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1) Protests grow over Indonesia's plan to carve up Papua
Thousands take to the streets to say 'no' to plan to divide region's two provinces into six
By Konradus Epa, Jakarta Updated: March 11, 2022 08:13 AM GMT
Thousands took to the streets of Wamena in Papua province’s Jayawijaya district on March 10, a day after similar rallies were held in Jakarta and the Papuan capital Jayapura, against a plan by the Ministry of Home Affairs to set up six new provinces in place of the current two — Papua and West Papua.
If the government gets its way, provinces called Northwest Papua, West Papua, Central Papua, Central Highlands, South Papua and Papua Tabi Saireri would be established.
However, opponents believe the move will enable Jakarta to tighten government control over the restive region and further marginalize its indigenous people.
"We need to resolve human rights violations and security issues and not create new provinces. This will only stoke more conflict and make Papuans suffer more," rally organizer Dano Tabuni told the Wamena protesters.
He said the aim of the protest was to get members of the regional legislative council in Wamena to reject the plan.
"New provinces aren’t what Papuans want. It only serves the interests of the political elite in Papua and Jakarta," Tabuni said.
“Indigenous Papuans have not been consulted on this matter. Any such move should be transparent and honest in a democratic country.”
“It would be detrimental to the people of Papua’s development and will marginalize them further. It isn’t a solution to problems in the region,” he said.
Late last month, Father Alexandro Rangga from the Franciscans' Secretariat for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation in Papua said the proposal’s motive was likely an attempt to gain control over Papua's natural resources, which would attract many outsiders.
"The birth of a new autonomous region causes indigenous Papuans to be increasingly marginalized due to massive transmigration of residents from outside the region," he said.
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The student demonstration against the expansion of the Papuaprovince staged in front of the Home Affairs Ministry’s building this afternoon was marred by chaos. One police officer was injured.
Sawah Besar Police Chief Comr. Maulana Mukarom confirmed that one police officer, Adj. Sr. Comr. Ferikson, who served as the Head of Intelligence of the Central Jakarta Police, was injured during the protest.
“The Central Jakarta Police Intelligence Head became a victim of beatings by student protesters,” said Maulana when contacted Friday, March 11.
According to him, Ferikson suffered an injury in the head and has received medical treatment
The police arrested a number of Papuan students in the demonstration this afternoon. Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Endra Zulpan, however, stopped short of detailing the number of arrested students.
The rally was held by students opposing the government’s plan on the division of Papua Province into six administrative regions, viz. Southwest Papua, West Papua, Central Papua, Central Mountains, South Papua, and Papua Tabi Saireri.
The expansion plan refers to the Special Autonomy Law No. 2 of 2021. The government claimed the expansion can accelerate development equity, improve public services and public welfare, and raising the dignity of the Papuan people.
Read: Papua Liberation Group Admits Shooting 8 Workers in Ilaga
HAMDAN CHOLIFUDIN ISMAIL
"We will still prioritize improving the people’s welfare to handle the security disruptions,” he said while inspecting Cipinang Rice Market, East Jakarta, on Friday.
The government must implement a dynamic defensive attempt for maintaining the security of the region to avoid any casualties, he added.
"We do not use offensive security attempts. We prioritize to protect the community, thus there will be no more victims," he remarked.
Furthermore, the Vice President said that the government has also discussed the matter with various parties.
“We do not want the disturbances to happen again in the future," he emphasized.
According to the Presidential Staff Office, between January and early March 2022, there have been at least seven alleged acts of violence committed by Papuan separatist groups (KKB) in several districts in Papua province.
The incidents claimed a total of 13 lives and left 5 people injured, it said. The victims were military personnel and civilians, it added.
Armed separatists killed a gold miner in Yahukimo district on March 7, 2022, and injured a construction worker in Intan Jaya district on March 8. The worker sustained injuries on the neck.
In addition, separatists attacked employees of telecommunication company PT Palapa Timur Telematika (PTT) in Puncak district on March 2.
About ten KKB members shot eight PT PTT workers when they stayed overnight night at their camp to repair a base transceiver station (BTS).
Due to the difficult terrain and bad weather, the only survivor of the attack, Nelson Sarira, was evacuated to Mimika district on March 5 by the Peace Cartenz Task Force.
Meanwhile, the bodies of the victims were moved to Mimika Regional Hospital for identification and post-mortem examination on Monday 7.
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