2) Maybrat secretary says IDPs should return home, claiming Maybrat to be safe
3) Military member kills Papuan man in Namblong, Jayapura – 958 non-Papuan residents evacuated in fear of ethnic violence
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Human Rights Monitor (HRM) Reports
1) Forgotten People of Maybrat – A report on the humanitarian crisis in the Maybrat Regency, Papua Barat Daya Province
Update on the security situation in Maybrat
More than two years have passed since an armed group of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) attacked a military post in the Kisor Village, Aifat Selatan District, Maybrat Regency, Papua Barat Daya Province. The event triggered massive internal displacements. According to the numbers released by Komnas HAM on 28 July 2023, a total of 5,296 IDPs continue to live in scattered accommodations in the city of Sorong without the perspective of returning to their villages.
Updated information that reached the Human Rights Monitor in December 2023 indicates that the conflict and humanitarian situation in Maybrat has again deteriorated. First, the armed conflict situation in Maybrat throughout 2023 appeared to be under control. HRM documented two armed attacks between January and October 2023, resulting in the death of one security force officer in the Aifat Timur Tengah District. However, the TPNP intensified their attacks in late November 2023. Five security force members were killed and two injured during three armed clashes that occurred within a period of one month. A TPNPB member was reportedly killed by security forces in the neighbouring Sorong regency on 1 December 2023.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Maybrat continues. Most villages in the Aifat Timur District and several villages in the Aifat Selatan District remain abandoned. Houses have been damaged, and personnel belongings, as well as livestock, have disappeared. The Maybrat Regent and the Maybrat Secretary have called on internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Maybrat to return to their homes or villages despite the heavy military (TNI) presence in the regency.
IDPs from Maybrat have repeatedly expressed concerns regarding the heavy presence of the police and military in their villages, creating fear among many IDPs in returning to their homes. Those who have returned to their villages stated that people were no longer able to collect food and walk freely in the forest – an important part of indigenous peoples in Maybrat to sustain their livelihoods. Moreover, the presence of the military near civilian settlements increases the risk of civilians being injured or killed during armed attacks against the security posts.
For the Aifat Timur Tengah and Aifat Selatan Districts, small and middle-size military posts with about 50 to 100 military personnel each have been set up in the midst of residential areas and villages.
1. Military post in Sorry Village, Aifat Selatan District;
2. Military post in Sabah, Aifat Selatan District;
3. Military post in Tahsimara, Aifat Selatan District;
4. Military post in Faan Kahrio, Aifat Timur Tengah District;
5. Kamat Raya (Kamat, & Asem), Aifat Timur Tengah District (more than 100 TNI personnel);
6. Ayata Raya (Ayata, Aikus, Aimasa, Aiwesa), Aifat Timur Tengah District (more than 100 TNI personnel).
Allegations of forced repatriation of IDPs
The temporary regent of Myabrat, Dr.Bernhard E. Rondonuwu held a joint meeting with the district leaders, village leaders, and community leaders from the villages Sorry, Sabah, Tahsimara, and Faan Kahrio soon. The meeting came to the result that IDPs from these villages should soon be relocated. During the meeting, the community leaders expressed their desire to build paved roads, re-establish logistic distribution of basic needs, build electricity and telecommunication networks, and resume church and healthcare services.
Activists from Maybrat say that the local government’s effort to return the Maybrat IDPs to their hometowns appears forced, without sufficient effort to fulfill the rights of IDPs. According to the information received, the meeting was not followed up by concrete actions, and provisions concerning the handling of social conflicts, as stipulated in Law No. 7/2012, were neglected. Article 36, paragraph (2) of the law states that post-conflict recovery efforts shall include acts of reconciliation, rehabilitation, and reconstruction.
Activists criticise that the regional Government has failed to undertake any of these actions as of December 2023. In addition, the government has not made efforts to reduce conflict potential as stipulated in Article 9 of Law No. 7/2012. Instead, the local officials allowed increased security force presence in villages, including the occupation of residents’ homes and public facilities, such as school buildings. They argue that the repatriation as pursued by the Maybrat government violates the right of IDPs to be protected from forcible return or resettlement to a place where their life, safety, liberty, and/or health would be threatened.
The Indonesian Constitution of 1945 emphasises the provision to guarantee and uphold human rights. Article 28H paragraph (1) stipulates that “every person has the right to live in physical and spiritual prosperity, to have a place to live, and to have a good and healthy environment.” So far, the local government in Maybrat has failed to reestablish these conditions for IDPs in Maybrat. Fundamental needs and services such as safe shelter, basic healthcare, and education services remain absent in the conflict-affected districts.
