In a rare gesture, Catholic and Protestant leaders in Papua have come together to appeal to Indonesian President Joko Widodo to stop military operations in the crisis-hit province following the latest move to implement a 'combat alert operation.'
Bishop Yanuarius Theofilus Matopai You of Jayapura said, "We don't want any civilian casualties."
"Therefore, we respectfully ask the President of the Republic of Indonesia to withdraw troops and take steps for negotiations and a humanitarian approach," Bishop You said at a press conference on April 26 along with other Christian leaders.
This is the first time the Catholic Church has joined hands with Protestant leaders against the military build-up in Papua which intensified in recent months.
You, 72, who was installed bishop in February, was accompanied by Reverend Dorman Wandikbo, president of the Evangelical Church in Indonesia, Reverend Socratez Sofyan Yoman, president of the Communion of Baptist Churches of West Papua, Reverend Tilas Mom, chairperson of the Kingmi Synod in the Land of Papua, Reverend Andrikus Mofu, chairperson of the Synod of the Indonesian Christian Church in the Land of Papua, and Reverend Benny Giay, moderator of the Papua Church Council.
Their call came in response to the military's move last week to beef up combat operations in the region following the killings of five soldiers by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-PB), which the Indonesian government has labeled as an armed criminal group.
The soldiers were killed during the efforts to free New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens, who has been held hostage since February this year.
The term 'combat alert operation' allows soldiers to move around in combat weapons and open fire at anyone they suspect of being associated with terrorist activities, rights activists say.
On April 24, the TPN-PB released a video statement by Mehrtens in which the pilot accused the military of using a bomb in the Nduga Regency area.
The pilot asked the government to stop it as it endangered his life and that of civilians.
“When bombs are dropped," according to You, it will have tremendous consequences for humans and the environment.
Herman Taryaman, the military chief in Papua, however, has disputed the claim, and said, "The safety of the pilot and the public is paramount.”
A former Dutch colony, Papua declared itself independent in 1961, but neighboring Indonesia took control two years later, promising to have an independence referendum. The subsequent voting in favor of staying as part of Indonesia was widely considered a sham.
According to data from the advocacy group Imparsial, the number of soldiers in Papua is currently pegged at 16,900, most of them with combat qualifications.
At least 242 people were killed in the conflict in the past four years from 2018, including 177 civilians, says a report by the international rights group, Amnesty International.
The death toll includes 44 officers of the military and police and 21 rebels of pro-independence groups.
The standoff continues to trigger anxiety among local residents and Church leaders.
Florianus Geong, a resident in Nduga Regency, one of the worst affected areas in the region, said, "They [the army] patrol every day."
At the press conference, Reverend Wandikbo said the latest operation by the military would exacerbate the situation as people are struggling for basic services.
"Children can't go to school because the military uses schools and health centers (as their camps). They also use houses and churches," Wandikbo said.
Reverend Yoman asked the president to appoint a special envoy to negotiate with the rebels.
"The president should appoint a special envoy so that they can communicate" with rebels, he said.
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko issued a warning to separatist groups in Papua who have committed human rights violations against civilians, women, and children, in the form of murder and rape.
“TNI and Polri [Indonesian Military and National Police] will take firmer steps, especially for the three regencies where we see progress is getting worse,” said the former military commander in an official statement, Thursday, April 27, 2023.
Moeldaoko made this statement in the midst of various worrying conditions occurring in the country’s easternmost province, one of which was the hostage-taking of New Zealander Philip Max Mehrtens. In an effort to release the Susi Air pilot, a soldier Miftahul Arifin died in the Mugi-Mam area, Nduga.
Mifathul was shot dead by the Papuan armed group or KKB on Saturday, April 13, at 16:30 local time. To date, five soldiers died during the operation. TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono thus raised the status of the rescue operation to combat ready.
Moeldoko explained that out of 6 provinces and 42 cities/regencies in Papua, only 3 districts are categorized as red zones because of rampant violence cases, namely Nduga Regency, Intan Jaya Regency, and Puncak Regency. The cases, he added, include rape and murder which were mostly directed at civilians and even children.
To create stability, Moeldoko said President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo issued Presidential Instruction No. 9 of 2020 concerning accelerating the development of Papua's welfare. He underlined that the government will not stop continuing the development projects amid the violence cases. “The President asserts that regardless of the situation, development in Papua will proceed.”
FAJAR PEBRIANTO
Jayapura, Jubi – Church leaders across denominations in Papua urge President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to stop military operations in Papua and instead, promote a humanitarian approach and negotiation in handling the Papua conflicts. Attempts to release New Zealand pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens who was taken hostage by the West Papua National Army (TNPPB) were highlighted.
