The government needs to find the best solutions for Papua. The elites and the people should refrain from voicing opinions that would only make things worse.
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·5 minutes read
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – No end seems to be in sight to the series of rioting in several cities in Papua that has led to thousands fleeing their homes. The President must push for strict and transparent law enforcement to prevent things from getting worse. Firm law enforcement would also have a deterrent effect.
Law enforcers are also urged not to criminalize Papuans suffering because of the riots. “Victims must not be declared suspects. Papuans are victims and they have been relatively peaceful all this time,” Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) researcher Adriana Elisabeth said in Jakarta on Monday (30/9/2019). Adriana is also coordinator of the Papua Peace Network.
Adriana said she believed the riots in several cities in Papua, with the latest being in Wamena, were engineered as there had been no precedent in Papua.
“There has never been any social or communal conflicts anywhere in Papua, apart from those deliberately planned a month ago,” said Adriana, who has spent years researching Papua.
She said the pattern of the riots, which local armed groups have been accused of planning, was odd. Shootings by local armed groups commonly took place in mountainous areas, like the one that led to the death of PT Istaka Karya employees in Nduga regency.
President Joko Widodo reaffirmed that the state guaranteed the safety of all citizens and that the authorities were working hard to protect all people and act firmly against rioters.
Riot orchestrators are believed to have exploited social conditions in Wamena, where there are many unemployed youths and a Yahukimo chapter of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB).
She said she believed that Wamena locals protected their non-Papuan neighbors during the 23 September riot. However, such deeds were not reported by the media.
On Monday, President Joko Widodo reaffirmed that the state guaranteed the safety of all citizens and that the authorities were working hard to protect all people and act firmly against rioters.
“I need to say that law enforcers worked hard to protect all citizens,” President Jokowi said at Bogor Palace.
The police have named seven suspects in the Wamena riot, comprising high school and university students and civilians. “They could be charged under Article 170 of the Criminal Code on collective violence. The number of suspects may rise,” Jayawijaya Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Tonny Ananda said.
Exodus continues
Thirty-three people died in the 23 September Wamena riot. As of Monday evening, around 4,500 people had fled to Jayapura.
Tonny said 6,000 people were still waiting to be airlifted out of Wamena. Some came from Tolikara and Lanny Jaya regencies. They voiced concerns that rioting would spread to their areas.
“Economic and office activities have resumed. But schools have yet to reopen as teachers remain afraid,” he said.
Following his inauguration as Papua Police chief to replace Insp. Gen. Rudolf Albert Rodja, Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw said ensuring evacuees’ safety was his top priority in managing the conflict in Papua.
In Mataram, the West Nusa Tenggara administration has sent personnel to deliver medicine and other supplies to Jayapura. The personnel will also record the number of people affected by the riots in West Nusa Tenggara. “Six have taken shelter at the Jayawijaya Military Command and 10 at the Yalimo regency office. They are waiting to be airlifted to Jayapura,” local social affairs agency head T Wismaningsih Dradjadiah said.
The West Nusa Tenggara administration said it would cover their commercial flight costs back to the province.
Some 1,470 Minangkabau people affected by the Papua riots also asked to be sent home to West Sumatra. Many have been traumatized.
West Sumatra Governor Nasrul Abit said the Minang Family Association in Papua was continuously updating its list of evacuees. It is estimated that around 2,000 Minangkabau people live in and around Wamena. “They have to be brought home immediately,” said Nasrul, who had just arrived home from Wamena.
Nine Minangkabau people (not 10 as previously reported) died in the rioting. Another Minangkabau person is being treated.
The West Java administration is making a similar list. “We have not received any information of people from West Java injured in the riots,” West Java Secretariat spokesperson Hermansyah said.
Find solutions
Separately, Muhammadiyah chairman Haedar Nashir urged the government to optimize protection for all citizens in Papua. The government must also find the best solution to resolve the riots in Papua.
“The state must be present in protecting all citizens of Indonesia, as mandated by the Constitution. The safety of all citizens must be prioritized. We trust the government, the police and the military, with support from all the people, to resolve the conflict in Wamena,” Haedar said.
He also urged people to restrain themselves and work together to ensure peace. The elites and the people should not voice opinions that would make things worse.
Adriana said violence would not bring solutions for Papua. Everyone must restrain themselves.
She said all riot orchestrators in Papua must be punished firmly. Rioting in several areas in Papua could have been orchestrated by anyone who would have benefited from it, be it financially, by obtaining structural positions or by delegitimizing the government ahead of the president\'s inauguration and the announcement of the new Cabinet.
“Those who create conflict could benefit the most from the disharmony, which must be stopped instead of abused,” Adriana said.
On Monday, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the law should be enforced against the guilty. Reconciliation is also important for a better future in Papua.
Kalla said non-Papuans resided in Wamena and other cities to find a better living and drive the local economy. This is important in regions.
(INA/SAN/NTA/FLO/RUL/SEM/JOL/HAR)
Editor:
Nasru Alam Aziz
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