From INFOPAPUA.ORG
SYSTEMATIC GENOCIDE OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF WEST PAPUA UNDER SPECIAL AUTONOMY
By Socratez Sofyan Yoman
Apr 6, 2004, 05:33
Rev. Socratez Sofyan Yoman
President of the Fellowship of Baptist Churches of West Papua
Jayapura, West Papua, 14 Mei 2005
I wish to take this opportunity to portray the suffering and misfortune of the indigenous people of West Papua since the implementation of Special Autonomy in West Papua.
Under Special Autonomy, the Indonesian government has the following aims and commitments: First: To protect the basic rights and status of Papuans, including their land rights. Second: To develop indigenous Papuans through education, improvements in community health, and increased economic prosperity.
Unfortunately, Special Autonomy has brought only great misfortune and is not very different from the ‘Act of Free Choice 1969’ (PEPERA 1969). Special Autonomy is PEPERA 1969 Volume II. Accordingly, killings and systematic violence have increased significantly using the excuse of OPM membership and separatism. Violence by the Indonesian military forces has increased. West Papuan people have been pursued, detained, terrorised, intimidated, imprisoned, tortured, raped, killed and disappeared. Below are some examples.
I. INCIDENT AT NABIRE
On 17 January 2005, 3am, soldiers of Battalion 753 Nabire attacked, captured, tortured, shot and even killed, civilians in Nabire.
The deceased:
Miron Wonda died on 17 January after his detention by members of Battalion 753 Nabire on 16 January 2005 at Kali Kimi, Lani village, Nabire. He had been kicked and hit with boots, clubs, canes and rifle butts.
Names of persons seriously wounded
1. Tadius Usain (22/male). A soldier from Battalion 753 hit Tadius with a wooden beam, iron chains and a rifle butt, and kicking him with military boots. He was wounded on both his cheeks, his eyes were swollen and he could not see well.
2. David Jigibalom (22/ male). He was hit with iron and wooden beams; some wounds needed five stitches, his cheeks were swollen and there were wide wounds on his head.
3. Robert Jigibalom (15/ male). He was hit with iron resulting in swollen cheeks, eyes and lips and bleeding head wounds.
4. Dasmi Kogoya (19/male). He was hit with iron and wood, and kicked with military boots. His right eyelid was painful and swollen, his spine was injured so he could not stand normally.
5. Dailus Kogoya (17 /male). He was hit with iron and wood. His right eyelid was cut and swollen and as a result of injury to his limbs, he could not walk or be supported.
6. Menase Enumbi (15/male) After being hit with a wooden beam and being kicked with military boots, his head wound required five stitches and his eyes and both cheeks were swollen.
7. Mote Wonda (19 /male). His right eye was so swollen that he could not see, some of his limbs were injured and he could not walk normally, as a result of being hit with a wooden beam and iron chains, as well as being kicked with military boots.
8. Aser Wonda (23 /male), Lebius Enumbi (19/male), Teles Kogoya (20/male), Uringa Kogoya (25/male), Depius Kogoya (25 /male), and Kumpuk Wenda (20/male). These persons suffered minor wounds as a result of being hit and
kicked by Indonesian soldiers.
9. Reverend Erok Kogoya (40 /male). Head of the Klasis Indonesian Evangelical church (GIDI) in Nabire. His house was searched and he was beaten and kicked, resulting in an injury to his right cheek.
Background to the Problem
On 16 January 2005 at 8pm Ibu Neni (Mrs Neni -a Javanese trader) arrived unexpectedly to organise some social dancing at the home of Mr Rahman, her younger brother. Ibu Neni called four young Papuan girls to help her to organise the dancing. In order to organise the evening she went to borrow some petrol lights from Kali Bobo, which was some distance from Kali Bumi where the dance was being organised. At 10pm, after the dance had been going for 30 minutes, two soldiers from Battalion 753 arrived, one in uniform, the other in civilian clothes.
While the dance was in progress, a young Papuan male wearing camouflage trousers was asked by the two soldiers to leave and change into normal trousers. The young man agreed, left to change at his house, and returned to dance. Then a young man named John Wonda came to dance, wearing torn shorts, and was asked by a soldier to change into better trousers. He agreed, went to change his pants and returned to participate in the dancing, While the dance continued, Usman Mayoba came and sat close to where the soldier in civilian dress was sitting. The soldier said to Usman “What do you want?”
and immediately hit Usman Mayoba. His friends who had come to participate in the dancing could not accept the beating of Usman and attacked the two soldiers.
