TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence or KontraS strongly condemned the killing of dozens of civilians in Nduga, Papua.

“There is no reason to justify the violence and killing of civilians in the conflict in Papua,” KontraS Coordinator Yati Andriani said in a statement on Wednesday, December 5.

An armed group allegedly shot and killed 31 civilians, Istaka Karya workers who were building bridges in Kali Yigi and Kali Aurak, Yigi District, Nduga Regency, Papua on Sunday night, December 2. Before being killed, the victims were held hostage since Saturday afternoon. So far, there have been 24 people died.

According to Yati, the killing became an inseparable part of the chain and cycle of violence in Papua. She said that civilians were often the most vulnerable targets in any violence, either by the authorities or by pro-independence armed groups.

“So far, there has been no seriousness from the Government to continue the dialogue process and stop the security approach in dealing with conflict in Papua,” Yati said.

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According to Yati, the killing incident also shows clearly that the approach to infrastructure development, which is the government ambitions in Papua, cannot necessarily restore the security situation and resolve violence in Papua. “Because the problems in Papua are not only limited to economic and development issues,” Yati said.

Yati called on the government and all parties involved in the conflict to stop the violence and attacks on civilians.

“And not targeting, let alone using violence against Papuan civilians who are often stigmatized as supporters of separatist groups,” Yati said.

According to Yati, such methods often occur in handling conflicts in Papua, which led to human rights violations and formed the chain of violence. The government, said Yati, needs to also carry out serious and comprehensive dialogue on various issues of political expression, poverty and injustice in Papua.

TEMPO.CO