Police claim to thwart illegal arms syndicate in West Papua

 

Indonesian police respond to large anti-racism protests, 

Jayapura, 19 August 2019 Photo: Whens Tebay

Indonesian police in West Papua claim to have thwarted an underground arms syndicate in the region.

The Antara news agency reports that the ammunition was smuggled from the Philippines and destined for North Sulawesi and Sorong in West Papua.

Three people, including two in West Papua, have been arrested.

According to police, it's not the first arms trafficking syndicate operating in Papua.

Police in Papua are poised to crack down on the trade in illegal weapons which is linked to ongoing conflict in the highlands regencies.

In the past two years, Nduga and more recently Intan Jaya have been the focus of deadly exchanges between the West Papua Liberation Army and Indonesian security forces.

Source: Police claim to thwart illegal arms syndicate in West Papua | RNZ News

Indonesian Soldiers May Have Caused Christian Priest’s Death in Papua, Probes Find

Villagers board a bus as they flee their homes after clashes
 between security forces and a rebel group in Tembagapura,
Papua, Indonesia, March 6, 2020.

Three investigations point to the involvement of military personnel in the death of a Christian priest in Indonesia’s troubled Papua province in September.

Separate probes by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) and the Humanitarian Team for Intan Jaya into the death of Pastor Yeremia Zanambani said only military men were involved and that he died from torture.

A third probe by a government team did not mention torture but said military personnel or a third party may have been involved in the clergyman’s death. Currently, a police investigation is underway based on the government team’s report.

On Wednesday, a senior Indonesian government official pledged to uphold human rights in the restive far-eastern region of Papua in light of the priest’s death. The Papuan population is predominantly Christian.

“The ministry and Komnas HAM share the same exact desire for human rights to be upheld and for problems to be resolved without violence,” Mohammad Mahfud MD, the minister for political, legal and security affairs, said in a statement.

He added that he would submit Komnas HAM’s report to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

The information gathered by the government’s fact-finding team, which it released last month, was “in principle the same” as those of Komnas HAM’s report published on Nov. 2, Mahfud MD said.

“There are similar findings on the incident of violence in Intan Jaya. There are some differences in terms of perspectives and technicalities,” Mahfud MD said without elaborating.

Zanambani, who was with the Gospel Tabernacle Church of Indonesia in Papua’s Intan Jaya regency, died in the early hours of Sept. 20.

On Monday, Komnas HAM announced that its investigation found that a soldier identified as Alpius Hasim Madi – a deputy commander of the army unit in Intan Jaya – was suspected to have shot and tortured Zanambani.

Meanwhile, a report released last week by the Humanitarian Team for Intan Jaya also named Alpius, and said he committed the act with another soldier, who remains unidentified. Victor Mambor, a correspondent for BenarNews who is based in Papua, is a member of this investigative panel.

Last month, Mahfud MD said the government team’s report indicated that “[the shooting of] Pastor Jeremiah allegedly involved security officers or another third party.”

The government investigative team questioned Alpius during its investigation in October, Col. Gusti Nyoman Suriastawa, spokesman for the Papua-based Joint Regional Defense Command III, told BenarNews.

“He [Alpius] explained the chronology of the incident. So we’ll just wait for the results of the police investigation,” Suriastawa said.

In September, international human rights watchdog Amnesty International called for “an immediate, independent, impartial” investigation into Zanambani’s death.

“This shooting may represent the state’s inability to bring accountability to Papua. For years, the Papuans’ freedom to live in peace and security has been denied when in fact the state has an obligation to protect life,” Amnesty said in a statement issued in late September.

According to the watchdog group’s Indonesian office, at least 22 people have been victims of unlawful killings in Papua in 2020.

In 1963, Indonesian forces invaded Papua, which makes up the western half of New Guinea Island, and annexed it. Six years later, the region held a referendum in which security forces selected slightly more than 1,000 people to agree to Papua’s formal absorption into the nation, according to human rights advocacy groups.

Tensions rose in Papua in December 2018 after separatist rebels allegedly killed 19 members of a crew building a highway in Nduga regency. Indonesian authorities immediately sent more than 750 soldiers and police to Papua.

Police: ‘Still collecting evidence’

Brig. Gen Awi Setiyono, the National Police spokesmen, declined to comment on the Komnas HAM report but said police were investigating the findings in the report issued by the government team.

“It’s too early to come to any conclusions,” Setiyono said in a video conference with journalists on Tuesday.

“If it was a shot, what kind of bullet was used? From what firearm? Everything will be investigated. We are still collecting evidence.”

The government team’s findings are more comprehensive, Benny Mamoto, the head of the government’s joint fact-finding team, said in a statement Monday.

“Our data come from primary and secondary sources,” Mamoto said.

The military’s Suriastawa said it was important to consider all of the government team’s findings.

“We have to appreciate the findings of the joint fact finding team, which are more complete. They said there was a possibility that the criminal armed group was also involved,” Suriastawa told BenarNews, referring to Papuan separatist rebels.

Tortured

According to the reports from both Komnas HAM and the Humanitarian Team for Intan Jaya, Zanambani was shot.

Haris Azhar, the head of the Humanitarian Team, said two soldiers shot Zanambani and also stabbed him in the neck with a military knife.

Komnas HAM said Zanambani died from blood loss some six hours after he was shot in the arm and choked.

“The victim’s death was not caused directly by injuries to his left arm, or injuries caused by other acts of violence. According to the experts, the cause of death of the victim was due to blood loss,” Komnas HAM’s Muhammad Choirul Anam told reporters Monday.

