Church leaders in Indonesia’s Christian-majority Papua have criticized the ‘excessive military’ presence in the region, calling it a flawed state policy to counter insurgency in the conflict-scarred easternmost territory.
Augustinian Bishop Bernardus Bofitwos Baru of Timika said that the military presence has instilled fear and insecurity in the local community, whose life and activities are disrupted at regular intervals.
According to government data, approximately 12,300 military personnel are stationed in Papua, the Indonesian part of Papua New Guinea, which is now divided into six provinces.
Since being annexed by Indonesia in the 1960s after the end of Dutch colonial rule through what is largely considered a sham referendum, Papua has endured a low-intensity armed secessionist insurgency and the military’s counter-insurgency operations, which left thousands killed and displaced in the region.
The government cites national security for “influx of soldiers” in Papua, which Papuans have detrimental impacts on their lives, causing panic, fear, and security concerns, disrupting the livelihoods of the community, Baru said on Jan. 18.
The soldiers have placed restrictions on movement, and traditional activities such as hunting, gardening and community gatherings, which are being hindered, said the prelate, an ethnic Papuan and rights defender.
"Military posts and soldiers are everywhere. People are afraid because they have implemented an activity schedule, which means it's not just a curfew anymore, but a broader loss of security," Baru told UCA News.
Such a security system “intrudes into people's personal matters, [and] could be subtly killing the community,” he lamented.
Baru urged the government to engage in dialogue with community representatives to counter the threat of insurgency posed by rebel groups, including the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).
The military’s arbitrary restrictions have negative impacts on the Catholic community, Banu said.
Priests have reported several cases of adverse impact on the congregation, "which encourages me to ask the government to discuss this issue with the church,” he said.
Local media reports suggest that apart from tackling insurgency, the military is being used to safeguard the interests of business oligarchs who are engaged in establishing farms, palm oil plantations, and mines.
A Catholic priest and activist serving Bilogai and Sugapa in Central Papua, who did not want to be named, fearing repercussions, said the military occupied a Catholic school compound last September. It has disrupted the learning environment."The community is now in trauma. From there, the soldiers spread out to the surrounding villages. And to this day, they have not returned to their posts,” the priest told UCA News.
The priest said local leaders and village chiefs have met with military commanders and have appealed to end restrictions on their lives and livelihoods.
“We also explained all the customs and traditions, including our hunting equipment and gardening tools, so that the military personnel would not suspect the civilians as rebels,” he added.
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