Tag: Nduga

HRD Report: Information on Internally Displaced People in West Papua – Oksibil

by Solidarity for Indigenous Papuans

Information on Internally Displaced People in West Papua – Oksibil

Above: West Papua map showing the active conflict zones in West Papua including the IDPs location. (Source: google map, additional graphics by Solidarity for Indigenous Papuans)

General information on internally displaced people in conflict zones in West Papua
  • Since 1st December 2018 West Papua people in Nduga have been displaced from their homes for four years now. There were 12 districts in Nduga regency completely destroyed, more than 45 000 people have been displaced living in the neighbouring regencies up to date.
  • Like the situation in Nduga, Puncak people have also been displaced for four years now living with relatives in other regencies, most of the IDPs from Puncak is not known because the media is blocked from going in to the area.
  • People of West Papua in Yahukimo regency have also been displaced for the last four years most of them living in the jungles away from public facilities. The information about IDPs in Yahukimo is also not known.
  • The people of West Papua in Intan Jaya have been taking refuge in the neighbouring Paniai and Nabire regencies for the last three years. Their information is also not often published regularly. Most of the IDPs from Intan Jaya, Puncak and Nduga are living in Mimika regency including the people from the mining village of Banti displaced in 2020.
  • Recent armed conflict in Maybrat has also caused displacement in the Bird’s head region; people are still living in the jungles since last month’s incident in Maybrat regency.
  • The Star Mountain regency has been in conflict since 2018, displacement was under control until the 13th September incident in Kiwirok and Okhika districts.
  • Estimated total of Internally Displaced People is around 90 000 to 100 000 people and is expected to increase when the conflict intensifies throughout West Papua.
Situation of Internally Displaced people in Kiwirok and Okhika districts Star Mountain Regency

There are 12 villages in district Kiwirok including the district headquarters. People from the villages have been displaced since the 13th of September 2021. Some ran to the jungles while others moved to the Kiwirok Church compound. People who are sheltered by the church are mostly women, children, elderly, and the sick.

The burning and destruction in Okhika district was done by Indonesian military and not the OPM. Most of the destroyed buildings were residential houses and not public facilities. The whereabouts of the people from Okhika are not known to date. Most of them ran into the jungles to cover from Indonesian attacks. It is expected that people from these districts will migrate to Telefomin and Green River districts of Sandaun province in Papua New Guinea. The total population of district Okhika and Kiwirok combined is estimated to be around six thousand people.

The people who have been displaced since 13th of September 2021 who are under the church protection need food and other supplies. Neighbouring districts are contributing food and firewood to the displaced people. The supplies could not last long and need urgent food supplies to keep the people fed. Schools and other public amenities have been closed and children are deprived of their right to education.

Above: Women and children from Kiwirok district displaced by the armed conflict

Above: The elderly, women and children including men in Kiwirok district displaced by the armed conflict.

Above: Food and firewood contributed from local people for the IDPs.

Government and NGO Response

The Indonesian government has not been responsive since 2018 IDP crisis in Nduga. Only the local government is responsive to supply food and basic supplies from time to time. The government has not formed special teams to investigate what is happening within the IDP communities and or addressing their situation.

We have witnessed churches and CSOs build solid support base for the IDPs in West Papua throughout the conflict zones. These brave deeds were not without blockage by Indonesian military and police though. Many church workers were killed due to their care for the IDPs, CSOs blocked from reaching the IDPs or food aid stolen by the military from the airports. Indonesian military and police often check every item on the plane to the conflict zones. Anything that is heading towards the IPD camps is confiscated at the airports including food and other basic supplies.

Appeal

Indonesian military and police have been confiscating food for IDPs from the airports which is a violation of the existing humanitarian law. The military and police have been consistently checking backs and confiscating food since 2018. We are appealing to the international community to urge Indonesia to allow food and medical assistance to reach the IDPs throughout West Papua conflict zones.

Prepared by Solidarity for Indigenous Papuans

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Nduga Investigation Team calls for Jokowi to end enforced disappearances and human rights abuses

Press Release – Nduga Human Rights Investigation Team

December 15, 202

(WPM TRANSLATION and edited for clarity – apologies for delay in publication)

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION CASES ARE BECOMING DEEPLY ENTRANCED IN NDUGA AND THROUGHOUT PAPUAN SOCIETIES

Civilians are always the victims of the barrel of the gun, the fate of the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) who continue to die in the IDP camps are often ignored, and are considered of no value. They were often seen as sub-humans abandoned to suffer and die with no government assistance in the jungles and IDP camps.  After the massacre of PT Istaka Karya employees, on December 2nd, 2018, on Mount Kabo, it is now more than 2 years, the war between TPNPB led by Egianus Kogoya and Indonesian Military and Police (TNI / POLRI) continue to this day which continues to claim lives from both sides TNI / POLRI and OPM / TPNPB. The victims referred to are not only defending parties, but unarmed civilians have also fallen casualty as victims of torture, victims of arrest, victims of sweeping, and burning of people’s houses, and these civilian victims who were tortured by the TNI apparatus or died of illnesses.

