T

he Papua administration will map land boundaries in Timika to prevent further communal conflict in the province.

As of May, communal conflicts had claimed the lives of 17 people and had injured hundreds of others as well as causing material damage.

A survey team on the indigenous rights of traditional communities in Mimika has been formed to conduct the mapping. They comprise the Mimika Land Agency, the Papua legislature, Mimika regency council, LEMASKO, LEMASA and LMA (Papua traditional community institutions), the Papua People'€™s Assembly (MRP), legal experts and archeologists from Cenderawasih University as well as traditional elders from disputing groups.

'€œThe team has been working for the past month and was given three months to complete the mapping of the concerned borders. As the issue is about boundaries, the core of the problem must be resolved,'€ said Papua Governor Lukas Enembe in a meeting between the provincial administration and disputing groups at Gedung Negara in Timika, on Monday.

'€œLand disputes have turned into bloody conflicts, in which people kill one another, whereas the Papuan population is already dwindling. If they continue to kill one another the population will decrease further,'€ he added.

The meeting was also attended by Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian, Cenderawasih Military Command chief Maj. Gen. Christian Zebua, Papua legislative speaker Derk Tabuni, MRP deputy head Angel Tokorok, Papua Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw and 16 regents from Papua'€™s Pegunungan Tengah region.

The conflict is said to stem from a territorial dispute in Kali Pindah-Pindah, Iwaka subdistrict, Kuala Kencana district, Mimika.

The area of contention is included in the concession of the PT PAL (Papua Agro Lestari) oil palm plantation located in the area of the Timika-Enarotali (Paniai regency) highway project.

The Dani tribe claimed the area as the native right of the Komoro tribes that was entrusted to them, while the Moni tribe also claimed the same right.

Besides hearing the research conducted by the working team on indigenous rights in Mimika conveyed by Cenderawasih University'€™s law school lecturer Frans Reumi, the meeting also heard the aspirations of both disputing groups.

Both groups, mediated by LMA head Lenis Kogoya, wished for peace, but still focused on people'€™s rights. They demanded compensation for their damaged belongings and loss of life.

Legis said in the mapping, areas later inhabited by the seven tribes in Timika would be determined and it would not neglect the native rights of the Komoro and Amungme tribes.

'€œThe mapping will include the areas which will be inhabited by the tribes in Timika so as to prevent land disputes. It will place the Komoro and Amungme tribes as owners of indigenous rights,'€ said Legis.

Lukas said the government had not prepared compensation for the loss of lives but in accordance with Presidential Instruction No. 2/2013, the conflict would be resolved by reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

'€œThe government will provide grants to help victims, but will not compensate for loss of life,'€ he added.

In the meeting, it was also declared that both sides were called upon to stop the conflict and seek a fair solution.

'€œThe police will take stern measures against those fighting. I call on everyone to help the team complete its work,'€ said Papua Police deputy chief Brig. Gen Paulus Waterpauw.