Thousands Of West Papuans Displaced By Escalating Violence

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At least 2,000 Papuans have been displaced by escalating violence in Indonesia’s Nduga regency, says the United Nations Human Rights Council. The West Papua National Committee also known as KNPB presented a report to the Council in Geneva which highlighted excessive use of force.

“Joint military and police operation started last December in Nduga region and use of excessive force. More than 2,000 people have become internally displaced persons (IDPs), houses were burned down and more than 25 civilians were dead.” Moreover, there are reports of more than 400 students and 80 teachers being displaced by the violence in the Central Highlands regency.

The Committee’s spokesperson Victor Yeimo made the Council aware that the Indonesian military forces have violated the Papuan’s human rights and asked the Council to encourage Indonesia to allow a UN visit. Yeimo also called on the member states to block Indonesia from applying for a seat in the Council until it addressed the human rights concerns.
 “When we hold public discussions, they disperse us. When we gather peacefully, they say we are illegal organization. When we want to pray, they charge us with treason and destroy our homes. They isolate us from foreign media and humanitarian workers,” Yeimo said.

The Indonesian military maintains that its decision to deploy an additional 600 combat soldiers to the region last week was only to safeguard the state construction work and protect civilians from Papuan rebels. 

Source: https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/443721-thousands-of-papuans-displaced-by-escalating-violence

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