Victims continue to fall, because neither party has expressed their willingness to either carry out peace negotiations, or listen to the plea for peace talks by the general public, both; TNI / POLRI and OPM / TPNPB still maintain their respective ideologies to this day, armed conflict still continues to this day. Both parties do not realize that civilians are experiencing casualties and material losses. In our view this war will not stop, but will have the impact of taking a lot of casualties down with it. Due to the uncompromising positions of the two groups TNI / POLRI and OPM / TPNPB there has been no agreement on peace negotiations or a ceasefire.

We already knew that the war between TNI / POLRI and TPNPB has been initiated by various groups / institutions, and the Regional Government of Papua Province (through the Governor) has conveyed an official position at the Papua Provincial Assembly (DPRP) session, to immediately withdraw Non-Organic troops from Nduga Regency. However, there has been no serious response from the Central Government (in Jakarta), instead they (Regional Government) were considered to be defending OPM, and accused of being Separatists by the Central government in Jakarta. The Church, NGOs and the international community have also appealed to the central government to immediately withdraw non-organic troops, and stop military operations, but there was no response from the Government of Republic of Indonesia. Meanwhile, the Nduga report has been submitted to State Officials in Jakarta, and responsible state institutions including the National Commission of Representatives from Papua (DPD) and the National Commission for Human Rights.

Up to this day we do not yet know the realization of the development of the case in question, from the party that is the policy maker.

CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN THE VICTIMS OF THE ARMED CONFLICT EVER SINCE. Since 2018 the civilian population has fallen victims, who were shot during the operation from 4-15 December 2018, some died in the forest on the way because of hunger, some died of heavy bombardment from air, water sources and food gardens were destroyed due to heavy bombardment from air, some died in the forest in refugee camps, some mothers died while giving birth in the forest because there was no medical assistance, some were burned in their homes alive, some were shot and buried after being caught. Some people died at the refugee camp because they were sick and hungry. The Papua Justice and Human Integrity Foundation, a foundation based in Jayawijaya Regency, has record a number of victims of around 243 Nduga Indigenous people and 20 Non-Papuans. Non-Papuans were (PT Istaka Karya employees) approximately 17 people. 16 people were evacuated to Timika and 1 of them was evacuated to Wamena, 4 of whom are suspected of missing. The number of victims of violence in Nduga Regency continues to increase, but we have not yet collected data on the number of physical victims and also the number of victims who died in displacement, since 2019-2020, but the number of victims who died in refugee camps is still increasing. Refugees are still living in several districts including (the Regencies of) Jayawijaya, Lani Jaya, Timika, Jayapura, Yahukimo, Nduga, and the capital city of Kenyam, while others are still scattered in the jungles.

LAST CASE

On September 28, 2020 there was an arrest incident accompanied by torture and murder of Tapania Wasiangge and Anle Gwijangge, both of them were village officers of Kiyabikma Village, Mbulmu Yalma District in Nduga Regency. The two victims in question were arrested, tortured, killed and then subject to enforced disappearances by TNI members from Pos Mbua and Dal. The incident in question occurred while they were in one of the honai traditional houses, in Grukwarak village, Kiyakbima village, Mbulmu Yalma district. The reasons for the arrest, torture and murder of forced disappearance against Tepania Wasiangge and Anle Gwijangge, were (they were) suspected and accused (by TNI) of being members of the OPM / TPNPB ( Armed Separatist Group). Prior to the incident on September 28, 2020, on September 26, 2020, members of the TNI under the leadership of Lt. Inf Anggis and Lt. Inf Andreas Siregar Serda Heru Handoko built guard posts using tarpaulin tents at several points in the Mbulmu Yalma district. Then on September 28, 2020, the two residents, Tepania Wasiangge and Anle Gwijangge were arrested in Grukwarak village while they were in their house.

After the Nduga Regency Government received information on the arrest, torture and attempts of enforced disappearances against the two village officials, on October 5, 2020, the Nduga Regency Government together with the Regional Representative Council of the District of Nduga Regency formed a joint team, the team in question consisting of the Regional Government, DPRD Nduga Regency , Religious leaders, NGOs (defenders of human rights) and youth leaders. On October 9, 2020, the investigation team travelled to the Place of incident to investigate cases of forced arrests and disappearances by TNI officers.

