JAYAPURA, KOMPAS — An armed conflict in Nduga regency, Papua, has continued to take its toll. In addition to the killing of many civilians, soldiers, police members and construction workers, a number of residents, who escaped conflict-ridden Nduga regency, reportedly died due to hunger and malnutrition.
Last weekend, data from differing sources circulated showing the numbers of refugees from Nduga who died due to starvation was 177, 139, 130 or 50 people. None of the figures have been verified.
Father John Jonga Pr, a Catholic church leader and human rights activist in Papua, said the problem in Nduga was due to the conflict between the military and pro-independence fighters or armed criminal groups (KKB) led by Egianus Kogoya.
Many residents have escaped from Nduga regency following the shootings of PT Istaka Karya construction workers on Dec. 2, 2018. The residents fled to the forest and the cities of Wamena, Timika, Asmat and Lanny Jaya. "There is a lot of information about the number of refugees who died. But the numbers differ, "said John.
He said he hoped President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo would form an investigation team led by the Social Affairs Ministry and a number of related parties to record the actual number of refugees from Nduga. "This problem must be resolved quickly, very urgently. With valid data, residents who escaped their homes to other areas can immediately get help, "said the 2009 Yap Thiam Hien Award recipient.
He also asked for a ceasefire between the military-police team and Egianus’ group. A ceasefire is needed because the conflicts between the two parties have traumatized residents, who are now afraid to return home.
From 2018 to July 2019, the KKB was involved in 37 shooting incidents. As many as 23 civilians and 15 members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) or the police died. Seven civilians and 14 security personnel were also injured.
A spokesman for the Free Papua Organization (OPM), Sebby Sambon, when contacted last Saturday said the OPM would continue to attack the TNI members in Nduga to stop the construction of the Trans Papua road. "We don\'t need the Trans Papua road, instead [we need] a referendum. The OPM will not take the diplomatic path," he said.
More victims
Last Saturday, a TNI member was shot by the Egianus group in Yuguru village. Private Usman Hambelo was killed after being shot in the waist.
Usman along with 28 TNI members were resting in a labor camp when they were bombarded with fire from the hill, at 12:45 a.m. "The man from Yahukimo regency died as a hero of infrastructure development," said the chief of information for the Military Regional Command XVII/Cenderawasih, Col. (Inf) Muhammad Aidi.
The separatist group was about 300 meters away from the TNI members. The alleged shooting stopped at 1:40 p.m. The attackers fled to the forest. Usman was tasked with securing the construction of a bridge on the Yuguru River. Since May, 600 army personnel have been deployed to build 30 bridges on the 284-kilometer Trans Papua route that connects Wamena and Mamugu.
The Army will continue to build bridges to connect the Trans Papua road. The road is important infrastructure to open up access to isolated areas in mountainous regions.
As many as 35 bridges are needed to connect the Wamena-Mamugu route, which passes through three regencies, namely Jayawijaya, Nduga and Asmat. Construction has not taken place for five months after the shooting of PT Istaka Karya’s 28 workers in Kabo Hill, Yigi district, Nduga. A total of 17 people were killed, seven others survived and four people were still missing. (FLO)