Jayapura – Papua Justice and Human Integrity Foundation (YKKMP) Director Theo Hesegem has acknowledged the increasing number of victims of human rights violations in Papua over the past few years.
Starting since Papua became part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), the armed conflict has continued to escalate from year to year and has always escaped attention because it has been proven to have never been fully resolved.
Hesegem said that the recent series of armed conflicts began on December 2, 2019, in the mountainous area of Mount Kabo, when 17 Wamena-Nduga trans highway workers (PT Istaka Karya employees) were killed by troops from the Ndugama Derakma III West Papua National Liberation Army's (TPNPB) Defence Command Area (Kodap) under the leadership of Brigadier General Egianus Kogeya.
The armed conflict continued to spread after Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens was taken hostage on February 7, 2023 at the Paro district airport. The New Zealand pilot was also held hostage by the TPNPB group led by Kogeya.
"As a result, tens of thousands of civilians have fled to various places and have not returned to their homes to this day", said Hesegem in a press release sent to Suara Papua on Thursday April 27.
It has been noted that by the end of 2024, the Papuan Council of Churches (PCC) has recorded more than 70,000 people who had fled in the land of Papua due to armed conflicts.
The refugees came from various armed conflict areas including the districts of Nduga, Intan Jaya, Bintang Highlands (Kiwirok and Oksop), Yahukimo, Puncak, Maybrat and several other parts of Papua.
"Up until early 2025, the escalation of the conflict has continued to increase. This of course greatly disrupts the comfort of indigenous Papuans and non-Papuans lives due to the armed violence that continues to occur throughout Papua, especially in areas of armed conflict between the TPNPB and the TNI/Polri [Indonesian Military/Indonesian Police]", said Hesegem.
The YKKMP provided notes on a series of incidents that have occurred in early 2025:
On January 13 between 7.30-9 am, the TPNPB attacked Indonesian security forces at the West Moskona military post in Teluk Bintuni district. Three security forces members were killed according to a TPNPB report under the leadership of Brigadier General Deni Moos.
On January 21, Jubi Papua reported that the TNI destroyed 56 houses belonging to local residents in the Mimin Village, Oksop district, Bintang Highlands regency. This was reported by Father Kletus Togodli, the vicar of the Mabilabol Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
On January 21 at 12 noon in Mulia, Puncak Jaya regency, an exchange of fire allegedly occurred between the TPNPB and the TNI-Polri which killed one Polri officer named Police Brigadier Ronald M. Enok. This was reported by AS Wenda, a resident of Puncak Jaya.
On January 28, the TPNPB's Yahukimo XVI Kodap fired on an Avanza Toyota car belonging to the Indonesian security forces.
On January 30, a civilian named Elita Pakaimu was abused by security forces (TNI) on Jalan Pelabuhan Misi Kepi in Muin village, Obaa district, Mappi regency.
On February 1, shots were fired at a member of the Kurima Sectoral Police (Polsek) in Eroma village, Kurima district, Yahukimo regency, named of Aipda Syam (42) form the Palopo tribe.
On February 6, the Bintang Highlands High School and University Student Association (IMPPETANG) held a demonstration in Oksibil, the capital of Bintang Highlands district, in response to a military operation in Oksop district on December 4, 2024, which resulted in many refugees and material losses.
On February 7, a tribal chief in Kapiraya was shot in the hand by a TNI officer (a local Babinsa, a village supervisory non-commissioned officer) because he refused to allow a company to enter and operate in Kapiraya, Mapia, Dogiyai district.
On February 13, the TPNPB reported that 450 TNI troops with full combat equipment were dropped into Puncak regency for over a period of seven days, from February 5 to 11 consecutively. The troops were transported using TNI helicopters and placed in 10 districts in Puncak regency.
On February 16-19, students throughout Papua held protest actions rejected the central government's free nutritious meals (MBG) program. In several cities such as Yalimo and Jayapura, demonstrators were forcibly dispersed using warning shots.
On February 28, a civilian named Goliat Sani (a motorcycle taxi driver and funeral transporter) was shot dead by Indonesian security forces on suspicion of being part of a TPNPB group.
On March 5, two civilians from Yalimo regency were assaulted by police officers from the Yalimo District Police, to the point that one of the victims, Elinus Walianggen, was stabbed in the right shoulder with a knife. The other civilian, Rony Kepno, was assaulted using a rifle butt.
On March 18, TPNPB admitted to shooting dead on member of the security forces (TNI) in Sugapa city, Intan Jaya district.
On March 22, the TPNPB claimed to have killing six teachers and health workers in Angguruk district, Yahukimo regency.
On March 29, the TPNPB attacked Indonesian security forces resulting in the death of four TNI members from the Yonif Raider 321/Garuda Taruna unit in Intan Jaya.
On April 7, the TPNPB shot dead an Indonesian intelligence officer in Yambi district, Puncak regency.
On April 8, the TPNPB's Yahukimo XVI Kodap shot dead 11 non-Papuan gold miners who were suspected of being Indonesian security force members.
On April 9, the Yahukimo XVI Kodap claimed to have shot dead five gold miners in Yahukimo who were suspected of being members of the TNI-Polri.
On April 10, the Yahukimo XVI shot dead a gold miner who was suspected of being an Indonesian security officer.
On April 11, 71 people in Yahukimo were reported to have fled to the banks of the Brasa River, close to the company PT Bintang Timur at the Halabok complex due to an armed contact between the TNI-Polri and the TPNPB in Yahukimo. The armed contact began at 2.42 pm in the afternoon.
"Of the 20 cases above, 40 people have become victims, including 33 non-Papuans and five indigenous Papuan civilians. Of the 33 non-Papuan victims, 11 of them were [members of the] security forces and the status of the remainder are unknown", said Hesegem.
Of the five indigenous Papuan victims, Hesegem explained, three were abused by security forces, one civilian was shot dead and one civilian was shot in the hand.
Hesegem continued saying that in early January, 71 people were reported to have been displaced. Fifty-six civilian homes and a car belonging to the Indonesian security forces were lost.
"Then there was the dropping of Indonesian military troops since January 2024 and which still continues today. This is added to by President Prabowo Subianto's statement about involving six generals to confront the TPNPB in Papua", he said.
The YKKMP stated that this situation is already known to the national and international community. "Thus, this armed conflict must be stopped in the name of the integrity of humanity by upholding the values and principles of human rights as a whole."
"Because from all these series of conflicts that have occurred, the main victims are civilians", said Hesegem.
Meanwhile the YKKPM made a number of recommendations as a resolution to the prolonged conflict in Papua:
First, urging the Republic of Indonesia to immediately open access for foreign journalists and reporters to enter Papua in order to cover the human rights situation in its entirety.
Second, urging the UN to immediately form an investigation team through special UN procedures in order to identify the root cause of the problems in Papua.
Third, urging Indonesia to immediately allow a visit by the UN Human Rights Council to Papua, the people of which have been victims of human rights violations.
Fourth, urging the Republic of Indonesia to immediately open space for peaceful dialogue between the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) as the political umbrella for pro-Papua independence groups and the Republic of Indonesia.
"We address these recommendations to the Papuan people as the first party, the Republic of Indonesia as the second party, and the United Nations (UN) as the third party, as well as the international community that is in solidarity with the humanitarian situation in the land of Papua", he asserted.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "YKKMP Beberkan Banyaknya Korban Konflik Bersenjata di Tanah Papua".]
Source: https://suarapapua.com/2025/04/18/ykkmp-beberkan-banyaknya-korban-konflik-bersenjata-di-tanah-papua/
