Nduga massacre: Difference between revisions
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== Background == |
== Background == |
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{{See also|Papua conflict|Trans Papua}} |
{{See also|Papua conflict|Trans Papua}} |
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Papua province, the location the massacre has seen low-level insurgency since its incorporation into Indonesia. Unlike other parts of the former colony of [[Dutch East Indies]], which was recognized as part of |
Papua province, the location the massacre has seen low-level insurgency since its incorporation into Indonesia. Unlike other parts of the former colony of [[Dutch East Indies]], which was recognized as part of [[United States of Indonesia]] following [[Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Conference|Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Conference of 1949]], [[Western New Guinea|Western Papua]] has only been administrated by Indonesia since 1963.<ref>United Nations, [https://search.archives.un.org/downloads/united-nations-temporary-executive-authority-in-west-irian-untea-1962-1963.pdf "Administrative History"], ''Archives and Records Management Section''</ref> At the time of a contentious [[Act of Free Choice]] in 1969, the U.S. Ambassador asserted ''"a decided majority of the Irianese (Papuan) people, and possible 85 to 90%, are in sympathy with the Free Papua cause"''.<ref>George Washington University [https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu//NSAEBB/NSAEBB128/29.%20Airgram%20A-278%20from%20Jakarta%20to%20State%20Department,%20July%209,%201969.pdf U.S. Embassy, Confidential Airgram], ''National Security Archive''</ref>, and activists who have objected to the Indonesian claim of incorporation of Papuan territories into the Republic and have formed independence groups, including [[West Papua Liberation Organization]] and the [[Organisasi Papua Merdeka|OPM]]. The conflict is further fueled by economic disadvantage and poverty of [[Papuan people|Native Papuans,]] immigration of other ethnic groups ([[Transmigration program]]) and human rights violations by [[Indonesian National Armed Forces|Indonesian forces]]. |
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Following [[Indonesian presidential election, 2014|his election in 2014]], Indonesian president, [[Joko Widodo]], embarked on reforms intended to alleviate grievances of Native Papuans, such as stopping Transmigration program<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2015/06/04/18471741/Jokowi.Hentikan.Transmigrasi.ke.Papua|title=Jokowi Hentikan Transmigrasi ke Papua|last=Asril|first=Sabrina|date=4 June 2015|work=[[Kompas]]|access-date=5 December 2018}}</ref> and starting massive infrastructure spending in Papua, including building [[Trans Papua]] roads network.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://jakartaglobe.id/economy/jokowi-vows-to-finish-4000-km-trans-papua-highway/|title=Jokowi Vows to Finish 4,000-km Trans-Papua Highway|last=Diela|first=Tabita|date=11 May 2015|work=[[Jakarta Globe]]|access-date=}}</ref> The bridge where the attack occurred is a part of the planned network. |
Following [[Indonesian presidential election, 2014|his election in 2014]], Indonesian president, [[Joko Widodo]], embarked on reforms intended to alleviate grievances of Native Papuans, such as stopping Transmigration program<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2015/06/04/18471741/Jokowi.Hentikan.Transmigrasi.ke.Papua|title=Jokowi Hentikan Transmigrasi ke Papua|last=Asril|first=Sabrina|date=4 June 2015|work=[[Kompas]]|access-date=5 December 2018}}</ref> and starting massive infrastructure spending in Papua, including building [[Trans Papua]] roads network.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://jakartaglobe.id/economy/jokowi-vows-to-finish-4000-km-trans-papua-highway/|title=Jokowi Vows to Finish 4,000-km Trans-Papua Highway|last=Diela|first=Tabita|date=11 May 2015|work=[[Jakarta Globe]]|access-date=}}</ref> The Indonesian military says there has been local opposition to the road project since the commencement of construction and by February 2018 the government's response to letters asking that the constuction be stopped, has been to deploy additional troops for sweeping operations.<ref>Kompas TV, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQEnGtiSRrw TNI interview]</ref> The bridge where the attack occurred is a part of the planned network. |
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== Attack and massacre == |
== Attack and massacre == |
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Revision as of 12:09, 31 March 2019
Nduga massacre (Indonesian: "Pembantaian Nduga") was a mass killing of construction workers, that occurred on 1 December 2018, in Nduga Regency, Papua, Indonesia.[1] The murders are considered to be part of the Papuan conflict. Indonesian authorities blamed Papuan armed separatists for the murders. West Papua Liberation Army acknowledged responsibility for the massacre.[2]
Background
Papua province, the location the massacre has seen low-level insurgency since its incorporation into Indonesia. Unlike other parts of the former colony of Dutch East Indies, which was recognized as part of United States of Indonesia following Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Conference of 1949, Western Papua has only been administrated by Indonesia since 1963.[3] At the time of a contentious Act of Free Choice in 1969, the U.S. Ambassador asserted "a decided majority of the Irianese (Papuan) people, and possible 85 to 90%, are in sympathy with the Free Papua cause".[4], and activists who have objected to the Indonesian claim of incorporation of Papuan territories into the Republic and have formed independence groups, including West Papua Liberation Organization and the OPM. The conflict is further fueled by economic disadvantage and poverty of Native Papuans, immigration of other ethnic groups (Transmigration program) and human rights violations by Indonesian forces.
Following his election in 2014, Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, embarked on reforms intended to alleviate grievances of Native Papuans, such as stopping Transmigration program[5] and starting massive infrastructure spending in Papua, including building Trans Papua roads network.[6] The Indonesian military says there has been local opposition to the road project since the commencement of construction and by February 2018 the government's response to letters asking that the constuction be stopped, has been to deploy additional troops for sweeping operations.[7] The bridge where the attack occurred is a part of the planned network.
