Security Approach in Papua Need Full Evaluation, Amnesty Indonesia Asserts

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Amnesty International Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid in a written statement on Sunday argues that the Indonesian government’s approach towards issues in Papua must undergo a major overhaul as he believes the cycle of violence taking place in the most Eastern region of Indonesia should be ended by now. 

He believes the central government must conduct a complete evaluation of its security approach after acts of violence taking victims from many groups of society there caused by various groups. 

This comes after reports came from Papua where an armed group killed 10 civilians and injured two others on the morning of July 16. Three cases allegedly involved law enforcers and six other cases were allegedly caused by unknown and pro-independence groups.

In the human rights watchdog’s records, there have been nine cases of murder involving 17 victims throughout 2022. 

“Apart from a security approach, the country must correct its overall approach starting from the labeling of separatists and terrorism up to centralistic policies such as the new autonomy region (DOB) and special autonomy that were enacted without meaningful participation from indigenous Papuans,” Hamid wrote in his statement on July 17.

He asserted that the killing of 10 civilians in Nduga, Papua, cannot be justified and called for authorities to investigate the tragedy. 

“The policy that was implemented for decades in Papua has clearly failed to stop human rights violations and just added to growing civilian casualties,” said Usman, who offered his condolences to victims' families.

M FAIZ ZAKI

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