While the fight was escalating, members of Company A Battalion 753 arrived fully armed on motor bikes and in a TNI truck (Tentara National Indonesia - Indonesian National Forces). The soldiers from the 753 Battalion forced their entry into the homes of local people by breaking doors. The soldiers frightened women and children who had been sleeping in their houses. The women and children who had just been woken were threatened by the armed soldiers.
The persons listed above as having been detained, tortured and beaten were not associated with the dancing incident that night. They were arrested at their homes, forced into a military truck, were tortured and beaten at the office of Company A Battalion 753. They were taken back to their homes after the torture and beating.
2. INCIDENT AT TOLIKARA
The event at Tolikara on 21 January 2005 was engineered by the Indonesian military. Soldiers arrested 8 civilians. The names of the civilians arrested and held at the District Police office, Jayawijaya regency are:
(1) Natan Wenda (16/male);
(2) Menis Wenda (20/ male);
(3) Yatimin Weya (22/ male);
(4) Beniyus Kogoya (21/ male);
(5) John Hiluka (18/ male);
(6) Salamin Weya ( 22/ male);
(7) Simele Gire (23/ male).
(8) Yohanes Hiluka (24/ male).
3. 10 APRIL 2005
The TNI and Brimob (Brigade Mobil ¬ Riot Troops) shot dead a civilian named Tolinawimban Gire (59/ male). The TNI and Brimob also arrested 8 civilians named:
(1) Ginggin Enumbi (52/ male),
(2) Yulemi Tabuni (18/ male),
(3) Utinus Telenggen (20/ male),
(4) Tekius Enumbi (19/ male),
(5) Digir Wonda (45/ male),
(6) Mukmende Telenggen (48/ male),
(7) Ekius Enumbi (19/ male), and
(8) Yerimon Wonerengga (19/ male).
INCIDENTS IN 2003 AND PAPUAN VICTIMS
On 4 April 2003, the military weapons store house at Wamena was broken into.
Description and analysis of the location of the weapons store house The KODIM 1702 (Komando Distrik Militer ¬ District Military Command) weapons store at Jayawijaya is in the middle of the KODIM complex. The door of the weapons store consists of 4 layers of doors, the front door being the first one, then the second door, the third door and the fourth door. All of them are made of iron, and they also have strong keys and were being guarded by a guard named First Sergeant Ruben Lena who was shot dead. In front there is a guardhouse. The KODIM complex is surrounded by an iron fence and has 3 front doors. Each of these doors is guarded by the TNI. At the back in the direction of Kali Uwe there is only 1 door which is closed every night. In front of the KODIM complex there is a main road which goes from the Town Centre to Sinakma. There are lamps lighting up the whole KODIM 1702 complex. However, at the time of the incident the electricity for the
whole of Wamena went out for several minutes and then came back on after the drama of the removal of the weapons was over
From this analysis of the location and security of the weapons store, the following question arises: could the highland people, with their limited education and armed only with bows and arrows and other traditional weapons, dare to enter the military headquarters, break into the weapons store and shoot First Lieutenant Napitulu and First Sergeant Ruben Lena?
The aim of the incident was clear: to build up the 977 Battalion in Jayawijaya District, kill Yustinus Murip and ten of his friends, and kill and destroy the local people.
The offensive at Kuyawaqi 19 April 2003. The military operation resulted in 72 deaths. The soldiers shot 11 people.
(1)Ketis Tabuni (25/male),
(2) Enggelek Tabuni (45/ male),
(3) Debanus Murip (28/male),
(4) Yukulele Morip (24/male),
(5) Esau Morip (35/male),
(6) Yuben Wenda (35/male),
(7) Kornelius Telenggen (25/male),
(8) Nendiwenus Murip (20/male),
(9) Abenus Telenggen (21/male),
(10) Arena Murip (25/female), her corpse was found stark naked without any
clothes,
(11) Yesaya Telenggen (27/male).