On the day of the priest’s death, Alpius and other soldiers were searching for military firearms seized by rebels from the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), Komnas HAM said.

The rebels had killed two soldiers in Intan Jaya days before Zanambani’s death, and Alpius was heard saying that Zanambani was an enemy, according to the Komnas HAM report.

“Pastor Yeremia [Zanambani] was thought to have been a target of, or wanted by, the suspected perpetrator and was subjected to torture and/or other acts of violence to force information out of him about weapons that were seized by the TPNPB,” 

Anam said.

Police spokesman Awi said police investigators found at least 13 bullet holes, and ballistic test results were still being analyzed.

“It is premature to say that the victim died of torture,” he said.

Tia Asmara in Jakarta contributed to this report.

West Papua 'becoming a hunting ground' as Indonesian forces open fire on...

The body of Rufianus Tigau found by residents has been buried and covered in banana leaves

Jayapura, Jubi - Regarding the shooting incident in Jalae Village, Sugapa District, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua Province which killed Rufinus Tigau and injured a child named Herman Kobagau, on Monday (26/10/2020), Timika Diocese confirmed that Rufinus Tigau was right oneCatechist working at Stasi Jalae Catholic Church.“Rufinus has been working as a catechist at Saint Michaelel Bilogai Parish since 2015.rufinus was appointed as a catechist by the parish priest of Saint Michaelel Bilogai, Father Yustinus Rahangier Pr, replacing the dead catechist, Mr. Frans Wandagau, ”explained the Diocesan Administrator for Timika diocese, Pastor Marthen Kuayo, as stated in a press release received by Jubi atJayapura, Papua, Tuesday (27/10/2020).Furthermore, Pastor Marthen Kuayo said Rufinus helped the Pastor in Jalae Parish because the pastor who served in Jalae was not a local person so he did not understand the local language and other matters related to the local cultural context.

Before the shooting of Rufinus, said Father Marthen Kuayo, a catechist at the Emondi Stasi Church, Agustinus Duwitau (who was sworn in after Rufinus' inauguration) was also shot by security forces on 7 October 2020.

Augustine is shot down on his way to Emondi. currently Agustinus is still undergoing treatment because of the gunshot wound he sustained.

"Parishes or churches always need people who go to school or can read and write to become preachers like Rafinus," said Pasor Kuayo.

In worship every Sunday, said Pastor Kuayo, preachers also stand in front of the pulpit together with the pastor. because the pastor reads the Bible and preaches in Indonesian, the preacher immediately translates orally in the local language, so that people who do not understand Indonesian can understand and participate in worship.

"In the Christmas event with the Catechists, Rufinus became the translator of the sermon in the local language. the accusation that Rafinus was involved in a separatist movement or armed group which he was accused of is false, ”said Father Marthen Kuayo.

Currently, the Diocese of Timika is compiling a report and a chronology of the shooting incident that killed Rafinus.

Also read: Timika Diocese confirms Rafinus Tigau is a Catholic church preacher

As previously reported, a Catholic church reporter, Rafianus Tigau, Monday (26/10/2020), was shot dead by Indonesian security forces on duty in Intan Jaya Regency, Papua Province. Besides Rafinus Tigau, a child named Megianus Kobagau was injured because of a recoset shot that was fired by the security forces.

A resident of Sugapa, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua Province, who was contacted by Jubi, said that Rafinus' body was found near his house, buried in a hole covered with banana leaves.

"The Indonesian National Police have been in Jalae since 5.00 am. They said they wanted to go after TPNPB. but TPNPB is far from the village. We'll hear gunfire. We don't know who can shoot. After there was no gunshot, then we checked out of the house. We just realized Rafinus wasn't there. So we looked for it, it turned out that he was buried in a hole covered in banana leaves, ”said this Sugapa resident.

Separately, the security forces carrying out the sweep in Jalae said Rufinus was a member of the Armed Separatist Criminal Group (KKSB) as they are called the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).

"This is the result of post-development of the TGPF blockade by KKSB on 9 October. From the results of the development and collection of information from the community, accurate information was obtained that one of the KKSB groups was headquartered in Jalae Village, Sugapa District, "said the Head of Information for Kogabwilhan III, Col. Czi IGN Suriastawa. (*)

📷West papua 26 October 2020

Another innocent priest murdered by Indonesian forces and occupiers

BREAKING NEWS from Timika, West Papua. Another priest shot dead by colonial Indonesian military. There are 1000's of fully armed Indonesian soldiers in West Papua trying to force West Papuan people to accept Indonesian rule. JAYAPURA, SUARAPAPUA.com - It was reported that Rupinus Tigau, a Catholic priest of Jalae station, Sugapa Parish, Timika Diocese, Papua was shot dead by TNI today, Monday, October 26, 2020 in Jalae village, Sugapa district, Intan Jaya, Papua. It was also reported that a young man from Jalae village was shot and was evacuated to Sugapa Hospital. Two people were shot by TNI members while carrying out a sweep in Jalae village. The sweeping was carried out in the morning. In addition, in carrying out sweeping and attacking TPNPB members, an information source reported that civilians fled to the forest. It was also reported that a house was burned by a member of the TNI.

Reporter: Arnold Belau https://suarapapua.com/2020/10/26/breaking-news-dilaporkan-seorang-katekis-katolik-ditembak-mati-tni-di-jalae/ People of West Papua refuse Indonesian colonialism and demand peaceful REFERENDUM on independence. We need international intervention in West Papua. Indonesia killing us for 58 years.

