Sabrina Asril, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) is asking the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) to be serious in investigating the recent violence that has occurred in Papua.
Kontras Coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya said this is important in order to stop a repeat of the violence.
"[We're asking] Komnas HAM to immediately conduct an independent and impartial investigation into all alleged acts of violence, torture and alleged human rights violations that have occurred in Papua", said Arya during a press conference at the Kontras office in Kwitang, Central Jakarta, on Monday March 4.
The call was made following several incidents of violence in Papua over the last two months that has claimed four lives.
Kontras noted that there were seven incidents of violence between January and February resulting in 10 people being injured and four others dying.
This adds the list of victims of violence in Papua. In 2023, Kontras recorded 49 incidents of violence with 67 people injured and 41 killed.
"These acts of violence included shootings, torture and arbitrary arrests", he added.
Arya also said that the number of cases of violence in Papua is directly proportional to the application of a military approach by the government.
Yet, said Arya, this policy of resolving conflicts is still one of the factors continuing to the recurrence of violence in the land of Papua.
"We project that incidents such as this will continue to be repeated in the land of Papua if the government does not conduct a review and evaluation of the security approach and military operations that are currently being pursued in the land of Papua", he said.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Komnas HAM Diminta Serius Investigasi Kekerasan di Papua Sampai Tuntas".]