Health situation
IDPs, particularly women, and children, are a vulnerable group that must get special attention from the state. However, this cannot be observed in the Maybrat Regency. Long distances and expensive transportation costs remain obstacles for the IDPs to access medical treatment. Internally displaced children and the elderly often experience both physical and mental health issues after being cut off from fundamental health services for more than two years.
Some internally displaced children show symptoms of malnutrition with enlarged stomachs, thin bodies, and dull skin. many suffer from prolonged acute respiratory problems. Some internally displaced pregnant women and the elderly are similarly affected by the lack of access to health facilities. This situation resulted in an increased mortality rate in the IDP shelters. Based on the data collected by human rights defenders in the field, 95 IDPs passed away between September 2021 and August 2023, consisting of 16 male adults, 46 female adults, five children, and two infants/toddlers.
Education situation
Primary education is a human right. Every state must ensure minimum standards concerning the accessibility, quality, availability, and adequacy of primary education services. Article 31, paragraph (1) of the Indonesian 1945 Constitution stipulates that “every citizen has the right to education”. The condition of education services in the Timur Aifat and Aifat Selatan regions remains alarming after the armed attack in Kisor in September 2021.
At least ten elementary schools and one junior high school in Maybrat remain abandoned. Several school buildings, such as the YPPK FAAN Kahrio Elementary School in the Faan Village, the YPPK Michael Elementary School in the Kamat Village, and the YPPK Elementary School in the Ayata Village, as well as a junior high school building in the Aifat Timur Tengah District, have been used as temporary TNI and Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) posts.
After being internally displaced from their villages, many parents were forced to enrol their children in new schools near their temporary living shelters. The living conditions in the overcrowded shelters are an additional challenge to most internally displaced children. The presence of internally displaced children is also posing challenges to their new schools. Some children have been traumatized after having to flee their villages. The growing number of students in classrooms has inevitable consequences for the teaching and learning process at these schools. The Maybrat District Education Office appears to ignore the educational challenges experienced by internally displaced children.
Deteriorating Economy
The Kisor attack case on 2 September 2021 had a profound and devastating impact on civil society within the Aifat Timur and Aifat Selatan regions. Residents suffered significant losses, including the destruction of their properties, homes, and the violation of their basic rights. Many were forced into displacement and sought refuge with their relatives. In one instance, a single house accommodated five families, comprising a total of 20 individuals, encompassing both male and female adults, as well as male and female teenagers, and even male and female babies/children.
The limited access to essential necessities has posed formidable challenges for refugee victims in meeting their food requirements and other fundamental needs. Economic constraints have also disproportionately affected vulnerable segments of the population, including women, children, and the elderly, resulting in physical and psychological health issues. One victim articulated this struggle, stating:
“It is preferable to subsist on papeda while residing in one’s abode rather than partake of bread while residing in someone else’s domicile. We abandoned our hometown, house, garden property, and livestock, all of which were obliterated in an instant, akin to a dream. How much longer can we endure such a life? What about the prospects of our children? We too aspire to lead a normal existence, akin to our brethren and sistren in other regions.”
To persevere and maintain their livelihoods in refugee camps, the displaced individuals, in addition to receiving assistance from their families and compassionate individuals, endeavour to cultivate crops. They make use of land lent to them by their relatives to cultivate vegetables and tubers. The produce from these gardens serves as a source of sustenance, and any surplus is often sold at the nearest market to acquire daily necessities such as salt, sugar, coffee, and cooking oil. Life in the city presents an even greater challenge for internally displaced persons (IDPs), as every aspect of their existence necessitates the use of monetary resources, particularly when it comes to meeting the educational needs of their children. IDPs lack stable employment opportunities, relying instead on village funds and Direct Cash Assistance (BLT) to cover their rental expenses for temporary accommodations. Regrettably, the Village Fund allocated for community welfare has been reduced by 5% to fund TNI operational costs for security in conflict-ridden areas, as disclosed by Father Ferdy Sabu, Pr. He revealed, “These funds are being utilised for Military Operations.”
Security Approach Disrupts Civilian Comfort
The presence of TNI/POLRI personnel in Maybrat purportedly for security reasons, significantly disrupts the peace and well-being of civilian victims who are refugees. This unsettling situation was brought to light by Father Ferdy Sabu, the Parish Priest of the Aifat Timur area. He remarked, “The TNI approach makes people uneasy. Every Sunday, during mass at the church, the TNI conducts security operations within the church. One must wonder, are there criminals within the church?” This statement was made in February 2023.
