Elsham claims evacuees starving in Puncak Jaya

Diaz Gwijangge, a representative of the Papua-based Institute for Human Rights Study and Advocacy (Elsham), told Fabio Scarpello of the South China Morning Post (Hong Kong) that about 5,600 people were surviving in Puncak Jaya regency, Papua province, by eating leaves and what little was offered by the local churches, while hiding in the forest having fleeing their homes in early December.

"They fled after the military and the police attacked the area after a flag of the Free Papua Movement was hoisted. Now they are too scared to return," Mr Gwijangge said. "At least four people have already died of hunger and disease, and the toll is bound to rise fast, unless help is delivered soon," the activist said.

Elsham claims evacuees two days' walk from the nearest town, difficult to reach, and infested with mosquitoes carrying malaria and dengue fever. To make matters worse, the evacuees - fearing a military reprisal - have reportedly cut most of the rope bridges that link the area to the outside world.

The plight of the refugees was reportedly confirmed by local religious leaders, but denied by the security forces, who called it "a trumped-up story".

Policeman shot by soldier in Mulia, Puncak Jaya

A policeman was shot dead Tuesday in an exchange of gunfire between police and soldiers in Mulia, the capital of Puncak Jaya regency, Papua province. The shooting took place at noon and was believed to have been caused by a dispute earlier in the day while lining up to buy kerosene. The victim, identified as Second Brig. Yosep Keliombar, allegedly got into a heated argument with an unidentified member of the Nabire-based army battalion.

Puncak Jaya Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Jacobus Marzuki said the city of Mulia had not been affected by the shooting incident and high-ranking officials of the police and military had met. "It was just a private conflict, not involving the institutions. A consolidation has been made with commander of the military district," Marzuki said.

Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Kartono W. said that a joint press conference on the incident would be held Wednesday, to be attended by Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Tommy Jacobus and the local military commander, Maj. Gen. Zamroni. - (JP)

Rebel group causes displacement in Puncak Jaya

Thousands of indigenous Papuans have reportedly been seeking refuge since 6 January in Puncak Jaya regency, Papua province, from an open war between the army and and police troops and members of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) rebel group under Goliath Tabuni. The Association of Papua Churches (PGGP), after having conducted a visit to Puncak Jaya, announced that some 2,000 Papuans had already taken refuge in other villages and some 5,000 were facing hunger. They were living in desperate conditions. Children have suffered from diarrhea, hepatitis and malaria, which are the most common illnesses. Four refugees have already died, namely Tanno Talenggen, 50; Laya Morib, 30; Mitiles Morib, 20; and Walia Wonda, 41.

The Puncak Jaya regency administration and the Trikora Military Command -- which oversees Papua and Papua Barat provinces -- through its spokesman Lt. Col. Imam Santoso, in Jayapura, denied the church report. The PGGP, according to the security forces' spokesman, gave "false information."

According to the local government and the military, the Papuans took refuge in order to avoid the attack launched not by the Indonesian security forces but by the OPM members. According to the churches, people were seeking refuge because they were afraid of being attacked both by the Indonesian security forces and the OPM. Thousands of Papuans might be seeking refuge because they are afraid of being suspected of being members of the OPM by the Indonesian security forces, as acknowledged by the head of Yamo district.

Neles Tebay, a professor at the Fajar Timur School of Philosophy and Theology in Abepura, Papua, writes that "as long as the root cause of Papuan separatism is not tackled these Papuans might continue to be suspected of being supporters or collaborators of the Papuan separatist group led by Goliat Tabuni. The deployment of more troops and the establishment of more military and police stations does not necessarily bring about lasting stability.

"The central and provincial governments are facing the challenge of providing human security for the Papuans, without which they cannot work for themselves, participate in the development of their villages or improve their future prospects. The government and representatives of the Papuan people can together work out the content of the conflict-prevention policy through a peaceful dialog facilitated by a neutral third party. Whether this dialog happens depends very much on the Jakarta-based government. Jakarta's unwillingness to engage in a dialog with the Papuans could be perceived by the Papuans as the government ignoring the suffering of indigenous Papuans." - (JP)

Papuan officials to assist evacuees to return home

The Papuan provincial and local government officials are being dispatched to Yamo in Puncak Jaya regency, Papua province, to encourage thousands of people fleeing a crackdown on separatists to return home. Around 2,000 people moved from the Yamo river to the center of Yamo district following military and police attacks on Free Papua Movement (OPM) rebels in the area.

"We will go to the place (where the evacuees temporarily live) Monday with representatives of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police," Yamo district head Philipus Tabuni said Thursday. Tabuni said those fleeing were not classified as refugees, but only as people seeking refuge. He said it was feared the fleeing masses could face food shortages as stocks they held begin to dwindle. "They mostly rely on cassavas ... they do need food assistance," he told Nethy Dharma Somba of The Jakarta Post.

The Association of Papua Churches (PGGP) will establish a humanitarian post to distribute relief aid in response to the reported threat of food shortages. The post, which will be located at the office of the NGO's Cooperation Forum in Papua, will also coordinate relief aid from donors. "We will open the office this week," said the forum's director, Septer Manufandu.

Vice chairman of PGGP, Rev. Lipius Bilinik, who is also head of the Evangelical Church of Indonesia (GIDI) synod, said PGGP would send letters to Papuan parishioners requesting donations.

Spokesman of the Trikora Military Command, Lt. Col. Imam Santoso, Wednesday said the number of people facing food shortages was 2,000, not 5,000 as claimed by PGGP. "Are there any photos indicating that? Has anyone seen the refugees?" he asked.

Imam said a number of people had moved to Yamo, but that exact numbers were unclear as no reports had arrived from the area. He said they were not refugees, but rather people avoiding the threat from an armed group who had broken the law by killing a soldier in December last year.

Imam believed the PGGP had given the wrong information as it could not provide any proof of its claims. "This is the same as giving false information," he said. Imam said TNI and the police, along with the provincial administration, would never knowingly create public unrest and insecurity.

Imam called on the civilian armed group to relinquish their weapons and return to society. He said humanitarian aid would be provided to Yamo's residents if the PGGP's inflated reports of mass evacuations proved to be true. "The TNI and the police are ready to provide assistance and security if the mass exodus indeed took place. But, there are no facts. The TNI and police would not let people suffer by not helping them," he said.

Imam also urged people not to involve themselves with the armed group and to continue with their daily lives.

Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu called on the state apparatus to conduct a manhunt for members of the armed group. He said this action would minimize unrest among Papua's citizens.

Report by Ecumenical Council of Papuan churches

The Pastoral Team of Persekutuan Gereja-gereja di Papua (Ecumenical Council of Papuan churches) led by Rev Lipiyus Biniluk visited Mulia town from 16 to 18 January 2007. People in the Puncak Jaya regency area experience fear as a consequence of the armed conflict between the separatist group TPN/OPM led by Goliat Tabuni and military and police units in December 2006. As of 22 January, PGGP had already asked the Dewan Perwakilam Rakyat Provinsi Papua (Papua Provincial Legislative Assembly) through Commission F to facilitate a meeting with members of the DPRP, in particular with the DPRP Chairman, the Governor of Papua, the Head of the Provincial Police and the Head of Military for Trikora XVII, in order to deal with the humanitarian problem in Mulia. However, as of the writing of this report, there has no response.

The Executive Board of PGGP (Bishop Leo L. Ladjar, Rev. Lipiyus Biniluk, Rev. Andreas Ayomi and Rev. Herman Saud) concluded that "we the priests of the religious communities can wait no longer considering the situation of our congregations who are evacuating, suffering from starvation, sickness and fear while the Government of the Puncak Jaya Regency is busy preparing its Regent elections. In the light of our priority to make Papua a Land of Peace, we herewith directly report to the people of Papua what we have heard, seen and experienced ourselves in order to take steps in overcoming the humanitarian emergency situation."

Therefore they recommended:

1. To the Provincial Government of Papua to immediately support the Government of the Puncak Jaya Regency with humanitarian assistance in order to solve the humanitarian emergency situation in the Yamo District;

2. To the Government of the Puncak Jaya Regency to take immediate steps handling the emergency situation in particular the refugee problem in the Yamo District;

3. To TPN/ OPM, the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the Indonesian Police to guarantee the security of delivered food supplies and medical teams from any side so that the refugees will obtain
needed help in a humane way and as quickly as possible.

4. The decrease of non-organic military troops, units of the intelligence service and the Mobil Forces of the Police (Brimob) and the centering of these troops in the Capital town of the Regency and District in order to decrease fear and trauma experienced by local people and to avoid potential conflicts with the local population so that an atmosphere of safety can be restored as soon as possible.

5. To the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) in Papua to make an investigation soon in order to reveal the activators of the series of violent acts which caused deaths and loss of
personal properties;

6. To all sides to quickly stop any politicization which sacrifices the people of Puncak Jaya.

Thus we report to the people of Papua and hope for common efforts to create Papua as a Land of Peace which is protected and blessed by the Almighty God.

