Jayapura, Jubi – The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) asked the Yahukimo Regency Government to pay attention to Papuan civilians in the Yahukimo war zone and protect them from Indonesian security forces who were hunting down the TPNPB.
“The government should not be picky in evacuating civilians, do not evacuate non-Papuan civilians while leaving behind the Papuan civilians in Yahukimo,” TPNPB spokesman Sebby Sambom told Jubi via WhatsApp service on Friday, March 17, 2023.
Sambom said the government must have the right concept to protect all civilians, both Indigenous Papuans and non-Papuans in Yahukimo.
“If the regent protects only non-Papuan people, the regent deserves to be tried if many people become victims in the war between the Indonesian Military [TNI] and police and TPNPB” he said.
“The government should not show an unfair attitude. There must be no favoritism. The government should not sacrifice the people in the operations carried out by Indonesian security forces to pursue TPNPB,” he said.
Sambom added that the government must understand how to handle displaced people in conflict areas. “Do not discriminate against indigenous Papuans in situations like this,” he said. (*)