45 People died in a jungle refugee situation because of hunger and illness
(1)Ketinus Kiwo (2 months /male), (2) Norina Wenda (1year /female)
(3) Konius Kiwo (45 /male), (4) Tambunuk Tabuni (6 /male),
(5) Okwarit Tabuni (50/female), (6) Wogoraklek Wenda (50 /female),
(7) Iwan Kogoya (20 /male), (8) Manarinorak Tabuni (51/female),
(9) Delince Tabuni (12 /female), (10) Werimina Murip (8/ female),
(11) Turius Telenggen (3 /male), (12) Mapi Murip (3/ male),
(13) Yahya Kogoya (15 /male), (14) Tendi Tabuni (1 month /female),
(15) Kimanius Kogoya (3 months /female), (16) Silas Wenda (5 months
/female),
(17) Kogoyagwe ( 45 /female), (18) Lemanus Kogoya (14 /male),
(19) Lendina Murip (12 /female), (20) Roby Kogoya (7 months /male),
(21) Nggik Tabuni (45 /male), (22) Wororaklek Wenda (52 /female),
(23) Dekiton Wenda (12 /male), (24) Nelisina Kogoya (18 /female),
(25) Wagagerakmban Kiwo (52 /female), (26) Yali Tabuni (11 /female),
(27) Yambuni Tabuni (53 /female), (28) Wogoya Tabuni (50 /female),
(29) Yesaya Telenggen(39 /male), (30) Melenggen Telenggen (40 /male),
(31) Yohana Tabuni (1year /female), (32) Tagero Murip (55 /female),
(33) Zakarius Murip (35 /male), (34) Dipena Murip (10 /female),
(35) Usilena Murip (8 /female), (36) Pilena Murip (7 /female),
37) Arina Murip (17 tahun/female), (38) Werina Murip (18 /female),
(39) Domince Murip (5 /female), (40) Tunikengge Murip (50 /female),
(41) Iriana Murip (2 /female), (42) Komologwelingginik Murip(50 /female),
(43) Nagason Telenggen (18 /male), (44) Warugun Kogoya (50 /female),
(45) Yosemina Tabuni (39 /female).
15 people died of hunger and illness after returning to their villages.
(1) Asina Wenerengga (40 /female), (2) Alpi Telenggen (4 months/male),
(3) Kelemariak Tabuni (49 /male), (4) Berina Murip (7 months /female),
(5) Dina Murip ( 6 moths /female), (6) Yagit Tabuni (50 /male),
(7) Pipiwarak Tabuni (48 /male), (8) Galue Tabuni (50 /female),
(9) Narius Tabuni (22 /male), (10) Yawiyanugume Murip (53 /male),
(11) Arman Tabuni (4 /male), (12) Tamban Tabuni (7 /male),
(13) Nelisina Kogoya (18 /female), 14) Wagagerakmban Kiwo (50 /male),
(15) Yali Tabuni ( 3 male/male).
Soldiers burnt 23 church buildings, 8 Baptist church buildings, 9 Kernah Evangelical church buildings, and 6 buildings of the Evangelical church of Indonesia (GIDI)
School buildings. The primary school at Kuyawagi was burnt by Indonesian soldiers and the primary school at Mume became a TNI post, and all seats and desks were used as firewood and most of the school building was damaged. As a result education in the Kuyawagi area is not progressing well.
Medical centres. Soldiers burnt the pharmacy centre, hospital, medical clinic and pharmacy clinic belonging to the Baptist church, Kemah Evangelical church (KINGMI) and the Evangelical Church of Indonesia (GIDI). As a result there is a lack of medicine and heath services for the community.
Soldiers burnt and destroyed 30 fences and gardens. As a result it is difficult for the community to have sufficient food.
On 5 November 2003, Yustinus Murip and 9 friends were shot and killed by the TNI in the village of Yaleka 5 kms from Wamena. Yustinus and his friends were civilians (Baptist congregation members) but were labeled as members of
OPM by the military.
INCIDENTS IN 2004
Incident at Puncak Jaya on 17 August 2004 Special Unit Forces (Kopassus) who were stationed at Mulia heard of the
arrival of Goliat Tabuni in Guragi: his arrival and presence was used and exaggerated by some Kopassus members. Following the news of his arrival on 17 August, members of Kopassus went to Guragi. When they arrived in Guragi one Kopassus soldier was shot. The shooting occurred at approximately 9am (WIT: Waktu Indonesian Timur ¬Western Indonesian Time). At the same time Indonesians were participating in the ceremonies for National Independence Day.
