Papua- Based on the latest Komnas HAM report, Central Papua recorded the highest number of armed conflicts in Papua throughout 2024.
Chairman of Komnas HAM Atnike Nova Sigiro, in the Media Briefing agenda Komnas HAM Notes: Human Rights Situation in Papua, at the Komnas HAM Office, Wednesday, 18 December 2024, revealed that Intan Jaya Regency was the most vulnerable area with 22 incidents of violence, followed by Puncak Jaya ( 13 events) and Yahukimo (10 events).
“In general, the conflict in Papua is still dominated by firefights between TNI-Polri officers and armed civilian groups, attacks on civilians, and hostage-taking,” said Atnike.
A total of 113 cases of human rights violations were recorded in the period January to December 16 2024, with 85 cases related to armed conflict and violence.
The typology of incidents found included shootings (24 incidents), attacks on civilians (34 incidents), and attacks by armed civilian groups on security forces (23 incidents).
The impact of this conflict is very worrying. The death toll due to violence reached 61 people, of which the majority were civilians (32 people). In addition, 39 people were injured, with details of 22 civilians, while the rest came from security forces and armed civilian groups.
Komnas HAM also recorded four major displacement incidents involving civil society. This conflict not only threatens lives, but also paralyzes various public services in the region.
With the increasing intensity of violence in Central Papua, Atnike is taking concrete steps to reduce tensions.
“A dialogue-based approach is needed that involves all stakeholders to address problems in Papua comprehensively,” he said.
Komnas HAM hopes that the government, officials and civil society can work together to find a peaceful solution so that conflicts and human rights violations in Papua do not continue to happen again.