AWPA condemns latest military operation in West Papua. Over 5000 villagers flee

 

AWPA condemns latest military operation in West Papua. Over 5000 villagers flee

 Statement 18 June 2024

                          

A number of residents of Bibida district, Paniai regency, Central Papua, are walking away from their homes and hometowns to avoid the impact of the gunfight between TPNPB OPM and TNI-Polri. (Ist)

AWPA condemns the latest Indonesian security force operation in in the Bibida District, Paniai Regency which has resulted in more than 5,000 people  from 15 villages in Bibida and Paniai  fleeing their villages.

Joe Collins of AWPA said, “this number is added to the already large number of IDPs in the highlands who have fled their villages in the past few years because of the ongoing conflict ” .

 

Human Rights Monitor (HRM) in its June update reported that there are “over 76,919 people in West Papua, mainly  indigenous Papuans, who remain internally displaced due to the armed conflict in the region.   https://humanrightsmonitor.org/news/idp-update-june-2024-urgent-call-for-humanitarian-access-to-conflict-areas/

 

Suara Papua media  reported (15 June) that Kugapa and Ugidimi villages in Bibida district, Paniai regency were  reported to be empty  since Friday afternoon (14/6/2024) as residents had fled to other places that are considered safe. https://suarapapua.com/2024/06/15/warga-bibida-mengungsi-ke-pastoran-madi-pemuda-katolik-desak-penanganan-cepat/#google_vignette

According to a HRM report only elderly people who could no longer walk and sick people remained in the villages. 

 A number of villagers fled in fear  to  the Madi Holy Cross Parish Church because the security forces were pursuing  a TPNPB OPM group after  a taxi driver was killed by the TPNPB according to the military on the Enarotali-Bibida road, in Kopo village.  

  

HRM report from   information received from local sources, that the “security forces entered the Bibida District with ten trucks around 8.00 am and began searching houses. The operation was accompanied by four helicopters circulating over Bibida. One of them reportedly released multiple shootings during the raid causing thousands of people from the villages Bibida, Dama-Dama, Kolaitaka, Kugaisiga, Odiyai, Tuwakotu, and Ugidimi to flee their homes. In the Paniai Timur Districts, people from the villages Amougi, Timida, Kopo, Wouye Butu, Uwibutu, Madi, Ipakiye, and Pugotadi (see table below). https://humanrightsmonitor.org/news/security-force-operation-in-districts-bibida-and-paniai-timur-more-than-5000-indigenous-moni-and-me-people-flee-their-homes/

 

Joe Collins said, “it’s a pity that the only mainstream media reports on the Indonesian security force operations are those in the Indonesian media with the usual statements from military spokespersons such as 

“The TNI personnel continue to restore security, law and order in Bibida following their success in reclaiming the sub-district area from the Undius Kogoya-led insurgents on Friday, June 14”,

 

“The success of TNI soldiers in shooting two OPM people has reduced the strength of the OPM, which, of course, has a positive impact on maintaining security and stability for the smooth process of accelerating development in Papua,” Lt. Gen. Richard Tampubolon remarked.

And in an  Antara News report,  Armed Papuan rebels use civilians as human shields: TNI officer. https://en.antaranews.com/news/316266/armed-papuan-rebels-use-civilians-as-human-shields-tni-officer

  

  

Collins said “statements so similar to military statements in other conflicts  that there must be a conflict 101 lesson for military spokespersons”.

 

Local organisations such as the Catholic Youth have asked for the important role of the Paniai district government to quickly resolve the situation in Bibida so that a peaceful atmosphere can be restored, so that residents can return to their hometowns.

Hopefully, the Australian Government will also urge the Indonesian Government to stop using a military approach to every incident in Papua as all it does is increase  the loss of life and create even more internal refugees”.

Ends.

Photos below from Suara Papua report

A number of residents of Bibida district, Paniai regency, Central Papua, are walking away from their homes and hometowns to avoid the impact of the gunfight between TPNPB OPM and TNI-Polri. (Ist)

 Residents of Bibida district are in the Catholic church building of the Madi Holy Cross Parish which is still under construction. (Doc. Central Papua Catholic Youth)

Several residents from Bibida district are taking refuge in Madi Parish. (Ist)

Some of the evacuees from Bibida district are in the Madi Parish church building. (Doc. Central Papua Catholic Youth)

Acting Regent of Paniai Dr. Martha Pigome when handing over humanitarian aid to residents of Bibida district received by Father Herman Bety, Pr. (Doc. Central Papua Catholic Youth)

From HRM . Total number of IDPs from the districts Bibida and Paniai Timur, segregated by villages (source: independent HRD)

No	District	Village	Total IDPs	Tribe	Additional information
1	Bibida	Bibida	443	Moni/Mee	100% of population left
		Ugidimi	597	Moni/Mee	100% of population left
		Tuwakotu	394	Moni/Mee	100% of population left
		Kugaisiga	453	Moni/Mee	100% of population left
		Kolaitaka	486	Moni/Mee	100% of population left
		Dama-dama	482	Moni/Mee	100% of population left
		Odiyai	416	Moni/Mee	100% of population left
2	Paniai Timur	Amougi	289	Mee	100% of population left
		Timida	318	Mee	100% of population left
		Kopo	555	Mee	100% of population left
		Wouye Butu	368	Mee	100% of population left
		Uwibutu	47	Mee	30% of population left
		Madi	26	Mee	20% of population left
		Ipakiye	35	Mee	20% of population left
		Pugotadi	125	Mee	40% of population left
TOTAL IDPs			5,034

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