TAMBRAUW, SUARAPAPUA.com— Ethus Kareth, former Papuan Political Prisoner in Sorong in 2019 emphasized that his party refused to extend Otsus and asked for a referendum as a peaceful solution.
“We, the former Sorong City Political Prisoners reject Special Autonomy Volume II and immediately give the right of self-determination to the Papuan people,” said Ethus Kareth at the Secretariat of Kaki Abu recently.
He said, the implementation of Special Autonomy for 19 years was not under the mandate of Special Autonomy and also the hopes of the Papuan people. Meanwhile, the Papuan government does not dare to take a pro-Papuan policy which causes the Papuan people to always become victims.
“The governor, regents, Regional People’s Representative Assembly do not dare to take policies for the Papuan people, in the end, the Papuan people are always victims. Papuan women are still selling on land, on sidewalks, there is no free education and health for Papuans,” said Kareth.
Another former Papuan political prisoner, Laurenzius Syufi, asked the government to give the right of self-determination to the Papuan people.
“The government stop must imposing Special Autonomy volume II, but give the Papuan people the right to determine their fate freely without any intervention and pressure from any party,” said Syufi.
He said Special Autonomy did not give the Papuan people high hopes to live freely in their country.
“Special Autonomy is present but the Papuan people are always oppressed, many human rights violations have occurred, never even been resolved. The rights of the Papuan people are also forcibly taken away. For that we firmly reject Special Autonomy volume II,” he concluded.
Reporter: Reiner Brabar.
Editor: Elisa Sekenyap