Around 19:15 pm West Papua time, the investigation team arrived in Mbua District and reported the 756 Wim Anesili Army Battalion post in Mbua, on the 10th October 2020, at around 7:59 am, the team had a short meeting with Danrem 172 Papua. After the meeting, Investigation team continued the journey to Mbulmu yalma District, at around 09:30 am the team arrived at the district in question. The Investigation Team had met several eye witnesses and had bagged some of the evidence (BB) used by members of the Indonesian National Army, and including the remains of the victim’s bones, the bones in question (that) were found in honai that had been burned by members of the Indonesian National Army. Some of the evidences found at the scene of the case include:

1.      the remains of small bones in the honai that has been burned.

2.      Some burnt zinc (roofing iron)

3.      Charcoal from the walls of the house

4.      a small rattan rope

5.      Place for the Army Apparatus Camp and cans and plastic used for food from the military apparatus

6.      1 pair of gloves

7.      Syringe 1.50 cm in size

8.      1 piece of plastic spoil

9.      Kasa Sterile 6 Plastic Mx16 cm, filled in black plastic

During the investigation process, the investigation team strongly suspected that the perpetrators of the enforced disappearance against Tepania Wasiangge and Anle Gwijangge were members of the TNI. According to witness testimony submitted to the Investigation team on October 10th, 2020, the two victims were arrested in Grukwarak village, still alive, and were directed straight up into the forest to the Bigam mountain, Bulmu yalma district. The two victims did not carry weapons (Pistol) for that matter. TNI members also never showed an arrest warrant for the two victims who were suspected as suspects. In the process of arrest, there was actually no form of resistance by the two victims against the Indonesian National Army (TNI).

COMMUNITY CONDITIONS IN MBUA, DAL, AND MBULMU YALMA DISTRICTS

The people from the three districts, Mbua District, Dal District, and Mbulmu Yalma District have lost their courage and freedom to do all their daily activities such as gardening, looking for firewood, and so on, they are full of fear of members of the Indonesian National Army. Community activities in the three districts of Mbua, Dal and Mbulmu Yalma have not been like before; they do not feel free to carry out their daily activities, because the area is controlled by the TNI / Polri apparatus. People who want to do activities always experience fear and trauma. They have also felt that they have lost their right to freedom of work in their own villages. People who felt that they had lost their right to freedom expressed openly that, we were limited by soldiers from the army not to work in the garden, not turning on the lights, and not going out of the house in the afternoon and at night.

The TNI members took the lighting equipment belonging to civilians in the houses during the search. So that lighting cannot be used, people in the three districts until now, only use fire as a means of lighting. The community also told us that if they start a fire in their house they always covered the fire with pieces of iron roofing, because if the TNI members see the fires they could shoot at them, so they always cover the fire with iron roofing or something. We hope that the Government and members of the TNI / POLRI who are assigned to these areas will give freedom to local people in the three districts of Mbua, Dal and Mbulmu yalma, so that people can also carry out activities freely in their own villages.

Recommendation

1. We ask the President Ir. Joko Widodo, as the Commander-in-Chief, as immediately responsible for the efforts of enforced disappearances done by the TNI apparatus against Tepania Wasiangge and Anle Gwijangge, who are village officials in Mbulmu Yalma District, Nduga Regency.

2 We ask the President of Republic Indonesia, Ir. Joko Widodo to immediately withdraw non-organic troops from Papua, especially in Nduga Regency

3. We ask the President of Republic of Indonesia, Ir. Joko Widodo immediately try the perpetrators of the attempted enforced disappearance namely Lt. Inf. Anggis, Letda Inf Andreas Siregar, Serka Heru Handoko, in accordance with the applicable law.

4. The families of victims ask the President to allow the UN Special Rapporteur, United Nations, to monitor the situation of human rights in Nduga and Papua.

5. The family asks the President of the Republic of Indonesia to immediately allow international journalists to cover the human rights situation in Nduga and Papua.

6. If some of the points above are not fulfilled, then we, the people of Nduga ask for protection of humanitarian asylum {by UN peacekeepers- WPM Eds}.

7. We urge the Human Rights Commission to monitor and investigate cases of suspected human rights violations in Nduga Regency.

15 December 2020

Nduga Investigation Team, namely,

1. Nduga Regency Government

2. Regional Representative Council of the District of Nduga Regency

3. Papua Justice and Human Integrity Foundation (Human Rights Defender)

4. Representative of Religious Leaders

5. Representatives of Youth leaders

6. Representatives of Women Leaders

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