Jokowi Urged to Withdraw Military, Police Troop from Nduga, Papua
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14 August 2019 17:37 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The humanitarian team in Nduga, Papua Province has again urged President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to withdraw Indonesian Military and National Police officers from the region.
According to Theo Hesegem, the director of Papua Justice and Welfare Foundation (YKKMP), the officers' withdrawal would likely recover all conflicts. Social activity in the district would run normally as well.
The conflict was initially triggered by an attack that killed 31 workers of an infrastructure project. The TNI and police conducted an operation following the incident.
“The death toll continues to rise. We don’t see any benefit [from this]. Those who know nothing become victims,” said Theo in the Amnesty International office, Jakarta, Wednesday, August 14.
The human rights activist explained the conflict has claimed 182 people thus far, and 113 of them were women and children.
Therefore, Theo hoped President Jokowi could quickly handle this humanitarian crisis in Nduga. He added that the government gave slow responses as it was trapped in various opinions in political conflict.
He went on to say that social aid from the government for Nduga is also expected to put forward humanitarian value, instead of politics.
HALIDA BUNGA FISANDRA