Breaking News from West Papua: Melanesians Demonstrating against Special Autonomy Law Shot in Front of University Campus in Jayapura

Mathias Soo, Shot by Indonesian Police/ Army

This morning, at 10:29 West Papua time, a student by the name of Mathias Soo or Mathias Suu was shot by Indonesian police, tortured many others.

The students refusing the Special Autonomy offer by Indonesia and demanding independence referendum. Demonstrations were held at the Cenderawasih University Campus campus, the first and largest campus in Western New Guinea.

Many others were arrested, tear gas was shot into the students.

There spots were announced for the peaceful demonstration today: Waena Expo centre, Auditorium of the Cenderawasih University and Perumnas 3, in front of the Yahukumo Student dormitory

We request media advocacy

#Mahasiswa #WestPapua #TolakOtsus #TolakOtonomiKhusus #Referendum#PapuaMerdeka #FreeWestPapua

Watch this: Indonesian military shoot, arrest and torture Melanesians who fight against colonialism

They arrest villagers, then blame them as TPN/OPM members then they torture the villagers.

Sunday 25/10/2020 Ambrosius Mulait Ex Political Prisoner Beaten Up by Indonesia Police in Jayapura...

Indonesian police holding firearms, with official police boots, beat him up, took his money and mobile phones and not wearing police uniform.

I want those policemen to be punished for what they have done. I am only oen example, but many Melanesians in West Papua are being tortured and killed.

Pejuang Papua Akan Menghadapi Proses Penegakkan Hukum Tuhan dan Proses Penegakkan Hukum Alam

Setiap kita akan diseleksi oleh dua proses tersebut.

Oleh Jack Wanggai, Jubir Departemen Politik ULMWP.

Pro kontra deklarasi UUDS ULMWP dengan organisasi sayap Pagar Bangsa..

Saya kira mereka yg kontra dgn ULMWP adalah juga peserta dan menjadi delegasi resmi TPN PB OPM skaligus terlibat dalam kegiatan Univication Leaders West Papua di Vanuatu.

Kegiatan ini berlangsung pd tanggal 25 November - 6 Desember dan mendeklarasikan lahirnya ULMWP pada tgl 6 Desember 2014 di Port Villa - Vanuatu.

Pada deklarasi ULMWP itu diikat dengan DOA PASTORAL dan SUMPAH ADAT MELANESIA.

Ingat bahwa hal ini SAKRAL.

Jadi sebagian aktivis yang belakangan tidak punya referensi baik terkait proses perjalanan sejarah perjuangan bangsa Papua pasca meninggalnya Alm Bapak Dortheys Hiyo Eluai pada tahun 2001, hingga terjadi KONSESNSUS POLITIK BANGSA PAPUA pada tahun 2010 dan menetapkan 10 orang KOLEKTIF LEADERS BANGSA PAPUA.

Satu dari keputusan KONSENSUS BANGSA PAPUA adalah diperlukan KONGRES RAKYAT PAPUA III untuk memilih Pemimpin Politik Bangsa Papua. Dan hal itu telah terlaksana pada tanggal 19 Oktober 2011 di Lapangan Zakeus - Padang Bulan Jayapura.

Kongres tersebut memilih dan menetapkan Bapak Forkorus Yaboisembut sbg Presiden dan Ev. EDISON WAROMI, SH sebagai Perdana Menteri NRFPB.

Dalam perjalanan hasil Kongres III itu tidak mendapat dukungan dari KNPB secara organisasi meskipun para aktivis KNPB turut hadir dalam kegiatan KONGRESS III tersebut.

JONNA WENDA tampil sebagai utusan resmi pada acara kongres tersebut dan membacakan Naska sikap TPN PB.

Saat yang bersamaan pula, pada kongres itu, bapak Drs.Septinus Paiki hadir dan membacakan pandangan politik dari WPNCL.

Kehadiran para aktivis dari berbagai wilayah studi dan VII wilayah adat Papua menyaksikan peristiwa bersejarah itu.

Belakangan mereka yang hadir di Kongres tersebut keraskan hati dan tidak mengakui NRFPB.

Persatuan bangsa Papua dilihat masih mengalami tantangan dan hambatan dari para organisasi dan aktivis Papua.

Tantangan itu berdampak kepada diplomasi dan dukungan Papua di MSG, PIF , dan ACP, bahkan NGO'S dan uni eropa.

Para leaders Melanesia melihat konsdisi orang Papua yang tidak bersatu, itu dibuktikan dgn munculnya beberapa proposal yg masuk ke sekretariat MSG di NOUMEA KANAKY, dan negara melanesia lainnya.

Maka diusulkan utk perlu ada satu pertemuan konsolidasi untuk mempertemukan semua komponen perjuangan bangsa, baik force moral maupun force politik.

Karena itu, Vanuatu diminta sbg tuan rumah untuk melakukan pertemuan UNIVICATION LEADERS OF WEST PAPUA yang telah berlangsung pada bulan November - Desember 2014.

Semua pihak diundang untuk hadir ke Pertemuan Univiction itu, kesulitan finansial dan administrasi perjalanan delegasi yg terhambat baik dari tanah papua ke Vanuatu, faktor sabotase intelijen kolonial, itu membuat banyak delegasi tidak bisa tembus ke Vanuatu.

Pertemuan univication west papua leaders itu berlangsung dan ditandatangi oleh NRFPB, WPNCL dan PNWP/ KNPB.

Penandatangan kesepakatan itu yang kemudian dikenal dengan hari lahirnya ULMWP pada tgl 6 Desember 2014 di Lapangan Saralanna - Port Villa - Vanuatu.

