP, the refugee repatriation event began. Even though it was raining, the event lasted until around 17.30 WP.

Read also: Puncak Refugees start their activities, but stay in the refugee camps

The wave of refugees in Puncak Regency has occurred since late April 2021, after an armed group from the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) shot dead two teachers and the Head of the Papuan Regional National Intelligence Agency, Brigadier General I Gusti Putu Danny Karya Nugraha. The incident prompted the government to add TNI/Polri troops to Puncak.

Since then, thousands of residents have fled their villages to escape armed conflict in Ilaga, Gome, and Beoga Districts. There were residents who fled by entering the forest, there were also residents who fled by moving to a number of churches, including in Ilaga. There were also residents who fled to neighboring regencies, such as Nabire and Mimika regencies. During the two months in the refugee camps, the displaced residents lost access to health and education services, and did not have a source of income/materials.

Read also: 833 Puncak civilians still flee to Mimika

The report of the Head of Representative of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) for the Papua Region, Frits Ramandey, in Jayapura on June 2, 2021 stated that the escalation of the armed conflict in Puncak caused 3,019 residents from 23 villages to flee their homes to avoid firefights between security forces and groups. armed in the area. They were in the capital of Ilaga District and the capital of Gome District.

Although the stone-burning ceremony was held on Thursday, a number of refugees Jubi met stated that they were still afraid to return to their hometowns. One of the tribal chiefs met by Jubi stated that the exchange of fire between TPNPB and TNI/Polri troops could still be repeated, and if that happened the wave of refugees would repeat itself.

The residents also did not dare to return to their hometowns, because the security forces were still on guard there. They are afraid of becoming victims of the wrong target, so they choose to stay in refugee camps. “Our brother wants to be here, hasn't gone home yet because there are still soldiers there. If there is a shootout, we might get hit," he said. (*)

Editor: Aryo Wisanggeni G

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2) Papuan rebels disrupt Ilaga stone-burning ceremony: military
  5 hours ago

Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - Several armed Papuan separatists disrupted a stone-burning ceremony held by locals in Ilaga, Papua province on Thursday to celebrate the restoration of peace and security in the capital of Puncak district, the military said.

 

The armed rebels sporadically shot at locals joining the "Bakar Batu", or stone-roasting ritual, from a distance, but no was injured in the firing, according to a local military officer.

 

The shooting, which broke out at 1:30 p.m. local time, triggered a counter-attack from security personnel safeguarding the event, Commander of the 173/PVB District Military Command, Brig.Gen.Iwan Setiawan, informed.

 

The security personnel chased the attackers and combed the area from where they launched their assault, he said, adding that he could not yet confirm which armed Papuan group was responsible for the incident.

 

However, Setiawan said he suspected the Lekagak Telenggen or the Teri Mayu-led group's involvement in the incident as they are known to be active in the district.

 

The "Bakar Batu" event on Thursday was attended by the Puncak district head, local military and police officers, government officials, and local residents, he added.

 

Over the past few years, armed Papuan groups have used hit-and-run tactics against Indonesian security personnel and unleashed acts of terror against civilians in the districts of Intan Jaya, Nduga, and Puncak to create fear among the people.

 

Construction workers, motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers, teachers, students, street food vendors, and even civilian aircraft have been the recent targets of their violence.

 

On April 25, 2021, Papuan separatists operating in Beoga, ambushed State Intelligence Agency (Papua) chief Maj. Gen. I Gusti Putu Danny Karya Nugraha and several security personnel during their visit to Dambet village.

Related news: Govt pushes ahead with Papua games preparations despite COVID surge

Related news: Security personnel continue to persuade Papuan insurgents: police


 

Following Nugraha's fatal shooting, President Joko Widodo ordered the TNI and National Police to track down and arrest members of all separatist and terrorist groups operating in Papua, stressing there is no place for them within the Indonesian territory.

 

Taking note of the ongoing security disturbances, People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Bambang Soesatyo has said that the state must not allow armed separatists to continue to terrorize communities in Papua.

 

It must ensure that the Papuans' rights to enjoy the outcomes of development programs in the country's easternmost province are not disrupted and hijacked by continued acts of terror, he stressed.

 

To defend the rights of Papuan people to enjoy the outcomes of development, the TNI and National Police personnel must remain present in Papua, Soesatyo said in a recent press statement.

 

The areas of Ilaga, Nduga, Kenyam, and Intan Jaya remain vulnerable due to the threat posed by separatist terrorists, he stated. (INE)


Related news: Jakarta: Papua governor completes self-isolation, prepares to fly home

Related news: Jokowi releases Indonesian contingent for Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games


 

EDITED BY INE

Reporter: Evarukdijati, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf


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https://en.antaranews.com/news/178662/jakarta-papua-governor-completes-self-isolation-prepares-to-fly-home

3) Jakarta: Papua governor completes self-isolation, prepares to fly home 
 5 hours ago
Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - Papua Governor Lukas Enembe prepared to fly back to Jayapura on Thursday evening after completing self-isolation in Jakarta following a visit to Singapore for medical treatment.

 

"Governor Lukas Enembe appeals to the people of Papua to pray for his good health and safe arrival in Jayapura," the provincial government's spokesperson, Muhammad Rifai Darus, said here on Thursday.

 

Enembe, who had been admitted at Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital since May 25, 2021, arrived back in Jakarta on July 1, 2021, he informed.

 

The governor started self-isolation the day he arrived, in compliance with the government's health protocols, he added.

 

His flight for Jayapura was scheduled on Thursday evening, he continued.

 

Enembe has urged Papuans to refrain from planning a welcome for him since crowd-pulling activities are prohibited amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Darus said.

 

Instead, the governor has asked the people to continue to comply with the government's COVID-19 prevention measures to protect themselves and their families from infection, he added.

 

The governor has also expressed his readiness to return to Papua and resume his services following a full recovery, Darus said.

 

Enembe was in the media spotlight after Papua New Guinea authorities deported him in early April this year.

 

As reported by ANTARA earlier, the Papua governor admitted to entering PNG by motorcycle taxi (ojek) for medical treatment.

 

"I know what I have done is wrong since I crossed and entered the PNG territory through a small path by a motorcycle taxi," Enembe said after taking a COVID-19 antigen test.


Related news: Govt pushes ahead with Papua games preparations despite COVID surge

Related news: Indonesian Navy vaccinates 1,000 residents in West Papua's Sorong

 

He said he visited Vanimo on March 31, 2021 for medical treatment.

 

He was deported soon after in the company of Indonesia's consul in Vanimo Allen Simarmata.

 

PNG Consul General Geoffrey L. Wiri and chief of border affairs and foreign cooperation of the Papua provincial administration, Suzana Wanggai, received him in the neutral zone, from where he headed back to Jayapura.

 

In June this year, Enembe again caught the attention of local media outlets after he protested the Home Ministry's decision to appoint Papua provincial government secretary, Dance Yulian Flassy, as acting governor of the province. (INE)


Related news: BNI promotes MSME products in Tokyo

Related news: Trade ministry seizes opportunity during second digital economy wave

 

EDITED BY INE

Reporter: Hendrina DK, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf



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