West Papua Advocacy Team (WPAT) Statement on Sweep
Operation in Puncak Jaya
Contact: Ed McWilliams, +1-575-648-2078
Octo Mote, +1-203-520-3055
June 22 - Disturbing information has reached
WPAT from a variety of sources of a very serious situation now
transpiring in Puncak Jaya, West Papua. A "sweep operation,' reportedly
carried out by Indonesia's mobilized police or "Brimob," has killed
several Papuans and led to the death of others. People's homes have
been raided and burned and farm animals killed. Hundreds of Papuans
have been forced from homes and have sought refuge in surrounding
forests where some have already died due to a lack of food, shelter and
access to medical care. Reportedly, seven young girls were taken
hostage and raped. At least five villages are believed affected, but the
military has also raided houses in Mulia, the Puncak Jaya district
capital.
"Security" operations have been conduced in the Puncak Jaya district
since April of this year though it appears these operations have
broadened and become more violent since then.
In recent years similar "sweeps" conducted by the military, also lasting
for months, have led to the death of hundreds of civilians displaced by
the operations.
According to our information, West Papuans are falling victim to
rivalries among several different security forces of the army and the
police in the area. They are deliberately provoking local resistance
groups to engage in armed activities, perhaps as a way to ensure that
the security forces continue to be well funded. This contradicts the
decision by all West Papuan resistance groups to refrain from acts of
violence and to focus on seeking dialogue with the authorities in
Jakarta. The groups believe that this is the best way of reaching a
solution to the many West Papuan grievances accumulated since their
unlawful, coerced integration within the Indonesian Republic in 1969.
It is difficult to get a clear picture of recent events because of
long-standing restrictions on travel to and within West Papua imposed by
the Indonesian government and security forces as part of their
occupation strategy.
We urge the U.S. Government and the international community to demand
the following:
-
an immediate cessation of the ongoing operations in
the central highlands;
-
full access to the affected region by Indonesian and
international
humanitarian and human rights organizations to assist the besieged
civilian population, as well as by journalists;
-
and an investigation by the Indonesian Human Rights
Commission (Komnas Ham) to determine who authorized and is leading
the current operation.
see also
