Andrew Mathieson: National Indigenous Time
The death toll has continued to rise following reports of additional civilian casualties coming out of West Papua during a clash between Indonesia’s military and the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement.
The deadliest incident came from military operations throughout Intan Jaya in the Central Papua province of Indonesia amid disputes over counter claims from both sides in what is also turning into a propaganda war.
In a video statement, military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Iwan Dwi Prihartono said 18 West Papua National Liberation Army fighters were killed.
But Prihartono shrugged away blame for the deaths, claiming his soldiers had thwarted an unprovoked yet aggressive push over Indonesia’s sovereignty in Western New Guinea.
He suggested the military were providing health services and education to residents in Sugapa District villages of the Intan Jaya regency before they were confronted by the Papuan forces.
Prihartono said his military confiscated an AK47, homemade weapons, ammunition, bows and arrows and the morning star flag – symbolically carried by soldiers to represent independence for a West Papuan state.
However according to the West Papua National Liberation Army movement, only three of its forces’ soldiers were killed with the rest being innocent civilians.
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua said civilians who were killed included a defenceless 75-year-old man, two women and a child.
Both women were allegedly found buried in shallow graves days after the shootings.
A diplomatic spokesperson for Indonesia has since disputed the West Papuan version of events over the 18 deaths which Jakarta is not disputing, reconfirming the military’s account.
“The local regent of Intan Jaya has checked for the victims at their home and at hospitals,” the spokesperson said.
“Therefore, he can confirm that the 18 victims were in fact all members of the armed criminal group.
“The difference in numbers of victim sometimes happens because an armed criminal group tries to downplay their casualties or to try to create confusion.”
The spokesperson added the Indonesian military operation had been carried out after local authorities “followed up upon complaints and reports from local communities that were terrified and terrorised by the armed criminal group”.
United Liberation Movement for West Papua interim president Benny Wenda substantiated on a Free West Papua website that Indonesian military forces had shot “indiscriminately at villagers” during the confrontation.
Indonesian soldiers were also said to have buried one of the women in a shallow grave.
Wenda said to add to “this depravity”, they surrounded her grave with landmines to blow up any relatives who came to check on the corpse and pay their respects.
“These are the tactics the occupying regime uses to destroy my people,” he said.
Wenda also claims more than 1000 Intan Jaya villagers fled the chaotic violence, adding to 87,000 West Papuans who are currently internally displaced and forced to live as “refugees” in the bush.
Nearby to the villages is Wabu Block, a gigantic gold mine spanning an area the size of Jakarta, which Wenda says is a reminder that commercial business interests and military action remains closely connected while West Papua people are on the frontline of the “global climate crisis”.
“Intan Jayan refugees are victims of one of the world’s worst, and most secretive, humanitarian crises,” he said.
“More and more of our people are being forced to leave their homes to make way for ecocidal industrial projects.”
Jakarta-based Human Rights Watch researcher Andreas Harsono said the conflict was a part of the wider Indonesian Operation Habema which commenced last year.
Indonesia’s military is also said to be winning the ground war from the use of drones to combat the West Papua National Liberation Army who through a lack of resources are, at times, forced to use bows and arrows.
“It is a military operation to eliminate the Free Papua guerilla fighters, not only in Intan Jaya, but in several agencies along the central highlands,” Harsono said.
Tensions have been rising since the West Papua National Liberation Army apparently killed 17 Papuan miners in April, which the armed group accused of being “military informers” for the Indonesian forces.
Harsono said Indonesia claimed civilian casualties – including the women who were allegedly buried in shallow graves – were, in fact, a result of the West Papuan forces
“The West Papua National Liberation Army says, ‘of course, it is a lie why should we kill an Indigenous woman?'” Harsono said.
“Well, you know, it is difficult to verify which one is correct because they’re fighting the battle [(n a very remote area).
“It’s difficult to cross-check whatever information coming from there, including the fact that it is difficult to get big videos or big photos from the area with the metadata.”