Tuan Sebby Sambon dan Terryanus Sato adalah delegasi resmi dari TPN PB OPM yang turut hadir dan mendeklarasi lahirnya ULMWP.

Pada bulan februari 2015, aplikasi bangsa Papua diterima oleh sekretariat MSG dan melalui sidang tahunan MSG di SALOMON ISLAND, ULMWP diterima sebagai ANGGOTA OBSERVER/ ANGGOTA PENGAMAT pada organisasi ujung tombak Melanesia tersebut.

Ada sekian banyak aktivis Papua yang tidak tahu menahu tentang perjalanan sejarah ini.

Ada juga banyak aktivis yang sudah tahu tentang hal itu, bahkan ada yang terlibat dalam perjalanan sejarah perjuangan bangsa ini, tetapi hari ini mereka tidak konsisten dalam keputusan politik bangaa Papua.

Pada deklarasi ULMWP itu diikat dengan DOA AGUNG pihak Gereja Pasifik, SUMPAH ADAT MELANESIA, perjanjian dan penyerahan makanan lokal dan Babi 5 ekor dan serta minum Cava sebagai simbol perjanjian adat melanesia di depan rumah adat /Honay milik dewan adat Vanuatu.

Hari ini di media sosial, ada sekian banyak narasi yang ditulis oleh kaki tangan intelijen kolonial dan bahkan ditulis oleh sesama aktivis Papua untuk meretakan dasar persatuan bangsa papua.

Papua diadu domba oleh para pejuang yang tidak konsisten dan diadu domba oleh mereka yang iri hati panggung politik.

Papua diadudomba oleh aktivis yang sentimen kesukuan, papua diadu domba oleh aktivis yang belum matang dalam sumber daya manusia, papua diadu domba oleh aktivis yang tinggi hati, angkuh dan sombong, papua diadu domba oleh aktivis yang tidak tahu perjalanan sejarah, papua diadu domba oleh aktivis yang hidup tidak takut Tuhan, Papua diadu domba oleh sesama Pejuang di dalam satu wadah organisasi, Papua diadu domba oleh pikiran orang perorangan alias pribadi dan memaksakan pikirannya mnjdi keputusan organisasi, pada hal tidak bgtu.

SADARLAH..

RAKYAT HARUS MEMILIH PEMIMPIN YANG RENDAH HATI DAN TIDAK ANGKUH.

RAKYAT HARUS MEMILIH PEMIMPIN YANG KONSISTEN DALAM MENJALANKAN KEPUTUSAN POLITIK BANGSA.

RAKYAT HARUS TUNDUK KEPADA PEMIMPIN YANG DIPILIH SECARA DEMOKRATIS.

RAKYAT HARUS PAHAM BAHWA KITA BUTUHKAN PEMIMPIN BANGSA YANG MAMPU MEYAKINKAN PUBLIK DUNIA.

DUNIA AKAN TERTAWA DAN MENYESAL KETIKA KITA BANGSA PAPUA TIDAK MENGHORMATI KETUA ULMWP TUAN BENNY WENDA YANG TELAH MENERIMA NOBEL/AWARDS dari Wali kota Oxfort Inggris.

Mereka yang tidak senang dengan ULMWP akan selalu membuat narasi narasi baru untuk mengelabui rakyat dan aktivis tentang perjalanan sejarah bangsa Papua seakan mereka tidak tahu tentang perjalanan sejarah yang kami tulis ini.

Saya melihat deklarasi itu sangat SAKRAL dan sangat berbahaya

Mereka sekarang bikin narasi untuk menghancurkan ULMWP, padahal meeeka juga adalah aktor dibalik lahirnya ULMWP.

ULMWP: Melanesians in West Papua Ready to Run Our Nation-State Now!

  𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗟𝗜𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗠𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗪𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗣𝗔𝗣𝗨𝗔 (𝗨𝗟𝗠𝗪𝗣)

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE

𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆

“MELANESIANS IN WEST PAPUA READY TO RUN OUR NATION-STATE”

In response to current developments in West Papua such as racial discrimination that was responded by Melanesians with widespread demonstrations across Indonesia, mostly supported by Indonesians.

In response to the widespread refusal by youths, women’s groups, churches and grasroos of the extension Special Autonomy Law by Indonesian colonial government for West Papua territory.

In response to the massive and systematic Human Rights Violations escalating across the highlands region of West Papua, dropping of more troops into the region as well as bloodshed that are going on in Nduga, Intan Jaya, Star Mountains and Timika regions

Noticing the socio-political dynamic within West Papua, the provincial and local governments, provincial and local parliaments, NGOs, church groups, pro-democracy groups in Indonesia as well as in West Papua demanding immediate end to humanitarian catastrophe that have been hidden under the carpet, in the names of democracy, development and human rights.

The only demand that the people proposing is internationally supervised referendum for Melanesians in West Papua to determine their political future.

We also take note of current developments across the South Pacific:

1. All students and Youth in West Papua are demanding referendum, and refusing the extension of Special Autonomy Package;
2. The West Papua Council of Churches are requesting the ULMWP to hold dialogue with Indonesia to end humanitarian crises in West Papua.
3. 57 Catholic Priests in West Papua encouraged Indonesia to allow a democratic referendum and not continue with Special Autonomy.
4. Pacific Council of Churches expressed concern on human rights situation in West Papua and asked Indonesia to stop killing Melanesians in West Papua.
5. Request to Indonesia and the United Nations by Pacific Islands’ Forum’s Secretary-General to allow Human Rights Commissioner of the United Nations to visit West Papua, following up requests in the past years.