After the shooting of the Kopassus soldier on 17 August until 13 September 2004, there was almost a month, 27 days, during which the military did not act. Everything appeared peaceful and the people continued their lives as usual.
On 14 September 2004, a troop of Kopassus Special Unit Forces returned to Guragi with the aim of finding, catching and shooting Goliat Tabuni. The Kopassus troops did not find Goliat. However, Kopassus met with Pastor Elisa Tabuni and his son who is also a Pastor. The Kopassus Troops asked Elisa of the whereabouts of Goliat Tabuni. Pastor Elisa answered that he did not know about Goliat. The Kopassus Forces arrested Pastor Elisa Tabuni and his son, and handcuffed or tied the hands of the two pastors using striped belts. While they were being taken away, Pastor Elisa and his son were asked by Kopassus about the Commandment from 13th century Rome which refers to the government as God’s representative. Pastor Elisa and his son did not respond as they could not speak Indonesian very well. When they did not respond, the Kopassus troops shot and killed Pastor Elisa Tabuni while his hands were tied. His son managed to run away and save himself. (The pastor’s son is now a living witness).
On the afternoon of 16 October 2004 at 1pm, a land and air operation was launched against civilians in Puncak Jaya region with TNI helicopters firing and bombing civilians who had gathered to eat together.
On 16 October 2004, at 9pm evening, the head of the parish of Yamo region, Pastor Yason Kogoya was picked up by two members of Kopassus on the orders of Enock Ibo, Local Secretary for the regency of Puncak Jaya. He was interrogated in a closed room from 9.15pm until 11pm. A Kopassus member showed him the rope, which had been used to tie Pastor Elisa Tabuni when he was killed, and had been kept as evidence.
The following church buildings were deserted as the inhabitants fled into the jungle to hide and save themselves: 1. Gereja Tanoba; 2. Gereja Yogorini; 3. Gereja Monia; 4. Gereja Bigiragi; 5. Gereja Peragi; 6. Gereja Yogonggum; 7. Gereja Yaromugum; 8. Gereja Pilia; 9. Gereja Wulindik; 10. Gereja Gimanggen; 11. Gereja Tingginambut; 12. Gereja Toragi; 13. Pilipur; 14. Gereja Kalome; 15. Gereja Agape; 16. Gereja Yanenggawe; 17. Gereja Kayogebut; 18. Gereja Pagarigom; 19. Gereja Yiogobak; 20. Gereja Yibinggame; 21. Gereja Ndondo; 22. Gereja Yamiruk.
Thirteen additional military posts have been opened in the Puncak Jaya regency
(1) Pos Kulurik (Ndondopaga),
(2) Pos Muliagambut,
(3) Pos Wuyuneri,
(4) Pos Kota Lama (Market complex),
(5) Pos Purulome,
(6) Pos Irimuli Pos Nalume (Guraginikime),
(7) Pos Monia (in the church building),
Three military posts between the Old Town and the regent’s office in Pagelome and Three military posts near the regent’s office.
Approximately 6,393 people fled and are still hiding in the jungle. We do not know the exact number of people who have died from hunger and illness as the area is still under the control of the military. Approximately 371 huts (traditional houses) have been burnt and the indigenous people are still in the jungle. As a result of this military operation, the local community in Puncak Jaya has suffered greatly from hunger and illness. They are too frightened to return. All their gardens and fences have been destroyed by the military.
The church building belonging to the Evangelical Church of Indonesia (GIDI) in Monia is being used as a residence by the military. The floor has been damaged and the prayer building has become a place for resting and cooking.
On 21 October 2004, Socratez Sofyan Yoman visited Puncak Jaya and met the following people:
Bupati (Regent) of Puncak Jaya, Eliezer Renmaur,
Deputy Head of the Parliament (DPR) for the Regency of Puncak Jaya, Elias Tabuni,
Military District Commander for Nabire 1705, Letkol.Inf. Didit Pramudioto,
Commander of the Special Forces (Kopassus), Ltk. Inf. Yogi,
Commander of Intelligence for the Regional Military Command, Ltk Victor Tobing,
Head of Police for Nabire, AKBP Taufik, and
Representative of the Papuan Regional Police, AKBP Yohanes Prapto.
