Protect Workers in Papua

ANTARAFOTO/ MARIUS FRISSON YEWUN

The families of victims visit Jayawijaya Military District Command 1702 to discover the condition of their relatives, who were suspected of being shot by an armed group in Wamena, Papua, on Tuesday (4/12/2018).

Violence has happened again in Papua as 21 road workers on the Trans-Papua road construction project were reportedly shot dead.

The police have confirmed the news and law enforcement has been deployed to the site of the bloody incident. Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Ahmad Mustofa said, as quoted by Kompas on Dec. 4, that the workers of state-owned construction firm PT Istaka Karya were involved in building bridges on Kali Yigi and Kali Yaurak Rivers. The authorities have yet to provide explanations on possible motives and perpetrators. It has been alleged that armed criminal groups were behind the incident, which took place on Dec. 1.

We are in grief and would like to extend our condolences to the road workers’ families. They all have done the country a great service by building roads and ending isolation in Papua. The construction of the Trans-Papua road is among President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s signature programs in his Nawacita point of building the country from the frontiers. The 284-kilometer Trans-Papua road is expected to connect Asmat, Nduga and Jayawijaya. Its benefits may not be felt immediately but many believe that the road will reduce prices in Papua. Surely, this will be beneficial for all Papuans.

Opening Papua’s isolation is surely a high-risk endeavor. Armed groups often disrupt security in Papua. The government and the authorities must provide serious attention to such potential security disruptions. It must be guaranteed that workers can work in a safe environment to open Papua’s isolation. They who are willing to work in high-risk regions are those who answer the call of serving the nation.

An investigation must be launched on the shooting of 31 civilians, including how the shooters got their weapons. It is the police’s duty to investigate the case. Whatever their motives are, including political motives to gain international attention for the presence of various groups in Papua on the commemoration of Dec. 1, the law must still be upheld.

Papua needs serious attention from the central government. It has highly complex problems. Elites often abuse Papua in the struggle for their personal gains. A holistic approach is necessary to develop the easternmost province, comprising not only physical development but also other projects that can ingratiate the Indonesian government to Papuans. There needs to be awareness that development in Papua is for the betterment of Papuan lives. Such narratives must be promoted not only domestically as the war of narratives on Papua also takes places internationally.

Security and legal approaches must be complemented with a cultural approach that places Papuans as the main subject of Papua development and hosts in their own home. The involvement of Papuan elites is necessary in creating development policies in Papua. The political participation of Papuan elites in various groups is necessary. Papuan elites must be involved in creating policies in Papua.