Among the pastors voicing this aspiration are Bishop of the Jayapura Diocese Mgr. Yanuarius You, GIDI President Rev. Dorman Wandikbo, President of the West Papua Baptist Churches Fellowship Rev. Socratez Sofyan Yoman, Chairman of the Kingmi Synod in the Land of Papua Rev. Tilas Mom, Chairman of the GKI Synod in the Land of Papua Rev. Andrikus Mofu, and Moderator of the Papua Council of Churches Rev. Benny Giay.
The pastors explained that this concern stemmed from the fear of civilian casualties following the recent upgrade of Papua military operation status to a land combat alert by TNI Commander Adm. Yudo Margono on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.
“We do not want civilian casualties, therefore, with utmost respect, we ask the President of the Republic of Indonesia to strongly order the military commander to withdraw troops from Papua. And it is necessary to take a humanitarian approach, namely through negotiations,” said Mgr. Yanuarius You during a press conference on Wednesday, April 26, 2023.
Amnesty International Indonesia noted that from 2018 to 2022 there were at least 91 cases of extrajudicial killings involving the Indonesian Military (TNI), police, prison officers, and the TPNPB that killed at least 177 civilians. Meanwhile, the number of security forces members who were victims in the same period was 44, and victims from TPNPB were 21 people.
Data from the Institute for Policy Analysis and Conflict Studies (IPAC) also shows that the number of violent incidents related to armed conflicts in Papua from 2010 to 2021 continued to increase, exceeding 80 cases in 2021. In these violent cases, at least 320 people were killed, with as many as 98 percent of the deaths (316 people) occurring in Papua Province. The victims are mostly civilians (178), followed by security forces (92) and members of the armed group (50).
Research from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) also revealed that violence in Papua is four times greater than the national average. This is very ironic considering Papua has the highest ratios of security forces per population compared to other provinces.
Special envoy to free Susi Air pilot
The church leaders asked President Jokowi to appoint a special envoy to negotiate with the TPNPB to release the pilot they took hostage, Philip Mark Mehrtens.
“President Joko Widodo should appoint a team of special envoys to negotiate with the TPNPB, such as in the settlement with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) on August 15, 2005. That is an example the current government can follow,” said Rev. Socratez Sofyan Yoman.
Another negotiation alternative, said Yoman, is through the church. “Let the negotiation team from the church approach TPNPB leader Egianus Kogoya,” he proposed.
Meanwhile, Rev. Dorman Wandikbo asserted that because of the armed conflict, both Indigenous Papuans and non-Papuans have lost access to basic services such as housing, health services, schools, and churches.
“Today there are more non-organic troops in Paniai, Dogiyai, Deiyai, Intan Jaya and Nduga than in 2018. Children cannot go to school because schools are used by the military, as well as the community health centers, pastorate houses, and churches. Papuans cannot stay at their home, many have fled to the forest due to concerns for their safety,”said Wandikbo.
Rev. Benny Giay said that the demand for solving the Papua problem without weapons was in line with President Jokowi’s public statements. He hopes that Jokowi can fulfill his commitment.
“We as church leaders have followed the political development in Papua since August 2019. After all, the president himself in his speech on June 15, 2021, talked about solving the Papua problem without weapons. Even before that, on September 30, 2019, he had spoken his intention to meet with the TPNPB,” said Rev. Giay. (*)
"Residents must understand that, in general, Papua sees no decline in the development progress," he stated, according to a statement issued here on Thursday.
He noted that Presidential Instruction No. 9 of 2020 on the advancement of welfare development in Papua has been implemented to bolster efforts to realize prosperity for Papuans.
"Hence, in general, welfare in Papua is in good condition," the KSP chief said.
The authorities will focus their efforts on the three districts of Nduga, Intan Jaya, and Puncak that have been declared red zones due to separatists' activities, he informed, while affirming that the government will continue protecting locals in the regions.
"The duty of the state is not only to ensure the prosperity of the people, but also protect the people, the nation, and the country," Moeldoko emphasized.
In regions designated as red zones, separatist groups are threatening the lives of locals, as evidenced by the murder and violence perpetrated against civilians, including women and children, he said.
Despite the intensification of military and police actions in the region against separatist groups, particularly in the red zones, the government will continue advancing development in Papua, the KSP head affirmed.
"Hence, I caution that the TNI (Indonesian Defence Forces) and the police will take firm measures, especially in the three districts where (separatists' actions have) worsened," Moeldoko stated.
He added that President Joko Widodo has also emphasized that no matter the conditions in Papua, the authority will continue to strive to accelerate development in the region.
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