The meeting was held at 11am at Mulia.
The stigma of separatism, OPM and rebellion
These are terms used by Indonesians as justification to kill Papuans with ease. The labels of ‘separatist’, ‘rebel’ or ‘OPM’ are rough, but effective terms usually used by colonial, oppressive and domineering peoples. Other less offensive terms or labels which are still insulting and deadly are ‘people-left-behind’, ‘stupid’, ‘poor’, ‘backward’, ‘cannibal’, ‘primitive’, and ‘drunk’. The main aim behind the use of these terms is to destroy the character, self-esteem, and status of the indigenous or native-born people. Such terms disrupt and damage the indigenous peoples’ spirit for living. It kills both their living and fighting spirits. They are also used to destroy the foundation and strength of native-born peoples’ lifestyle. This silent
oppression forms an essential part of the genocide of the indigenous people.
The conflicts occurring in West Papua are engineered by the Indonesian military theories of conflict. They provide a reason for the large military presence in West Papua, with operational funds and military promotions.
Batallion 977 has been established in Wamena, Regency of Jayawijaya. KSAD, Lieutenant General Djoko Santoso has said that in 2005 it will be supplemented by three further battalions in West Papua.
The Transmigration Program is a national program supported by the World Bank to bring Islamic people from outside Papua , especially from Java, to West Papua. Dr. Richard Chauvel agrees, “the demographic transformation of society in Papua, with the great influx of Indonesia settlers, has engendered a widespread feeling that Papuans have been dispossessed and marginalized in their own land…”
The militia and jihad fighters can not be separated from the Indonesian military presence. The militias and jihad fighters have the same ideology; that each enemy must be destroyed. So in West Papua the Islamic view is that Christians are unbelievers and need to be annihilated. With an ideology very close to that of the Indonesian military, the militias and jihad fighters are certainly armed by the Indonesian military.
Alcohol is a form of silent killing. Generally, the introduction of alcohol is protected and supported by the Indonesian military and police. Usually the police arrest only the drunk Papuans, and imprison and ill-treat them. But, the government and Indonesian police have not yet, in fact never will arrest the persons selling the alcohol, never will close the places where
alcohol is sold, and never will close the factories producing alcohol.
HIV/AIDS (Silent killing) is occurring in West Papua with the trade of women who are infected with HIV/AIDS. This is a means of depopulation, or genocide, against the indigenous people of West Papua. In Mappi, Merauke the military and police are bringing infected women into the community of sandalwood gatherers. The women are bargained for against the value of the sandalwood. There are almost 14,000 to15,000 known HIV/AIDS sufferers in West Papua.
Special Autonomy is a national agreement, as well a political bargain between the Papuan elite and Indonesia which is validated by the Indonesian constitution, the agreement of the Indonesian Parliament and the support of the World Bank. It aims to be a process for solving problems in West Papua through education, health and the economy, along with protection of, and respect for, the human rights and status of the indigenous people of West Papua. But Special Autonomy has brought misfortune and is yet another source of suffering for the West Papuan people continuing from the Act of Free Choice1969 (PEPERA 1969). Nowhere is Special Autonomy being implemented consistently, correctly, justly and fairly by local government development programmes. Government Regulation No. 12003 covers the development of the province of West Irian Jaya.
Special Autonomy funds have been used by the Indonesian military to kill West Papuan people. An example was during the incident in Mulia, Puncak Jaya on 14 September 2004, the military used Special Autonomy Funds totalling 2.5 billion Rp ¬ according to my research, 3 billion Rp ¬ according to the West Papuan Parliament, or 1.9 billion Rp ¬ according to the regional government report to purchase food and medicines for the displaced people. These funds have not assisted the displaced people and it is not known where the money has gone.
The Papuan Parliament (MPR) represents the aims of the Indonesian government, and is unrepresentative of the aims of the indigenous people of West Papua. The oath of a Member of Parliament is based on loyalty to Pancasila, the Indonesian Constitution and defense of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. However, the indigenous people of Papua expect
that Papuan members of parliament should represent indigenous Papuans in order to protect their human rights, status and lifestyle.
