TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Human rights group Setara Institute criticized a public statement made by the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Bambang Soesatyo who urge authorities to mobilize a full-on operation to eradicate armed criminal groups (KKB) in Papua and put aside issues about human rights.

The MPR Speaker issued this statement following the death of the Papua Head of Intelligence Brig. Gen. I Gusti Putu Danny Karya Nugraha which was followed by the West Papua freedom fighters claiming responsibility for the killing.

Setara Institute fears that such an aggressive statement from a politician could spark a spiral of violence and conflict complexity in Papua.

“The spiralling violence will only cause more victims, especially those from civilians,” wrote Setara deputy Bonar Tigor Naipospos in a written statement on April 27.

He feels that the human rights watchdog’s fear is fair and gave an example of a past event that saw two primary school teachers killed by a local armed criminal group after they suspected the teachers of being spies.

Setara also reminded the MPR leader about the 1945 Constitution Article 28i on non-derogable rights.

The institute asserts that explicitly calling for human rights to be put aside is not an option to solve the numerous conflicts emerging in Papua and called for a cessation of hostilities to help establish peace in the region.

Read: Agent's Death Not A Retreat Against Armed Terrorists in Papua: BIN

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI