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December 18, 2024 | 08:23 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has recorded 113 alleged human rights violations in Papua from January to December 16, 2024. Of these, 85 were related to armed conflicts and violence.
Komnas HAM Chairperson Atnike Nova Sigiro noted that the highest number of incidents occurred in April, May, June, November, and December. “December is only 16 days in, and there are already 10 cases,” she said during a press conference at the Komnas HAM office in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.
Out of the 85 violence and armed conflict events, 24 were shootouts, 4 were raids, 23 involved armed civilian group attacks on officials, 4 resulted in displacements, 8 involved destruction of property, and 34 involved attacks on civilians. Additionally, 6 cases of violence were attributed to law enforcement officers.
Intan Jaya Regency in Central Papua Province recorded the highest number of armed conflicts and violence with 22 cases, followed by Puncak Regency with 22 cases, Puncak Jaya Regency with 13 cases, and Paniai Regency with 12 cases. Yahukimo Regency in Papua Pegunungan Province experienced 10 cases, while Nduga Regency and Pegunungan Bintang Regency each recorded 7 cases.
“So the vulnerable areas, where conflicts and violence occur, are in Central Papua Province. According to media monitoring, the numbers are quite extreme compared to other provinces or areas in Papua,” said Atnike.
The recorded casualties from armed conflicts and violence included 61 deaths. The majority were civilians, with 32 fatalities, including two children and one foreign national. “So the majority of those killed were civilians,” she emphasized.
Armed civilian group members, military soldiers, and police officers also suffered casualties, with 14, 8, and 7 fatalities respectively.
Furthermore, 39 individuals were injured. This included 27 civilians, 10 military personnel, 5 police personnel, and 7 members of armed civilian groups.
In addition to deaths and injuries, seventeen people were victims of hostage-taking, primarily construction workers in the Papua region, according to Atnike.
This data from Komnas HAM aligns with previous findings by Komnas HAM Papua. In commemoration of World Human Rights Day on December 10, the Head of Komnas HAM Papua, Frits Ramandey, stated that conflicts and violence continue to persist, particularly in conflict-prone regions. Throughout 2024, the escalation of violence in Papua has continued and shown a tendency to increase.
According to Frits, the primary challenge for the Indonesian government lies in rebuilding the trust of the Papuan people by fostering equality, equitable law enforcement, and non-discrimination. These efforts are crucial in cultivating a peaceful ecosystem that facilitates humanitarian dialogue.
Komnas HAM Papua urged the administration of President Prabowo Subianto to provide security assurances to all Indonesian and foreign citizens in Papua.
Furthermore, Frits encouraged the military commander to deploy units to Papua with a thorough understanding of local values, culture, and the unique characteristics of the region. He also emphasized the need for the police chief to ensure that law enforcement and security operations in Papua are conducted persuasively and humanely.
“The government must strive to improve the security system and governance framework while avoiding a security-based approach,” concluded Frits.
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