On 5 August 2023, soldiers entered the gardens without seeking permission, harvesting fish from ponds and plucking durian fruits from trees owned by residents.
In August 2023, every Sunday during the worship services, armed soldiers enter the church to participate in the religious proceedings, while additional soldiers stand guard outside. Remarkably, the soldiers attending the Christian church differ from those stationed outside, as explained by Mr. Sepinus Assem, a resident of Fuog village in the South Aifat district.
On 7 August 2023, the military employed machinery to draw water from the residents’ wells, leaving them perpetually dry. Consequently, they are compelled to seek clean water from distant locations, as described by Mama Agnes.
Under the pretext of maintaining security through a broad approach, TNI troops were dispatched to occupy various villages in the Aifat Selatan and Aifat Timur Raya regions. While their presence was intended to aid residents with agricultural, educational, and healthcare needs, it has instead cast a shadow of fear and curtailed the freedom of civilians, including refugee victims who have returned to their hometowns. Our lives are now marred by constant vigilance, and we are no longer free to engage in activities like hunting and gardening in the forest, as every action within our villages must be reported at the TNI Post.
Another incident recounted by a mother from Samerakator village underscores the tense situation: “In the morning, I went to the garden with Paitua, hoping to enjoy a walk before the army patrolled the forest. While Paitua remained in the hut, I went to collect gedi vegetables. Upon descending from the wooden platform, I was taken aback to find three armed soldiers lying underneath it. Startled and concerned for our safety, I promptly called Paitua, and we hurriedly returned to the village.”
These various cases paint a clear picture of how the presence of TNI/POLRI personnel in managing the armed conflict in Maybrat has negatively impacted the mental well-being of refugees, especially vulnerable groups such as the elderly, women, and children. Their lives have become increasingly burdened, marked by depression, and overshadowed by the constant fear of TNI/POLRI presence. This situation runs counter to the obligation to protect internally displaced persons (IDPs), as stipulated in Law No. 39 of 1999, Article 9, Paragraph (2), which asserts that “Everyone has the right to live in peace, security, happiness, physical and mental well-being,” and further articulated in Article 30, which guarantees “Freedom from threats to security and peace and protection from fear that may hinder or inhibit any action.”
Update on the situation, Jan. 2024
Face-to-Face Meeting with Maybrat Refugees: A Dialogue for Change
On 11 January, an important gathering took place at the Intipura Complex in Sorong Regency, West Papua. The event was themed “Face-to-Face Meeting of the West Papua Police Chief with the Maybrat Refugee Community in Sorong Regency,” aimed at addressing the concerns of the Maybrat refugee community and fostering dialogue between various officials and the residents.
The meeting brought together a diverse group of attendees, including military and government officials. Among those present were the Southwest Papua Police Chief, Sorong District Police Chief, Sorong District Military Chief, PJ Regent of Sorong District, Maybrat Regional Secretary, and the Chairperson of the Maybrat Refugee Repatriation. This face-to-face interaction lasted approximately three hours and allowed for a constructive exchange of ideas.
The event began with Alowsius Saud, Chairman of the Intipura Complex RT, who served as the host for the Maybrat refugees. He highlighted the plight of the refugees and their need for support, emphasising the challenges faced by Maybrat youth in pursuing a career in the police force. Saud also appealed to the PJ Regent of Sorong to provide adequate housing assistance for the residents.
Ferry Assem, who was responsible for the well-being of the refugees in Intipura, shared insights into the origin and activities of the refugees. He mentioned that they hailed from Maybrat and Tambrauw and described how they had formed a farming group to sustain themselves, thanks to support from the local authorities.
PJ Regent of Sorong Regency, Cliff Agus Japasenang, reiterated the Maybrat people’s status as native inhabitants of Sorong district and mentioned the financial assistance provided to the refugees in the past year. He pledged to address the issue of Maybrat youth attempting the police entrance exam and highlighted the need for cooperation during the upcoming General Election.
Maybrat Regional Secretary, Ferry Taa, expressed concerns about prolonged aid and encouraged the refugees to return to their villages, emphasising that certain regions in Maybrat were already safe. He appealed to the residents’ sense of identity and belonging.
Brigadier General of Police Johnny Eddizon Isir, KAPOLDA Papua Barat, chose to listen to the community’s stories directly. He invited residents to share their experiences and concerns. The attendees, including Adam Yaam, Paskalina Faan, Mr Assem, and Moses Kamat, spoke about the challenges they faced in terms of education, military presence in their villages, and difficulties in returning to their homes.
