Papua independence protesters seek papal intervention after clashes with Indonesian troops

go through Victor MambolJayapura

Indonesian security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets as they clashed with protesters marking the 62nd anniversary of a UN agreement that paved the way for Jakarta to annex the Papua region.

At least one protester was wounded by a rubber bullet and 95 people were arrested during the unrest in Nabire, the capital of Central Papua province, said Kimot Mote, one of the protest organizers.

Thursday’s demonstration was led by the West Papua National Council (KNPB), a pro-independence group that opposes Indonesian rule in Papua. Activists said similar protests took place in several other cities, including Manokwari, Sorong Raya, Wamena and Yahukimo.

Protesters have urged international bodies such as the United Nations, the Melanesian Spearhead Organization and the Pacific Islands Forum to intervene and pressure Indonesia to stop its military operations in Papua.

KNPB Chairman Warpo Wetipo made a direct request to Pope Francis, asking him to raise awareness about violence and human rights violations in Papua.

The Catholic Church leader will visit Indonesia next month, followed by visits to Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore.

“We ask the pope to advocate for an end to the oppression of the Papuan people,” Wetipo said.

Mote said that while the protest in Nabire started peacefully, tensions escalated when police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

“There was a heavy police presence, about 100 officers using trucks and crowd control vehicles to suppress the demonstrators,” he told BenarNews.

The local police chief, Wahyudi Satrio Bintoro, said security forces took action after protesters threw rocks at officers and engaged in acts of vandalism, including setting fire to motorcycles.

“Nabire police took measured and decisive action,” he said.

The New York Agreement was a treaty between the Netherlands and Indonesia regarding the administration of Papua (then known as West New Guinea). The agreement stipulated that the United Nations would first take over the island, but if the United Nations allowed it, Indonesia could take over the administration of the island under certain conditions.

The agreement was negotiated at a conference hosted by the United States and signed on August 15, 1962 at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

However, many Papuans believe the deal was reached without their consent and paves the way for Indonesia to illegally annex their homeland.

West Papua was formally annexed to Indonesia in 1969 following a controversial referendum known as the Act of Free Choice. A small group of just over 1,000 Papuans voted unanimously in favour of annexation under heavy military pressure, but the result has been questioned by many ever since.

Since then, the area has been the scene of a protracted conflict between Indonesian security forces and separatist insurgents, with human rights violations frequently reported.

Despite the region’s efforts to address economic development, many Papuans continue to fight for self-determination, citing decades of discrimination, military violence and exploitation of their land and resources.

In Jayapura, protesters were denied entry to the planned protest site in Abepura.

“We have obtained permission to protest, but the police still obstruct us,” said Wetipo of the KNPB.

In Abepura, a group of students gathered under a banner reading “Students Care for Papua” and gave speeches calling attention to the ongoing struggle in Papua.

Jayapura police confirmed the intervention and described the protest as extremely disruptive.

The situation in Nabire became tense on Thursday when some non-Papuan residents who call themselves “Warga Nusantara” (citizens of the archipelago) clashed with protesters, said local resident Taksen Giyai.

“They were armed with iron bars, wooden sticks and machetes and blocked the protesters’ way,” he said. There have been no clashes so far.

Central Papua province’s acting governor, Ribuka Haluk, called for calm.

“I urge all parties to ensure safety,” she said, adding that grievances should be resolved through proper channels rather than violence.

In other cities, protests were similarly contained by police.

In Manokwari, police set up roadblocks to prevent demonstrators from reaching key areas. Protester Eric Alekno said negotiators tried to work with police.

“Our negotiators offered to have police escort the crowd to the location, but this was rejected,” he said.

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