The Executive Director of Amnesty International, Usman Hamid, thought that the Armed Criminal Group shooting in Papua to the people of Nogolait Village is the most heinous incident that had happened in Papua.
Usman urged the government and the security forces to investigate the case, which killed 10 innocent people, thoroughly. He said that the perpetrators could be brought to justice in criminal courts or human rights courts.
“The perpetrators should be arrested and brought to justice immediately in criminal courts or human rights courts if the state could categorized their act as serious human right violations,” said Usman in a discussion held by the Fellowship of Indonesian Churches, Tuesday (7/19).
Usman stated that the act of violence by the Armed Criminal Group could be categorized as serious human right violations. The Armed Criminal Group should have not attack the civilians no matter what, even if they are in conflict with the state apparatus. He explained that in a conflict, there is a law that prohibits the attack on civilians.
“Those norms are called humanitarian law norms. The warring parties should not attack civilians, both the humans or civilian objects, including schools, houses of worship, or other civilian targets. There seems to be a legal vacuum in Papua to comply with this during conflict,” said Usman, who is also a member of the Peace Coalition for Papua.
Usman suspects that the act of the Armed Criminal Group was based on the state’s decision in passing the new bills of forming three new provinces in Papua and the Second Amendment on forming a special agency for Papua which is directly under the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia.
“That special Papuan agency, which is directly under the office of the Vice President of Indonesia, is a form of recentralization that was initially autonomous by the regional government, parliamentary government, and the Papuan People’s Assembly, but now moved to the central government. This has serious implications in the future, including the management of natural resources. We are worried that this legislative and armed conflict are interconnected,” said Usman.
Usman advised the government to review some of those policies, and urged them to solve this issue in humanitarian way.
“There is a chance. Actually the President, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, the Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces, and Army Chief of Staff have stated that the issue of Papua should have been solved peacefully. However, that statement has not been implemented in law due to the needs in formalizing it so that it could give a significant impact in Papua,” said Usman.
“I believe there is a chance in solving this issue peacefully. Especially, we from the National Human Rights Commission is willing to be the bridge between the government and United Liberation Movement for West Papua. This is a good way in solving this issue peacefully and needs to be continued,” said Usman in conclusion.