Racial and religious discrimination. The dialogue between Aceh and the Indonesian government in Japan (2002/2003) and in Helsinki Finland (April 2005) shows clearly that the Indonesian government discriminates against West Papuan people on racial and religious grounds. Aceh and West Papua has the same Special Autonomy status. This status aims to be a path to ending the problems of conflict in both Aceh and West Papua.
But the Indonesian people have given Aceh a special and wide-ranging opportunity for dialogue through an international facilitator. At the same time, the West Papuan people have asked for dialogue but have not received an answer from the Indonesians. But as a response, the Indonesian government has sent greater numbers of military forces to West Papuan land. It also sends thousands of Javanese people to Papua.
Religious discrimination can be identified as Muslims can apply unwritten (religious) law. This is proved by the freedom to worship ¬ Christians in Indonesia are restricted in their worship and are restricted in building places of worship. But in West Papua mosques are built everywhere, even in places where there are no Muslims.
Exploitation of natural resources West Papua was incorporated into Indonesia through Indonesian military strength with the aim of seizing the products of West Papua land and annihilating the indigenous people. The Indonesian military and police forces support and protect the removal of the soil’s resources.
PT Freeport Indonesia is a large American business in Timika, Tembagapura, West Papua. The presence of Freeport in Papua since 1967 (before Papua became Indonesian territory) has certainly brought great misfortune to the indigenous people of West Papua. Their land has been seized, their forests cut down, their environment damaged, and their drinking water polluted. The people have been threatened, arrested, disappeared, killed, raped, lost and driven out by the Indonesian military who are paid by the giant American company.
The PB Tangguh Natural Gas project in Betuni Bay is English owned. It will lead to a situation not far different from that of PT Freeport in Tembagapura. The community’s land will be seized, their forests will be cut down, the natural environment, damaged, and water polluted. The people will certainly be driven out, threatened, arrested, disappeared, killed, raped,
and lost by the Indonesian military and police. The workforce will be gathered from Javanese people.
EXPANSION OF DISTRICTS AND PROVINCES IN PAPUA
The main aim of expanding the Districts and Provinces in West Papua is:
1. In the interests of security, that is the expansion of the military’s wings by building new Kodam, Batallion, Kodim, Koramil, Polda, Polres, Polsek to control and destroy the indigenous Papuans.
2. Expanding employment opportunities with the allocation of Officials from outside of Papua
3. Systematic efforts to destroy (genocide) the indigenous Papuans by sending transmigrants and illegal immigrants using the reason that there are not enough indigenous Papuans in the region of the expansion of new Provinces (part of the long term Islamisation and Javanisation efforts in Papua).
4. Systematic political efforts to play one side off against the other (devide et impera) by isolating or grouping indigenous Papuans together so that they will kill each other in their efforts to defend their own land and regions.
The aim of the Conflict, and the Indonesian Military’s Stigmatisation of OPM and Separatists:
1. Justification for military presence in large numbers in Papua and in order to expand the military by building military posts as has occurred in Wamena, Batallion 977.
2. Systematic effort by the Indonesian government to destroy (genocide) the indigenous Papuans with military operations using the reason that they are OPM members and separatists.
3. Systematic efforts to provoke internal conflict between the indigenous people of West Papua as an integral part of the politics of playing one side off against the other (devide et impera) so that they kill each other.
4. Systematic effort by the Indonesian government using military force to annihilate, and make the indigenous West Papuans ignorant and impoverished by burning down the school buildings. The indigenous West Papuans will constantly suffer from the loss of their safety, integrity, status, identity, and human rights, for just two reasons, First, to preserve the
integrity of the United Republic of Indonesia, Second, to protect the Natural Resources of Papua for political and economic interests.
5. Efforts to change and blur agendas for political dialogue with the indigenous people of West Papua which relate to staightening out history, such as the demands to review the 1969 Act of Free Choice in West Papua which was unfair and undemocratic.
6. Efforts to terrorize and intimidate the indigenous West Papuans in order that they have no freedom to speak about their nation’s future.
7. Getting projects for TNI/POLRI and Contractors so that they get Special Autonomy funds under the auspices of rebuilding the district schools and offices that were burnt down
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