Jayapura, Jubi – Paniai Customary Council Chief Jhon NR Gobai said violence in Papua was generally a consequence of the Military and Police’s repressive acts.
“Military or police are acting extremely arrogant when the media is not present, so a lot of violence could not be properly exposed,” Gobay said in Jayapura last week.
Several violence cases by those culprits are happened including in Enarotali, Paniai Regency on 8 December 2014; Intan Jaya, Deyai, Puncak, Puncak Jaya, Ndugaa and Wamena of Jayawijaya Regency.
“Meanwhile, in urban area such as Jayapura City, the act of violence would be immediately covered, well exposed. Though sometime the violence might to be happened, it seems the apparatus acts more carefully.” He said.
For that reason, he suggested the security force chiefs such as Papua Police Chief and Regional Military Commander in Papua or at higher level, the Indonesian Police Chief and Indonesian Military Commander to provide their soldiers with a knowledge of human right for understanding and dealing with the cases occurred in Papua.
“Papuans have their own way to express their voices, their aspirations. They are still holding their origin culture, such as ‘waita’ that is voicing their voice with dancing and singing. Through the dancing, they actually have something to express,” he said.
For instance, the last incident happened in Paniai on 8 December 2014. People actually wanted to express their aspirations but the officers had lack of knowledge about the local culture. They didn’t understand about the mass psychology that finally ended with the repressive act.
“The Military approaches in Papua must be thoroughly evaluated. And the unnecessary troops should be pull out of Papua, because more armed officers among less populated Papuans could result unfavorable situation,” he said.
This situation could trigger a clash between the security force and people and could be ended with the severe human right violation in Papua, such as happened in Paniai. “Furthermore, there is a stigma of Papua Free Movement accused against Papuans if they want to express themselves,” he said.
In fact, Gobay added, those who stigmatized are part of Papuan community and Indonesian citizens that should be protected and embraced by both Military and Police with nicely and properly. Because if they didn’t do that, it means they are not able to implement their task and responsibly.
“So, their approaches must be evaluated, demilitarization in Papua, no more repressive acts to harm the Papuans’ heart and solve the Paniai case,” he said.
Related to Paniai case, he said if the National Human Right Committee were not able to cover this case, it would better if Papua has the regional human right office, which has similar authority for investigating and revealing the alleged case of human right violation in Papua.
“Paniai Customary Council and students who concern to the violence cases will return to the National Human Right Violation Papua Representative Office to drop its nameplate as a protest over its weakness to reveal the violence in Papua. Moreover, it didn’t form the Investigative Commission on Human Right Violation on Paniai case,” he said.
Last Tuesday, hundreds of colleague students in Jayapura City who joined in the Student Independent Forum (FIM) with the Paniai Customary Council held a rally in front of the National Human Right Violation Papua Representative Office urging it to establish the Investigative Commission on Human Right Violation on Paniai case. (*/rom)