Attack and massacre
Workers from Istaka Karya (an Indonesian construction company) were constructing a bridge over Yigi river (Indonesian: Kali Yigi) in Yigi district, Nduga Regency. They took work leave at 1 December, as the day has usually been considered unsafe to work, due to activities of Papuan separatists celebrating the declaration of Papuan independence of Free Papua Movement on that day. One of the workers allegedly took photos of one such celebration in nearby field, which angered the armed group and triggered the attack.[8][9]
At the evening, the armed Papuan separatist group attacked the workers' camp and took 25 workers as hostages. The following day (2 December 2018), the armed group took the workers to a nearby hill and proceed to shot the workers. 19 workers were confirmed dead, 2 workers were missing (as of 5 December 2018) and 4 workers managed to escape by pretending to be dead.[10]
The survivors managed to flee to nearby Indonesian Army post, where further shooting caused one soldier dead.[2]
Indonesian authorities claimed that the armed group responsible for the murders numbered around 40 people and is led by Egianus Kagoya.[11]
During evacuation process, the Indonesian National Armed Forces alleged that the rebel soldiers attack their evacuation helicopters.
In return, the armed group alleged that Indonesian military use bombs and explosives during the evacuation process, though Indonesian military stated that they did not use bombs and explosives, but they did use grenade launchers from their infantry assault rifles during the evacuation process.[12]
Responses
West Papua Liberation Army, military arm of West Papua Liberation Organization, claimed responsibility of the attack, while claiming that the victims were not civilian workers, but actually "armed members of Indonesia's military ... disguised as civilians".[2] Jacob Rumbiak, spokesman for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (UMWP), justified the murders as "self defense against Indonesian occupation".[13]
Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia, ordered for the arrest of the perpetrators and for the road construction to continue.[14] Minister of Defense Ryamizard Ryacudu stated that there will be no negotiations and the armed group should "surrender or be finished off".[15]
Aftermath
Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, condemned the attack and promised quick response, while Papuan provincial administration condemned the attack as "human right violation".[16] Indonesian authorities are investigating the murders and deploying armed personnel to the region.[17]
In an open letter addressed to Indonesian President Joko Widodo delivered by a video posted by YouTube, the rebel spokesperson from Free Papua Movement has stated that they demanded another referendum to be held for native Papuans. The spokesperson also stated that they would not surrender to Indonesian government.[18] The highway project of Trans-Papua Highway is also suspended temporarily because of security concern in the area.[19]
The Indonesian National Armed Forces stated that they were not initiating a proper military operation in the region, although a spokesman of Kodam XVII/Cenderawasih remarked that a "normal" joint operation with the Indonesian National Police would be sufficient. According to Moeldoko, Chief of the Presidential Staff Office, 154 soldiers and policemen were sent to the area to aid in the investigation.[20]
On 20 December 2018, following operations by the Indonesian military, four civilians were found dead. Local authorities claimed that the civilians had been trapped in firefights between the army and the armed groups.[21]
References
- ^ "Dozens killed in Papua attack". Radio NZ. 5 December 2018.
- ^ a b c Smith, Mackenzie (5 December 2018). "West Papua Liberation Army claims responsibility for Papua killings". Radio NZ.
- ^ United Nations, "Administrative History", Archives and Records Management Section
- ^ George Washington University U.S. Embassy, Confidential Airgram, National Security Archive
- ^ Asril, Sabrina (4 June 2015). "Jokowi Hentikan Transmigrasi ke Papua". Kompas. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ Diela, Tabita (11 May 2015). "Jokowi Vows to Finish 4,000-km Trans-Papua Highway". Jakarta Globe.
- ^ Kompas TV, TNI interview
- ^ "Indonesia attack: Gunmen kill 24 construction workers in Papua". BBC News. 5 December 2018.
- ^ Purba, John Roy (4 December 2018). "Pengakuan Korban Selamat Pembantaian Pekerja di Nduga Papua, 19 Orang Dipastikan Dibunuh". Kompas.
- ^ Purba, John Roy (5 December 2018). "Pura-pura Mati, Jimmi Selamat dari Pembantaian KKB di Nduga Papua". Kompas.
- ^ "Siapa Egianus Kagoya, Pimpinan KKB di Papua?". Deutsche Welle.
- ^ Post, The Jakarta. "TNI denies explosive use during rescue after Papua shootings". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
- ^ "West Papua: conflicting reports surround attack that killed up to 31". The Guardian. 5 December 2018.
- ^ "Penembakan Nduga, Jokowi: Tangkap Pelaku, dan Lanjutkan Trans Papua". katadata.co.id (in Indonesian). 5 December 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
- ^ "31 Pekerja Dibunuh di Nduga Papua, Menhan : Tak Ada Negosiasi". Tribunnews Bogor (in Indonesian). 4 December 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
- ^ "Papua Govt: Istaka Shooting Violates Human Rights". Tempo (Indonesia).
- ^ "Indonesia probing reports dozens of workers shot dead in Papua". Straits Times. 4 December 2018.
- ^ "Indonesia: Papua rebels reject surrender after workers' killing". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
- ^ Post, The Jakarta. "Trans-Papua road project suspended amid worsening security". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
- ^ "Penembakan Nduga: Urgensi dan dampak jika Papua jadi daerah operasi militer". BBC (in Indonesian). 11 December 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
- ^ "Empat tewas di Nduga, Papua: 'Mereka warga sipil yang melarikan diri ke hutan'". BBC (in Indonesian). 20 December 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2019.