The West Papua Police Chief acknowledged the gravity of the issues raised by the residents, promising that their stories would be used for evaluation purposes, even if he couldn’t provide immediate solutions.
The Face-to-Face meeting concluded with a symbolic distribution of basic foodstuffs and photo sessions with the refugees, representing a step towards bridging the gap between the Maybrat community and the authorities. This event marked an important milestone in addressing the concerns of the Maybrat refugees and fostering hope for a better future in their homeland.
Update for the Aifat Timur Tengah and Aifat Selatan Regions
In Aifat Selatan, life in the villages is gradually returning to normalcy. However, access to the forest remains restricted due to security concerns. Approximately 95 per cent of the community members have returned to their hometowns, with the remaining 5 per cent still displaced in Tahsimara village, specifically in Foug Raya village. The primary challenges faced by the community include health issues and the lack of adequate healthcare services within the villages. When individuals fall ill, they often have to seek treatment in Kumurkek or Orong independently. In some cases, they are compelled to visit the TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces) posts in their respective villages, which provide limited healthcare services to the community.
In the Aifat Timur Tengah region, there are four distinct districts each facing unique circumstances:
1. Aifat Timur Tengah: Approximately 50 per cent of the population has returned to their hometowns. Public institutions like churches and schools have yet to fully resume normal operations. Some school buildings are still being utilized as military posts, and access to the forest remains restricted for security reasons. Spiritual activities, such as Sunday worship, continue to be held in people’s homes since church buildings were damaged during the conflict. Furthermore, there has been no official permission from the bishop to establish a church in the Greater East Aifat area.
2. Aifat Timur District: Residents have not returned and are still residing in refugee camps.
3. Aifat Timur Jauh District: Residents have not returned and are still residing in refugee camps.
4. Aifat Timur Selatan District: Residents have not returned and are currently in evacuation sites.
Conclusion
This report aims to provide an account of the conditions endured by internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Maybrat. The findings can be summarized as follows:
- Following the Kisor attack on 2 September 2021, ongoing TNI/POLRI security operations in the Maybrat Regency have been conducted to apprehend TPNPB/OPM elements in the Aifat Selatan District and Aifat Timur Raya District. These operations have resulted in the involuntary displacement of civilians in the region.
- The civilians hailing from the Aifat Selatan and Aifat Timur Raya areas have been left traumatized by the ongoing conflict.
- A notable absence of humanitarian assistance is evident in the region.
- There is a pressing need for healthcare and educational services to be provided to the affected population.
- Vulnerable segments of the community, including women, infants, toddlers, children, and the elderly, require specialized care and attention.
- It is observed that various policies implemented do not align with the state/government’s obligations towards IDPs.
Recommendations
Recommendations for action by the central government and local government include:
- Ensuring the provision of security and safety assurances for civil society.
- Immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to the IDPs in Maybrat.
- Fulfilment of the basic rights of Maybrat IDPs must be prioritized.
- The Indonesian government and the local government of Maybrat should promptly address the situation of Maybrat IDPs in compliance with relevant laws and regulations. This includes adherence to the 1945 Constitution, Law No. 39 of 1999 regarding Human Rights, and Law No. 7 of 2012 concerning Social Conflict Resolution, as well as compliance with international human rights and humanitarian laws.
- TNI/POLRI forces should operate following established laws and regulations, as well as in compliance with international human rights and humanitarian laws
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2) Maybrat secretary says IDPs should return home, claiming Maybrat to be safe
On 11 January 2024, an important gathering took place at the Intipura Complex in Sorong Regency, Papua Barat Daya province. The event was themed “Face-to-Face Meeting of the West Papua Police Chief with the Maybrat IDP Community in the Sorong Regency,” aimed at addressing the concerns of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Maybrat and fostering dialogue between government officials and the residents.
The meeting brought together a diverse group of attendees, including military and government officials. Among those present were the Papua Barat Police Chief, Sorong District Police Chief, Sorong District Military Chief, PJ Regent of Sorong District, Maybrat Regional Secretary, and the Chairperson of the Maybrat IDPs Repatriation (see photo on top, independent HRDs). The face-to-face interaction lasted approximately three hours.
