Church leaders in Indonesia’s Christian-majority Papua have criticised the “excessive military” presence in the region, calling it a flawed state policy to counter insurgency in the conflict-scarred territory. Source: UCA News.
Augustinian Bishop Bernardus Bofitwos Baru of Timika said that the military presence has instilled fear and insecurity in the local community, whose life and activities are disrupted at regular intervals.
According to government data, approximately 12,300 military personnel are stationed in Papua, the Indonesian part of Papua New Guinea, which is now divided into six provinces.
Since being annexed by Indonesia in the 1960s after the end of Dutch colonial rule through what is largely considered a sham referendum, Papua has endured a low-intensity armed secessionist insurgency and the military’s counter-insurgency operations, which has left thousands killed and displaced in the region.
The government cites national security for the “influx of soldiers” in Papua, which Papuans say have detrimental impacts on their lives, causing panic, fear, and security concerns, disrupting the livelihoods of the community, Bishop Baru said on Sunday.
The soldiers have placed restrictions on movement, and traditional activities such as hunting, gardening and community gatherings, which are being hindered, said the prelate, an ethnic Papuan and rights defender.
“Military posts and soldiers are everywhere. People are afraid because they have implemented an activity schedule, which means it’s not just a curfew anymore, but a broader loss of security,” Bishop Baru said.
Such a security system “intrudes into people’s personal matters, [and] could be subtly killing the community,” he lamented.
Bishop Baru urged the government to engage in dialogue with community representatives to counter the threat of insurgency posed by rebel groups.
The military’s arbitrary restrictions have negative impacts on the Catholic community, he said.
Priests have reported several cases of adverse impact on the congregation, “which encourages me to ask the government to discuss this issue with the Church,” he said.
A Catholic priest in Central Papua, who did not want to be named, fearing repercussions, said the military occupied a Catholic school compound last September. It has disrupted the learning environment.
“The community is now in trauma. From there, the soldiers spread out to the surrounding villages. And to this day, they have not returned to their posts,” the priest said.
FULL STORY
Bishop slams ‘excessive’ military presence in Indonesia’s Papua (By Jacobus E Lato, UCA News)
