Villagers
in the outlying Papua highland of Lanny Jaya have been living in fear over the
last few days after a group of gunmen killed two police officers and injured
six others in one of the most deadliest ambushes on security personnel in the
strife-torn province.
But is anyone paying attention? Most of the population of this predominantly Muslim country is sharing the festive moments of Idul Fitri with relatives, friends and neighbors. The holiday revelers would be unwilling to spoil the party, which comes to an end this weekend.
Ignorance is perhaps the answer to why Papuans have since incorporating with Indonesia more than four decades ago had to endure a hard life, which includes poverty and insecurity, despite the abundant natural resources found in their land and waters.
While the rest of the archipelago accelerates development to enhance people’s welfare, Papua has consistently struggled to rein in basic problems related to food supplies, health care, education and security. Tribal wars can erupt at any time, quite often due to trivial issues, and attacks on police and military personnel are frequent.
Human rights watchdogs have been worried that a search for gunmen suspected of perpetrating an ambush on security personnel will lead to atrocities against local people. That’s how the cycle of violence works in Papua.
Lanny Jaya Regent Befa Jigibalom said that a faction within the Free Papua Organization (OPM) led by Puron Wenda was responsible for the attack on Monday. The rebels, comprising about 100 people, have occupied Pirime Balinga and Kwiyawagi hamlets and transformed the two remote areas into their stronghold, the regent added.
But never compare the alleged Papuan rebels with Boko Haram or other militant groups who have no hesitation in abducting civilians and using them as human shields. Reports have it that the Papuan armed groups are respected and supported by the locals in the same way that Acehnese and East Timorese loved their independence fighters.
To government and security officials, Puron Wenda and other Papuan figures who take up arms against Jakarta are simply rebels, but to local people they may be heroes who they think will save them from poverty and injustice.
Impoverishment and injustice have found their relevance now that the central government and Freeport-McMoran Inc. have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on amendments to the US gold and copper mining giant’s contract of work to operate in Papua, which Coordinating Economic Minister Chairul Tanjung says will give Rp 1.5 trillion (US$129 million) to Rp 2 trillion in extra state revenue.
Freeport has contributed a lot to state income. For Papua, this is part translates into a huge autonomy fund for the province. But the fact that Papua has the lowest human development index score shows that something is definitely wrong there.
If only the elites both in Jakarta and Papua would address the social injustice in the province, the incident in Papua could be the last to occur. Jakarta Post
But is anyone paying attention? Most of the population of this predominantly Muslim country is sharing the festive moments of Idul Fitri with relatives, friends and neighbors. The holiday revelers would be unwilling to spoil the party, which comes to an end this weekend.
Ignorance is perhaps the answer to why Papuans have since incorporating with Indonesia more than four decades ago had to endure a hard life, which includes poverty and insecurity, despite the abundant natural resources found in their land and waters.
While the rest of the archipelago accelerates development to enhance people’s welfare, Papua has consistently struggled to rein in basic problems related to food supplies, health care, education and security. Tribal wars can erupt at any time, quite often due to trivial issues, and attacks on police and military personnel are frequent.
Human rights watchdogs have been worried that a search for gunmen suspected of perpetrating an ambush on security personnel will lead to atrocities against local people. That’s how the cycle of violence works in Papua.
Lanny Jaya Regent Befa Jigibalom said that a faction within the Free Papua Organization (OPM) led by Puron Wenda was responsible for the attack on Monday. The rebels, comprising about 100 people, have occupied Pirime Balinga and Kwiyawagi hamlets and transformed the two remote areas into their stronghold, the regent added.
But never compare the alleged Papuan rebels with Boko Haram or other militant groups who have no hesitation in abducting civilians and using them as human shields. Reports have it that the Papuan armed groups are respected and supported by the locals in the same way that Acehnese and East Timorese loved their independence fighters.
To government and security officials, Puron Wenda and other Papuan figures who take up arms against Jakarta are simply rebels, but to local people they may be heroes who they think will save them from poverty and injustice.
Impoverishment and injustice have found their relevance now that the central government and Freeport-McMoran Inc. have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on amendments to the US gold and copper mining giant’s contract of work to operate in Papua, which Coordinating Economic Minister Chairul Tanjung says will give Rp 1.5 trillion (US$129 million) to Rp 2 trillion in extra state revenue.
Freeport has contributed a lot to state income. For Papua, this is part translates into a huge autonomy fund for the province. But the fact that Papua has the lowest human development index score shows that something is definitely wrong there.
If only the elites both in Jakarta and Papua would address the social injustice in the province, the incident in Papua could be the last to occur. Jakarta Post
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