The Legislative Committee of United Liberation Movement for West Papua as the legislative body of the Republic of West Papua, based on the above considerations and noting the minute of meeting of the parliament at 03:00AM of October 18, 2020 that endorsed the Provisional Constitution of the Republic of West Papua under the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, we hereby declare
[𝟏]. We support he Melanesians of West Papua refuse the continuation of the Special Autonomy Law No. 21/2001 regarding Special Autonomy for Papua Soil;

[𝟐]. We support the aspiration of the people demanding an internationally-supervised referendum for Melanesians in West Papua;

[𝟑]. The ULMWP Legislative Meeting Endorses:

𝟑.𝟏. The Upgrading of the Legal Status of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua Organisational become a semi-government body..

𝟑.𝟐. Unilaterally endorses and declares the implementation of the Provisional Constitution of the Republic of West Papua across the whole territory of West Papua, which was previously called both Papua and Papua Barat Provinces under Indonesian colonial rule, and the Netherlands New Guinea according to the Dutch colonial law.

𝙋𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙉𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙖𝙮, 𝙒𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙋𝙖𝙥𝙪𝙖 20 October 2020
𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗟𝗜𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗠𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧
𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗪𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗣𝗔𝗣𝗨𝗔 (𝗨𝗟𝗠𝗪𝗣) – 𝗞𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗙

𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗞. 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗜 
Chair

WestPapua #TolakUUOtsus #Referendum #PapuaMerdeka#FreeWestPapua #WP4MSG #BravoULMWP #RepublicOfWestPapua#NegaraRepublikWestPapua

WISISI PAPUA 2020 || ULMWP NEWS || Kamwolker 20 Oktober 2020 || 📸Deell.K...

WPCC: Together Fighting for the 'Dream of a Generation of Church Change Pioneers for the Entire Land of Papua

 WEST PAPUAN COUNCIL OF CHURCHES (WPCC)

(Together Fighting for the 'Dream of a Generation of Church Change Pioneers for the Entire Land of Papua’)

OPEN LETTER To President Joko Widodo As the Supreme Commander of the Army and Police: "Papuan people are not enemies of the Republic of Indonesia, Stop the REMILITERIZATION of the Land of Papua and follow up on the President's promise to meet with Papuan Pro-Referendum groups"

His eyes are on the ways of mortals; he sees their every step (Job 34:21)
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Hebrews:4:13)

[caption id="attachment_3723" align="alignleft" width="660"] OPEN LETTER To President Joko Widodo As the Supreme Commander of the Army and Police[/caption]

Shalom!

This open letter is addressed to the President in response to:
(a) Papuan Mourning which has gone viral on YouTube since the end of September 2020
(b) The Papuan People's Petition rejecting the Special Autonomy extension launched on 4 July 2020
(c) The violent and repressive response to peaceful protests against Special Autonomy. On Monday, September 28, 2020, students were shot at on the UNCEN Jayapura campus by the Army and Police. This sent a message that "Papua, by rejecting the extension of Special Autonomy is the enemy of the Republic of Indonesia".
(d) Remilitarization of Papua Land as a strategy of the Indonesian government in order to: 1. continue Special Autonomy unilaterally; 2. Return the Land of Papua to the status of a Military Operations Area (DOM) through the construction of new Military District
Commands (KODIM) & Military Area Commands (KOREM) since 2019 and sending additional troops to West Papua which began in August 29, 2019 and still continues; 3. In order to take control the natural resources of the Land of Papua at a large scale.
In our opinion, this letter does not come out of empty space or does not fall from the sky, but it comes out from the centre of Papuan dynamics. Therefore, through this letter, we ask the President as the Supreme Commander of the Army and Police, and the President of the member countries of the UN Human Rights Council, that he:
(a) terminate the status of Military Operations Area or 'Remilitarization' of the Land of Papua. Because this will continue to demonstrate the strength of the State's military without giving space for democracy and freedom of expression and assembly to Papuans.
(b) Through this letter, we also remind the President to follow up on your promise on September 30, 2019 to meet the “Papua Pro-Referendum group”.
This letter is conveyed by us from our position as Churches and Papuan Society that have been part of the modern Indonesian society since 1 May 1963.

1. Position and Identity of the Church & Papuan Society in modern Indonesian society since 1963

A Church document entitled: ‘Joint Statement’ which was signed by the leadership of the Protestant & Catholic Church of West Irian on March 9, 1964, states that the government established the position of the people of West Irian (Papua) and the Church as 'the other party', 'the other' to the government and the people of Indonesia. The government had the right and obligation to secure, manage and or control the people of West Irian according to their taste.

In the 'Joint Statement’ document, the first President of the Republic of Indonesia (9 March, 1964) positioned the people of West Irian as the 'target' of the Indonesian development model in West Irian (West Papua) which was aimed to equalize the people of West Irian so that they can be equal to other tribes in Indonesia, while the Indonesian government appointed itself as the 'representative of God' by quoting the Holy Scriptures, Romans 13: 1-3. The parties who invited our Church to sign the "Joint Statement" were: DGI (current PGI), the Indonesian Church Trustees Council (KWI now), in collaboration with the Secretariat for West Irian Affairs at that time.

Did the leaders of the West Irian Church at that time compile the "Joint Statement" or was it prepared by the inviting party? This is not clear. But the Joint Statement established the position of Papua in 'modern Indonesian society' ever since.