Chronology of Violence

13 November 2006: Riots occur in Mulia after the distribution of direct financial help (fuel compensation). According to witnesses the violence broke out because the names of one part of the local population were not on the list of people receiving monetary compensation. Another source in Puncak Jaya said that the perpetrators of the riots were youths who some time before were facilitated by the local political elite involved in determining criteria for the future Regent candidates in the Puncak Jaya Regency elections for the period of 2007- 2012. The riots caused the country a financial loss reaching billions of Rupiah as governmental buildings and houses of members of the DPRD were destroyed and burned down by the mass.

8 December 2006: Two members of the military forces, Joko Susanto (Kopassus) and Tobias Sirken (retired military officer), are killed by armed separatists and their corpses burned. The killings occur the same day the separatist's Morning Star flag is raised at Kumibaga mountain approximately 500 metres from the old town of Mulia and coincides with the declaration of Lukas Enembe and Drs. Henock Ibo as candidates for Regent and vice-regent. Following these incidents part of the population, especially civil servants outside Mulia, the families of officials and other citizens leave Mulia by air transportation through Timika, Nabire and Jayawijaya whereas others could not leave Mulia to go about their daily activities as all the streets in and out of town were restricted or blocked for security reasons.

24 December 2006: An even bigger Morning Star flag is raised at Kumibaga mountain. At the same time separatists shout "war invitations" towards the Regent candidates pairs Lukas Enembe and Drs. Henock Ibo as well as Elvis Tabuni and Rev. Paulus Tabuni. Various letters are also circulating in the name of Goliat Tabuni supporting the candidate pair Elieser Renmaur and Wakerkwa. This letter is neatly typed and written in very correct language.

27-28 December 2006: An increase of military troops in Mulia by helicopter is reported.

29 December 2006: The traditional house of the Head of the GIDI (Gereja Injili di Indonesia) congregation Laringgen Morib, approximately three kilometres from the old town of Mulia, is burned.

5 January 2007: separatists flee when Brimob troops arrive at the flag raising location. Afterwards the Indonesian military arrives establishing a permanent post and raising the Indonesian Flag. Not far from Laringgen Morib's burned house Brimob kills Gumi Morib (34) during a security operation.

6 - 7 January 2007: The Lani people in Yami Regency begin to evacuate. They leave from two GIDI areas to three other areas on the other side of the Yamo river. After a two days of heavy walking on foot, one part of the group reaches the village Kiyage. Two bridges of the Yamo river which connect the Yamo District with the Capital of Puncak Jaya Regency are destroyed by the refugees as they were afraid of military operations or of being chased by the military or supporters of Goliat Tabuni. The refugees leave all their livestock behind.

President asks Freddy Numberi to assist Papua

According to Tempo, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked the former governor of Papua province, Freddy Numberi, to assist in resolving the current problems. Numberi, who is a native Papuan and holds the post of Minister for Fisheries and Marine Affairs in Yudhoyono's cabinet, has been asked to work with the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Widodo AS.

According to Numberi, the Law on Papuan Special Autonomy should become the basic pillar by which to resolve the Papua issue, from matters of security to the division of Papua into three new provinces. He hopes therefore, that the government will soon issue a government regulation as an implementing regulation on the special autonomy law. "As former governor, perhaps I can help", said Numberi following a meeting with Yudhoyono at the presidential offices in Jakarta on 5 November.

Yesterday, a number of Papuan public figures met with Yudhoyono to discuss the problems in their province. The president told them that he would ensure that the operation to restore security in the Papuan regency of Puncak Jaya would not result in [more] civilian casualties. In a presidential instruction to Widodo and TNI (armed forces) Chief Endriartono Sutarto, the president has asked that the operation be conducted wisely and carefully. "Don't let the people suffer from excesses during the operation", said another former governor of Papua, Barnabas Suebu, quoting from Yudhoyono.

The Trans Wamena-Puncak Jaya highway has been a trouble spot of late. On October 12 four drivers who usually operate the route were shot by unidentified assailants. The TNI has accused the Free Papua Organisation (OPM) of the shooting.

According to Suebu, the operation to restore security has been difficult to cary out because it is in the interior. He has asked the TNI to be careful in distinguishing between OPM members and ordinary civilians. Both the OPM and the TNI have repeatedly conducted operations in the area which have caused deep seated trauma among the people. "If they are pushed out then at some time return, they are thought to be OPM members, but sometimes civilians are also accused of assisting the TNI against the OPM. As a result there is a constant [atmosphere of mutual] suspicion", said Suebu.

In order to resolve the security problem, Suebu is proposing that the government involve traditional and religious leaders or local traditional institutions. They are the ones he said, who are most respected and listened to by local people. By involving them it can be hoped that the military operation will not bring with it even greater negative excesses. "Don't just [rely on] a security approach", he said.