2) Intan Jaya: Rebel guns down kiosk owner, manhunt underway
----------------------------------------------------
A google translate.
Original Bahasa link
1) Situation Unsafe, 6,000 Maybrat Residents Choose to Live in Refugee Camps
Writer: Suara Papua - July 26, 2025, 6:31 WP02
JAYAPURA, SUARAPAPUA.com— As many as 6,000 Aifat residents in Maybrat Regency remain internally displaced from their hometowns, or IDPs, due to the 2021 conflict between the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) in Aifat, Maybrat Regency, Southwest Papua Province.
This statement was made by Father Heribertus Lobya, Director of the SKPKC OSA Papua Indonesia in Sorong, to Suara Papua on Thursday (July 24, 2025).
Father Heru said that Maybrat refugees are currently living in Sorong Regency, Sorong City, Maybrat, Tambrauw, and Bintuni.
"Yes, that's right, there are still residents of Maybrat (Aifat and the surrounding areas) who are still displaced. They come from Sorong Regency, Sorong City, Maybrat, Tambrauw, and Bintuni. The reason they are still staying in the refugee camps is because the situation is still not comfortable and their rights as refugees have not been guaranteed. There are around 6,000 of them," explained Pastro Heri.
They are currently struggling to survive by gardening in the refugee camps.
"The refugees are currently struggling to survive, gardening in the refugee camps, so they can eat and sell their produce to support their children's education and healthcare needs," he said.
In addition to gardening, the priest said they also grow sago for food and engage in other activities to survive. Whatever they do, they do it to maintain their lives outside their hometown.
The priest said that given the current situation, they need health services, free education for their children, financial support for their families, housing, and the fulfillment of their rights as refugees.
"At the beginning of the evacuation, there was some government attention, but since then, there has been no regular attention. What the government must do for the refugees is fulfill their rights as refugees, provide housing for them, and provide health services, education, and financial support for their families," he concluded.
He said this situation is quite concerning, as they have long abandoned their livelihoods and have difficulty accessing all these necessities, living far from their hometown.
Given these conditions, the SKPKC OSA has taken a role and provided assistance to the refugees, particularly in the areas of health services, education (literacy for refugee children), trauma healing services, spiritual services, and the provision of food, plant seeds (vegetables), and clothing.
"Furthermore, the SKPKC OSA has visited refugee areas to discuss and share experiences with the refugees. The Franciscan SKPKC has also provided assistance with a machine to distribute clean water and several clean water facilities such as profile tanks, hoses, and electrical cables. Other parties, such as the Yohan youth organization, have also provided food supplies for the Maybrat refugees," he said.
Regarding the handling of refugees in Maybrat, the Director General of Human Rights Services and Compliance at the central government and the local governments of both the Maybrat Province and Regency held a Coordination Meeting in Sorong in April 2025.
The Coordination Meeting focused on improving road access, which was considered a major obstacle to the refugee repatriation and recovery process. Furthermore, collaboration across ministries and institutions is crucial in resolving these various issues.
On that occasion, Maybrat Deputy Regent Fernando Salosa acknowledged that the local government has implemented a phased response. "Regarding this matter, we, the local government, have essentially implemented a phased response."
However, he acknowledged that conditions in several districts in Aifat have not fully recovered due to poor road access, such as in East Aifat, South East Aifat, Far East Aifat, and Middle East Aifat.
Vegetables grown by Maybrat refugees. (Doc. Father Heri)
Given these conditions and circumstances, Father Heri hopes the Maybrat government will pay more attention to the Maybrat refugees. This includes the rights of refugees, both those still displaced and those already in their hometowns.
"Their rights as refugees must be fulfilled. Furthermore, in terms of health, medical personnel such as doctors, paramedics, and nurses should stay in the village, especially in Aisya Village, because I see that the health infrastructure and facilities there are quite adequate."
"Furthermore, classrooms at YPPK schools in the East Aifat region should be functional for grades 1 through 6. I also hope that the YPPK elementary school in Faan Kahrio can be functional for grades 1 through 6," he concluded.
