YOGYAKARTA, SUARAPAPUA.com – Papuan university students protested Jayawijaya district head Jhon Wempi Wetipo, or JWW, for his decision to offer land to the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU), where they plan to build a military post.
Under a communication forum from Yogyakarta known as FKMAP, Papuan university students expressed their grave concerns over JWW’s decision, and reminded that the citizens of Jayawijaya district have suffered from torture, murder and assault conducted by the Indonesian Military (TNI) throughout the years.
FKMAP said that efforts to add more troops and build a military post hurts the community, especially when lawful justice are still yet to be seen by victims of human rights violations in Papua.
“The local government, in this case the district head and regional secretary [Sekda], failed to build Jayawijaya without military assistance. They have provided space for capitalists, or investors, to take over the economy. They looted the people’s land and give it to the military. The land does not belong to the district head, it belongs to the people,” FKMAP coordinator, Yusup Kossay, said.
According to July 22 report from tabloidjubi.com, TNI young marshall Yadi Indrayadi Sutandika held a meeting with JWW, along with the coordinating forum of Jayawijaya’s regional leader, on Friday, July 21.
“There is willingness from the local government, as representatives of the people, to give us land to build a post for the Indonesian Air Force, which will increase the frequency of supporting flights in the region and help out development in Wamena and other districts,” Yadi said, as quoted in the report.
FKMAP said that the meeting on July 21 resulted in an agreement between JWW and the Indonesian Airforce, which includes construction of a military post in Wamena, expansion of the local airport, security cooperation in Jayawijaya with the military, and adding more troops to assist in the construction of a military post.
“We are opposed to adding more troops, and the presence of troops at all, here in Jayawijaya. We condemn the action of our district head in granting permission to the Indonesian Airforce to build a post here and taking the people’s land for this purpose,” FKMAP said.
Between 1977 and 1979, Papua was the target of a military operation that resulted in a massacre throughout the region, especially in the hills of Wamena, Jayawijaya, and its surrounding areas.
The military dropped bombs in villages and opened fire on civilians during the operation, resulting in an estimated death of more than 5,000 Papuans.
An official report on the massacre against people of Papua by the Indonesian military, with assistance from the United States and Australia in 1977-1978 can be read here: “The Neglected Genocide.” (SY/BT)
