(WCC) West Papua – the Indonesian provinces comprising the western half of the island of New Guinea – has been a longstanding focus of WCC’s concern. In the recent interview, Prove indicates that concern for the indigenous Papuan population of these provinces is increasing “as a result of the persistent and quite serious human rights and humanitarian situation in the region, which the Indonesian government has frankly failed to address and correct.”
Recalling the history of the so-called – and still disputed – “Act of Free Choice” whereby West Papua was integrated into Indonesia in 1969, Prove notes that Jakarta’s failure to fulfil its promises to the Papuan people has resulted in increased local opposition to Indonesian rule. “What we have seen over decades is a very high level of human rights violations,” including extrajudicial killings, denial of the freedoms of expression and assembly and many other violations, says Prove.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, “the incidences of serious human rights violations have actually increased,” says Prove.
The WCC and its partners work together to monitor civil and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights in the region.
The increased militarization of the Indonesian government’s response has exacerbated the situation, despite promises of dialogue with the indigenous Papuan people, says Prove “These are promises that have been made at the political level but have been unfilled,” he says.
Violence against peaceful protestors has escalated, he says. “Many of the killings, many of the beatings, many of the forced disappearances take place in the form of that sort of response to such protests,” Prove observed, describing heavy-handed military and police actions in West Papua.
Moreover, people fleeing from conflict-affected areas are not receiving the help they need from national authorities, and international humanitarian agencies are allowed little or no access to the territory, Prove adds.
“The Indonesian authorities most certainly need to address the longstanding, continuing and escalating human rights crisis in the region,” concludes Prove.
by the World Council of Churches
"A clean water network or water treatment facility will be installed. If there is a flood, then the problem (that arises) is definitely (the lack of) clean water," Social Minister Tri Rismaharini noted at a press conference at the Waringin Sports Center in Jayapura on Thursday.
The minister remarked that the clean water network will aid in processing water into ready-to-drink water.
The minister stated that a safe location had to be selected to build it.
To install this network, the ministry is collaborating with the Jayapura city government.
Apart from building a water treatment facility, the ministry also spoke of readying a "social warehouse" to store and distribute aid for residents affected by the flood.
The assistance to be distributed during Rismaharini's visit to Jayapura totals Rp1,390,539,388 comprising disaster logistics assistance, compensation for the heirs of seven victims, 500 packages of basic necessities, 500 packages of cleaning tools, 500 packages of school equipment, 500 sheets of sarongs, 50 packs of baby supplies, and natural materials.
Related news: Gov't distributes assistance to Jayapura flood, landslide victims
Floods that hit four of the five districts in Jayapura City affected as many as 8,268 residents.
Head of the Jayapura City Natural Disaster Emergency Response Team, Rustan Saru, noted that most residents opted to not evacuate and stayed in their homes out of fear of their belongings being looted.
However, residents whose houses were severely damaged, thereby making them uninhabitable, opted to evacuate since Sunday evening, January 9.
The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture noted that eight people died due to the floods and landslides that struck on Thursday, January 6, in Jayapura, Papua.
Related news: Ministry sends 20 tons of rice to Papua's flood-affected victims
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