The event began with an opening speech by Mr Alowsius Saud, Chairman of the Intipura Complex RT, who served as the host for the Maybrat IDPs. He highlighted the plight of the IDPs and their need for support. Saud also appealed to the PJ Regent of Sorong to provide adequate housing assistance for the displaced residents. Members of the Maybrat IDP community spoke about the challenges they faced in terms of education. They also highlighted the ongoing presence of the police and military in their villages, creating fear among many IDPs in returning to their homes. The IDPs stated that people were no longer able to collect food and walk freely in the forest – an important part of indigenous peoples in Maybrat to sustain their livelihoods. They stressed the problem of access to education for their children in the villages Kamat, Faan Kahrio, and Ayata, where school facilities have been occupied by soldiers and continue to be used as military posts, preventing their children from accessing basic education services in the villages.
The Papua Barat Police Chief acknowledged the gravity of the issues raised by the residents, promising that their stories would be used for evaluation purposes, even if he couldn’t provide immediate solutions. The Regent of Sorong Regency, Mr Cliff Agus Japasenang, reiterated the Maybrat people’s status as native inhabitants. He added that the local government had provided 250 million rupiahs of financial assistance to the Maybrat IDPs in Sorong in the past year. Despite the ongoing difficulties faced by many IDPs in Sorong, Maybrat Regional Secretary, Mr Ferry Taa, expressed concerns about prolonged financial aid claiming that the funds would become an incentive for IDPs not to return to their villages. Ignoring recent armed clashes resulting in the death of two military members in Maybrat in mid and late-December 2023, he claimed that the Maybrat Regency was safe, appealing to the IDPs to return to their villages.
The Face-to-Face meeting closed with a symbolic distribution of basic foodstuffs and photo sessions with the IDPs. Observers concluded that the meeting provided space for direct exchange between IDPs and Government representatives but failed to provide solutions for the ongoing challenges and concerns of the Maybrat IDP community. Statements like those brought forward by the Maybrat Regional Secretary gave the impression that the local government is uni-laterally pursuing a fast relocation of all IDPs before the upcoming presidential elections on 14 February 2024 instead of finding sustainable solutions for a safe return of Maybrat IDPs to their villages.
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3) Military member kills Papuan man in Namblong, Jayapura – 958 non-Papuan residents evacuated in fear of ethnic violence
A military member reportedly ill-treated and killed Mr Daud Bano, 35, in the Karya Bumi Besum Village, Namblong District, in the Jayapura Regency on 1 January 2024. The incident was witnessed by Mr Yehuda Bano, 34, who was also misstretaed and sustained bruises after being beaten by the perpetrator during the same incident. The killing triggered the outbreak of ethnic tensions between the indigenous land rights holders and the migrant community in Karya Bumi Besum, which had been relocated in 1974 as part of the government’s transmigration program under former dictator Suharto. The social conflict between Papuans and non-Papuans was never resolved as the indigenous land owners never received compensation for the land provided to the migrants from the government until today. Following the incident, indigenous Papuans burnt down houses and stores in an act of revenge for the killing.
According to the information received from the Papua Council of Churches (DGP), the incident was triggered as Mr Daud Bano and Mr Yehuda Bano went to a shop in Karya Bumi Besum and begged the non-Papuan shop owner for cigarettes. Both men were reportedly intoxicated after drinking alcohol while celebrating New Year. The shop owner refused to give them cigarettes. The incident was witnessed by a military member, who reprimanded and punched Mr Daud Bano and Mr Yehuda Bano multiple times in the face. Mr Daud Bano ran outside the store, grabbing a wooden beam while the military members reportedly drew a machete, and both men started to fight. The military member reportedly hit Mr Daud Bano twice on the neck after he fell on the floor. He died on the spot as a result of blood loss.
Thereupon, the military member ran after Mr Yehuda Bano and tried to attack him with the machete. Mr Yehuda Bano fled through the barbed wire fence and ran to the village to tell his relatives about the incident. Shortly after, Mr Yehuda Bano returned with five Papuan villagers to the crime site. Meanwhile, non-Papuan residents had gathered in front of the road, carrying swords, machetes, self-made rifles, slingshots with arrows (“Panah Wayar”), spears, and wooden beams (see videos below).
Police and military members had arrived at the location. They began evacuating 958 non-Papuan residents to the nearby police and the army post in the neighbouring Nimbokrang District in an attempt to prevent an outbreak of ethnic violence between the groups. Seeing this, the Papuan men returned to the village and mobilised more villagers. When the villagers returned to the site of the crime, they began setting houses owned by non-Papuans on fire. The relatives took Mr Daud Bano’s body first to the hospital and later to the mosque in Karya Bumi Besum (see photos below), where they decided that the body should be buried the following day at the soccer court.
Mr Daud Bano’s body was buried at the soccer field in Karya Bumi Besum Village on 2 January 2024 at 4:00 pm……………………………..
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