The basic rights of internally displaced persons that require state attention are the right to access education, health services, adequate housing, employment, and the right to live with their families. Although Indonesia has not ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention,
Nevertheless, refugee protection is also regulated by national law, specifically Law No. 39 of 1999 concerning Human Rights, which recognizes and upholds human rights as natural rights inherent to every human being.
----------------------------
2) Intan Jaya: Rebel guns down kiosk owner, manhunt underway
July 26, 2025 20:47 GMT+700
Manokwari, W Papua (ANTARA) - The Operation Peace Cartenz Task Force has launched a manhunt for a Papuan separatist who shot dead a kiosk owner in Wandoga village, Sugapa sub-district, Intan Jaya district, Central Papua, on Friday.
The incident occurred around 1:40 p.m. local time when the kiosk owner, identified as Joni Hendra, was serving a customer, the task force’s operation head, Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhani, said.
Hendra, who sustained serious gunshot wounds, was rushed to Bilorai Public Health Center, but was declared dead on arrival, he informed.
His shooter has been identified as Yonial Kobogah, he added.
amadhani said that Kobogah is suspected to be a member of the Apen Kobogau-led Papuan separatist group, which is active in Intan Jaya.
“The manhunt is still underway for the suspect who fled to the village’s hilly area after gunning down the victim. We continue to hunt down and crack down on those disrupting the law and public order,” he added.
Over the past few years, armed Papuan groups have often employed hit-and-run tactics against Indonesian security personnel and mounted acts of terror against civilians in the districts of Intan Jaya, Nduga, Puncak, and Maybrat to incite fear among the people.
The targets of such acts of terror have included construction workers, motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers, teachers, students, street food vendors, and also civilian aircraft.
On December 2, 2018, for instance, a group of armed Papuan separatists brutally killed 31 workers from PT Istaka Karya. The workers were engaged in the Trans Papua project in Kali Yigi and Kali Aurak in Yigi sub-district, Nduga district.
Early on the morning of September 2, 2021, several members of an armed Papuan group operating in Maybrat district ambushed sleeping soldiers at the Kisor military post. The post is located at Kisor village, South Aifat sub-district.
On March 2, 2022, several members of an armed Papuan group operating in Beoga sub-district, Puncak district, killed eight Palaparing Timur Telematika (PTT) workers who were repairing a base transceiver station (BTS) tower belonging to state-owned telecommunications operator Telkomsel.
On February 7, 2023, New Zealander pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens was taken hostage by an armed group led by Egianus Kogoya.
The incident occurred around 1:40 p.m. local time when the kiosk owner, identified as Joni Hendra, was serving a customer, the task force’s operation head, Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhani, said.
Hendra, who sustained serious gunshot wounds, was rushed to Bilorai Public Health Center, but was declared dead on arrival, he informed.
His shooter has been identified as Yonial Kobogah, he added.
amadhani said that Kobogah is suspected to be a member of the Apen Kobogau-led Papuan separatist group, which is active in Intan Jaya.
“The manhunt is still underway for the suspect who fled to the village’s hilly area after gunning down the victim. We continue to hunt down and crack down on those disrupting the law and public order,” he added.
Over the past few years, armed Papuan groups have often employed hit-and-run tactics against Indonesian security personnel and mounted acts of terror against civilians in the districts of Intan Jaya, Nduga, Puncak, and Maybrat to incite fear among the people.
The targets of such acts of terror have included construction workers, motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers, teachers, students, street food vendors, and also civilian aircraft.
On December 2, 2018, for instance, a group of armed Papuan separatists brutally killed 31 workers from PT Istaka Karya. The workers were engaged in the Trans Papua project in Kali Yigi and Kali Aurak in Yigi sub-district, Nduga district.
Early on the morning of September 2, 2021, several members of an armed Papuan group operating in Maybrat district ambushed sleeping soldiers at the Kisor military post. The post is located at Kisor village, South Aifat sub-district.
On March 2, 2022, several members of an armed Papuan group operating in Beoga sub-district, Puncak district, killed eight Palaparing Timur Telematika (PTT) workers who were repairing a base transceiver station (BTS) tower belonging to state-owned telecommunications operator Telkomsel.
On February 7, 2023, New Zealander pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens was taken hostage by an armed group led by Egianus Kogoya.
Translator: Ali NI, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
-------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.