In the framework of 'equalizing' the people of West Irian (Tanah Papua), on May 2nd and 3rd, 1963, after UNTEA handed over government administration to the Government of Indonesia, the government collected books and magazines, pamphlets about history, ethnography, law, and other printed materials about Papua. They then burned them, while giving speeches and singing Indonesian national songs. There was a concern that the thoughts in these prints would hinder the Indonesian elite from imposing the “new imagined identity” of the Indonesian regime into the minds of the people of West Irian at that time.

The action of burning the books was continued by visiting and taking furniture and other items belonging to the people of West Irian at that time, in front of their families, and then also robbing goods from homes and shops that were left by Dutch citizens and the Dutch Government Office which had been vacated. They then loaded it all on trucks and brought them to the port to be sent their home villages outside Irian/Papua.

The above shows how the Indonesian nation positions the Papuan people as a nation without identity, without history and culture, a stupid, primitive, monkey nation, separatist, GPK, GPL, KKB, KKSB, spectator nation, while the Indonesian elite transported all the proceeds of wealth to outside Papua in the name of development.

This also serves as a framework for labelling all the Churches, NGOs, and civil society organizations that disagree with the regime as supporters of Armed Groups and who should be suspected. In fact, our people have been dying in our rich land due to malnutrition, poor health, poverty and very low education through kindergarten, elementary and high school (see the root of the Papuan conflict according to LIPI, including: Racial Discrimination) therefore the government has failed to develop the welfare of the Papuan people.

After positioning us in this way, the Indonesian government turned a blind eye to the four sources of the Papuan conflict mentioned by LIPI (see LIPI research, 2003) which consisted of: 1). Racial discrimination and marginalization 2) which caused Indonesia to fail to develop Papua in terms of: economy, education and health for the Papuan people; 3) differences in views between Papuans and Indonesians regarding Indonesia's steps to occupy Papua, and 4) Impunity of the Army and Police which allows human rights violations to continue to occur in Papua.

In conclusion, since May 1, 1963, we Papuans have experienced an 'apartheid ideology’ by the majority of Indonesia, in contrast to the majority blacks of South Africa who were under apartheid from the white minority'. So therefore, this Open Letter and the previous statement from the Papuan Pastors, takes the same tone as Desmond Tutu's voice in the apartheid era in South Africa which was described as Crying in the Wilderness1. With our position like this, it is only natural that Special Autonomy would fail; because with this apartheid system, the government and modern Indonesian society have turned a blind eye to the 4 sources of the Papuan conflict raised by LIPI.

2. The Land of Papua Remilitarization Program during the Special Autonomy Period

From the position described above, today we are following the developments leading to the program to return the Land of Papua to the status of a 'Military Operation Area' (DOM), including:
(a) All peaceful actions to protest racism in the Land of Papua (since 16 August 2019 at the Surabaya Dormitory) have been subject to treason charges.
(b) The peaceful actions against Special Autonomy have recently been faced with repression, for example, the action in Timika (23 September 2020), the Nabire action (24 September 2020), and the UNCEN student action (28 September 2020).
(c) The government has unilaterally provoked the people by announcing that Special Autonomy will be extended. Consider Mahfud MD's statement as Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs: Papua's Special Autonomy remains in effect - Extended Fund (CNN Indonesia 11 September 2020), Komarudin Watubun, 'Not the ending of Otsus, the Special Autonomy Fund' (Cenderawasih Pos, Saturday, 8 February 2020).
(d) The government is aggressively building KODAM, KOREM, KODIM, Battalions, Yonif Units and Combat Assistance throughout Papua. Specifically, regarding KODIM, before Special Autonomy there were 9 KODIMs and during Special Autonomy it had increased by 8 to become 17 current KODIMs (see Appendix I). In addition, there are also additional units of the Indonesian Navy and Air Force (see Appendix I). Additions also occurred in the Police Institutions by building local, regional and area Police Stations (POLDA, POLRES and POLSEK) as well as the addition of the Mobile Brigade Corps (BRIMOB) in West Papua.
(e) The dropping of Army and Police troops from outside West Papua has been carried out continuously from August 2019 until today.
(f) As a result of the intensification of military operations by the Army and Police in West Papua: hundreds of residents of Nduga, in the PT Freeport area have fled to the city of Timika since December 2019; Military forces that have been dropped since December 2018 have killed 243 civilian victims; In Intan Jaya since December 2019, it is not known how many tens or hundreds of residents have fled; the army shot dead Pastor Yeremias Zanambani on Saturday, September 19, 2020. Many residents have left their villages and places of worship to save their lives. A number of church buildings are now being used as security posts. Military operations in these villages also forced and pressured the community to accept the government program to extend Special Autonomy for the next 20 years until 2041.
(g) Recent security operations in various areas in West Papua have not been carried out independently, but we suspect that they are in order to support the hidden agenda of seizing land and customary forests (natural resources) belonging to the Papuan people by investors. This situation can be seen from the cries of the indigenous
Papuan people in Merauke (Malind, Muyu-Mandobo, Yakai), in Nduga, Timika, who have experienced repeated violence by the authorities after demanding their customary rights to land and forests that were confiscated for planting oil palm and other industrial plantations. Since 2018 the Papuan Indigenous Peoples in Tambrauw Regency have made demands against oil palm companies and the establishment of new military units in Tambrauw; Indigenous Papuans in Intan Jaya have just stated that they refuse enter to a subsidiary of PT ANTAM which intends to control a gold mining block in the region amidst the ongoing military operations which have resulted in the death and displacement of Intan Jaya residents (about 8 congregations have vacated their hometowns).
(h) Although the Indonesian government has become a member of the UN Human Rights Council, it does not recognize the human rights and freedoms of the Papuan people. At the same time, the Government of Indonesia (1) Supported a referendum for Palestine (in a speech at the General Assembly yesterday), (2) supported the Freedom of the Rohingya from Myanmar. (3) Promoted peaceful dialogue between the Islamic hardliners of Afghanistan and the Afghan government.

