500 villagers flee after police deployment

JAKARTA: About 500 inhabitants of Dagouto village in Paniai regency, Papua, have opted to leave their homes following the deployment of 150 Mobile Brigade officers near their community, Paniai tribe council head John Gobai said on Wednesday.

“Our people have sought refuge for weeks at the Uwatawogi Hall in Enarotali. They are now afraid that they will not be able to celebrate Christmas in their homes,” John told reporters at the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).

Along with four other Paniai people, John came to the commission to complain about the presence of police officers, which they deemed as “exacerbating the security situation”.

The National Police decided to strengthen personnel in the regency following deadly shootings that reportedly claimed eight traditional miners in Degeuwo river, near Dagouto, last month. Later reports, however, revised the number of victims to one villager.

A former lawmaker who is also a Paniai patron, Ruben Gobai, claimed that the situation in Dagouto had returned to normal and was conducive, thus Mobile Brigade officers were not necessary.

Komnas HAM commissioner Ridha Saleh said the commission would ask National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo for clarification over the personnel deployment.

Violence has been escalating in Papua since the third Papuan People’s Congress was held during Oct. 16-19 in Abepura, Jayapura. Security forces forcefully dispersed the event, seizing both organizers and participants of the congress.