Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Legislative Council’s (DPR Papua) Special Group urges various parties to respond to the aspirations of the Intan Jaya community. This Special Group consists of 14 members of the DPR Papua through appointments from five customary areas in Papua.
Chairman of the Special Group John NR Gobai said representatives of the Intan Jaya community had met with various parties in Papua and Jakarta. The most recent one, they met with Commission VII (overseeing energy affairs) of the House of Representatives and Papuan lawmakers on Monday, March 28, 2022.
During the meeting, representatives of the Intan Jaya community, representatives of tribal chiefs, traditional leaders, student representatives, the chairman of DPR Papua Special Group, and the Indigenous Peoples Institution have expressed their rejection of the mining plan in the Wabu Block.
“On that note, the DPR Papua Special Group recommends that the House immediately invites all relevant parties to discuss the situation and the root cause of the problem in Intan Jaya as demanded by the people,” said Gobai when contacting Jubi by telephone on Tuesday, March 29, 2022.
The Special Group also urged Commission VII to immediately hold a hearing inviting the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of SOEs, and the Papua Provincial Government to discuss and revoke the Wabu Block mining permit.
Gobai said his party also asked the TNI commander and the National Police chief to consider the wishes of the Intan Jaya people and various groups to withdraw non-organic troops from Intan Jaya.
“The deployment of military troops since December 16, 2019, in Hitadipa, Ugimba, and several villages in Sugapa District, Intan Jaya Regency has caused casualties both from the security forces, armed groups, and the community, including children,” he said.
Intan Jaya Advocacy Team Leader Bartolomeus Mirip during a hearing with Commission VII asked the House to urge the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources to cancel the Special Mining Business License for the Wabu Block mining by PT Mind Id and PT Antam.
Mirip said his party had followed the escalated violence in Intan Jaya in the past three years. He concluded that the armed conflict between the Indonesian Military (TNI) and Police and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) kept increasing. This situation has resulted in dozens of people being killed and thousands more displaced.
“These violence and armed conflicts are closely related to the government’s plan to exploit the Wabu Block gold reserve. Indigenous people and the TPNPB reject the mining plan,” said Mirip. (*)