The institutions that cover the 'remilitarization agenda' for the integrity of the Republic of Indonesia are the top officials of the Republic of Indonesia (Indonesian National Police), who were mentioned in a discussion in Jakarta at the end of 2019. It was said that during the Soeharto era, the President prioritised the role of the Army in government. During Jokowi's time, he has prioritized the Indonesian National Police, so Jokowi entrusted important positions in the civilian government to the Police elite. The implications for Papua are: The Trio of the Republic of Indonesia who manage the remilitarisation process on behalf of the Republic of Indonesia, since racism protests 29 August 2019. Who are they?
(a) Budy Gunawan as the Head of National Intelligence Agency (BIN)
(b) Tito Karnavian, Ex Head of National Police who is now the Minister of the Interior.
(c) Paulus Waterpauw as the Field Guard in Papua

What unites this Trio of Police: The spirit of maintaining the integrity of the Republic of Indonesia. Their work was very visible when in 2017, when the Governor of Papua, Lukas Enembe was about to run as a candidate for a second term as Governor, the three Police officials contacted Enembe at midnight, asking Enembe to accept Paulus Waterpauw (at that time Head of Police in North Sumatra), to serve as candidate for Deputy Governor. They said due to the fact that Enembe's ‘Indonesian DNA’ was very low, he needed a companion with high Indonesian DNA. But Enembe refused. But the suspicion regarding the Indonesian DNA of Enembe was still visible when the racism protests broke out on 29 August 2019 in Jakarta: ULMWP was accused of being the actor behind the racism riots on 29 August. In Papua, there are Tabi elites who are members of the MRP (Papua Customary Council), Chairman of the City Council and the Regent of Jayapura Regency:
participated in accusing certain ethnic groups of being the provocateurs of the racism riots 29 August 2019; while promoting “the Tabi people as peace lovers” (Morning News RRI Nusantara 5 Jayapura, 30 August 2019).

The trio also arranged for 61 Papuan figures led by the chairman of the Jayapura City Council and a former church official to meet with President Jokowi to ask for the expansion of Tabi Province, which has a capital in Keerom Regency. After the racism riots, Paulus Waterpauw was re-appointed as Head of Police; the old Head of Police who had only been on duty for a few months was removed. Tito Karnavian, the Minister of Home Affairs, proposed to split Papua Province into 5 provinces on the recommendation of the Head of BIN Budi Gunawan. Waterpauw as Head of Police was assigned to secure this program for the sake of Indonesia. This trio is overseeing the program of injecting ' the love of the Republic of Indonesia' into the minds of Papuans by returning Papua to the status of a Military Operation Area (DOM) or a remilitarization of Papua; There is one goal, the integrity of the Republic of Indonesia, to the death.

3. Church Proposal: "The Politics of God" Facing the End of Special Autonomy

Faced with this reality, we ask for the attention of the President as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia (ABRI), as well as the President of member countries of the UN Human Rights Council to resolve the issue of Papua peacefully through negotiations which in theology is called, 'The Politics of God' which states that God is very present in this world to bring peace. Negotiations are in the framework of safeguarding human rights and dignity. God asks the parties to protect and enforce the Right to Life. Therefore, facing the conditions of the West Papua in these days, we, the Church, propose the following:
(a) A Peaceful Approach to the Papuan Conflict which has been ongoing for more than 60 years. This was recently voiced by Pdt. Andrikus Mofu, Chair of the GKI Synod in Papua Land on September 19, 2020 (Suara Papua(dot)com, September 27, 2020).
(b) In the same spirit, the Papuan Church Council has recommended the way for the Peace Negotiations, through the Pastoral Letter of August 26 2019, which urges the Indonesian Government to show justice to the Papuan people with the solution: Negotiate with the ULMWP in the same way as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono took and Jusuf Kalla negotiated when facing the Bloody Conflict with Aceh which ended with the Helsinki Agreement on 15 August 2005.
(c) These calls remind us of the promise of the President on 30 September 2019: That the President is willing to meet with the Papuan 'pro-referendum group'.
(d) We also reject the Joint Fact-Finding Team for the shooting case of Pastor Yeremias Zanambani in Intan Jaya, which was formed by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, who has been promoting remilitarization in the
West Papua, because the team is not independent (consisting of security apparatus, government and intelligence units) so it will not be able to investigate incident properly, fairly and transparently. Based on the facts held by the Papuan Church Council, the shooting was carried out by an Army unit.
(e) The proposal is based on the results of LIPI Research which called for the Indonesian Government to use a peaceful dialogue approach against Papua (m.hukum online.com, 27 August, 2016; www.gatra com, 25 September 2019). Therefore, our proposal is not new.
(f) It is in this spirit that the Papuan Church Council reminds President Joko Widodo to keep his promise to the Chairperson of the High Commissioner of the UN Human Rights Council in February 2018 in Jakarta to visit Papua. This has also been stated:
1) In the Address of the Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Mr. Bob Loughman on 26 September 2020 at the United Nations General Assembly in New York;
2) Communique of the leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in August 2019 in Tuvalu;
3) ACP leaders' communique (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) in December 2019 in Kenya.
(g) With this proposal, we urge the President as Commander of the Armed Forces not to allow the REMILITERIZATION program imbued with racism against Papua to continue.

As we end this letter, the Papuan Church Council would like to thank the family and congregation of Pastor Yeremias Zanambani in Intan Jaya, who have stood firm, bravely taking responsibility to speak out about the shooting that killed Pastor Zanambani. We pray that God will give them strength.

The Papuan Church Council would also like to thank the current Prime Minister of Vanuatu and the previous Prime Ministers, the leaders of other Pacific countries along with the people and the church who have not forgotten the suffering of the Papuan people; by consistently standing in front of the UN and in various forums, voicing violence and human rights violations against the Papuan people committed by Indonesia.

The Papuan Church Council appreciates and is grateful for the people's faith action through raising funds within one month amounting to IDR 773,000,000 to return Veronika Koman's study fees.

The Papuan Church Council thanks and at the same time prays for the people of Papua and all citizens of Indonesia and the international community who are in solidarity with Papua in facing the challenges of humanity, racism and injustice faced by the Papuan people.

The Papuan Council of Churches would also like to thank: Students, Academics, Journalists and Activists, Humanitarian Workers in Indonesia, the Pacific, Asia, Europe, Africa, America and anywhere who have noble hearts and have stood with us for a long time.
And to Mr. President Jokowi, I hope that the Pancasila and Human Rights Instruments can provide you with a stepping-stone to realize your promise of September 30, 2019 to "meet with the Papua Pro-Referendum group". We believe even this proposal is nothing new, it reminds us all of the footsteps of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in resolving the Bloody Conflict with Aceh.

May God give the President Strength. Amen.

1 Desmond Tutu, Crying in the Wilderness, gathered by oleh John Webster (1986), Mowbrays Popular Christian Perspectives: London & Oxford.

2 In America this discourse is encouraged by public theologians: John Howard Yoder through his reflections raised in the book Politics of Jesus and through reflection & Jim Wallis, Gods Politics.

Papua Liberation Army sold arms by Indonesian military

West Papua Liberation Army fighters. Photo: Supplied.

A guerilla force waging war for independence in West Papua has revealed it's been buying weapons from Indonesia's military.

The West Papua Liberation Army has been embroiled in intensified conflict with Indonesian security forces in the highlands interior of Papua region since 2018.

West Papua Liberation Army fighters. West Papua Liberation Army fighters. Photo: Supplied.

A highlands regional commander of the Liberation Army, Brigadier General Egianus Kogeya, has revealed that he purchased weapons and ammunition from the Indonesian military and police.

Kogeya's fighters have claimed responsibility for numerous deadly attacks in the past two years, including the massacre of at least nineteen Indonesian road construction workers in Nduga in December 2018.

According to Suara Papua, Papua Police Chief, Paulus Waterpauw, said the circulation of firearms and ammunition remained a serious concern for the security forces, especially in the Papua Regional Police.

The military or TNI has also recognised the pattern. In February, a military court in Jayapura jailed three TNI members for hvaing supplied ammunition to armed criminal groups in Papua. One of those convicted was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Kogeya said he bought ammunition and weapons from the TNI and Police because that was their way of accessing food while posted in Papua.

He explained that usually the security forces connect with the Liberation Army for the arms sales by communicating through subordinates in the field.

After approval by their superiors, the transaction proceeds, Kogeya said.

Source: Papua Liberation Army sold arms by Indonesian military | RNZ News

Signs of influx of West Papuans to PNG

Dorothy Tekwie Photo: RNZ / Koroi Hawkins

There are signs of an influx of West Papuans into Papua New Guinea amid a protracted conflict across the border.

Since 2018, there’s been a surge of violent exchanges between the West Papua Liberation Army and Indonesian security forces in Papua province.

Thousands of West Papuans have been displaced from the conflict’s epicentre in the Highlands regency of Nduga in the Indonesian-ruled province.

Some of the displaced have fled across the border to PNG’s West Sepik province, according to Vanimo landowner Dorothy Tekwie.

“The numbers in the camps on the PNG side have increased,” Ms Tekwie said.

“On my own particular land the number of young people, young men I’ve never seen before… there is an influx of people coming in, and they feel they are able to slide back in again.”

The main international border entry point at Wutung near Vanimo remains tightly guarded by Indonesian military forces. So too now are access points in Nduga and neighbouring Jayawija regency where many of the estimated 45,000 displaced Ndugans fled to last year when conflict intensified.

However, West Papuans are generally adept at moving and living in jungle, and across mountainous terrain. Long treks are made towards the international border, much of which is too porous for either Indonesia or PNG’s security forces to comprehensively monitor.

Some Papuans who slip across the border further inland end up along the north coast in Vanimo, where Ms Tekwie’s village is located, less than an hour’s drive from Wutung.

“I don’t know how they get through, but these are mountain people, they walk and live off the land; they know how to hunt; so if it’s getting too much on the other side, they just move over here,” she said.

“After all, this is just one island. There is no brick or cement border mark fencing from one end to another, it’s just open forest.”

West Papuans who end up in villages on the PNG side are generally able to blend in easily, being fellow Melanesians. However, those who are not registered as traditional border crossers, and therefore able to travel back and forth by law, are at risk of detection by Indonesian or PNG security forces.

“I try to control who is on the land because I don’t want people to get into trouble and cause trouble for me and other clan members.

“So, I try to know who is moving in and out of my place, but there are so many young men there that I don’t know who they are.”

Ms Tekwie said that West Papuans from the Highlands region were determined to resist Indonesian rule.

Source: RNZ

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