Papua conflict
1962–present separatist conflict in Indonesian New Guinea / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Papua conflict (Indonesian: Konflik Papua) is an ongoing conflict in Western New Guinea (Papua) between Indonesia and the Free Papua Movement (Indonesian: Organisasi Papua Merdeka, OPM). Subsequent to the withdrawal of the Dutch administration from the Netherlands New Guinea in 1962[13] and implementation of Indonesian administration in 1963,[14] the Free Papua Movement has conducted a low-intensity guerrilla war against Indonesia by targeting its military and police,[15] as well as its civilian population.[16]
Papua conflict | |||||||
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Part of West New Guinea dispute and the Terrorism in Indonesia | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Indonesia | Free Papua Movement | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
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Autonomous units | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
Unknown | 500–600 (2023 estimate)[8][9] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
72 soldiers (mostly non-combat) and 34 policemen killed Total: 106 security forces killed (2010 – March 2022)[10] | at least 38 killed (2010 – March 2022)[10] | ||||||
320 civilians killed (2010 – March 2022)[10] Estimates vary between 100,000[11] to 500,000 deaths[12] |
Papuan separatists have conducted protests and ceremonies, raising their flag for independence or calling for federation with Papua New Guinea,[15] and accuse the Indonesian government of indiscriminate violence and of suppressing their freedom of expression. Indonesia has also been accused of conducting a genocidal campaign[17] against the indigenous inhabitants. In a 2007 book, author De R. G. Crocombe wrote that an estimated 100,000 to 300,000 Papuans had been killed by Indonesian security forces,[11] and many women raped or subjected to other sexual violence.[18] Research on violence toward Papuan women[Note 1] by the Papuan Women's Working Group, together with the Asia Justice Rights (AJAR), found that 64 out of 170 (or 4 out of 10) Papuan women surveyed in 2013, 2017 experienced some form of state violence.[19] A more recent study in 2019 found that 65 out of 249 Papuan women shared such experiences.[Note 2][20][21] The UN has called for "urgent and unrestricted humanitarian aid to the region" in 2022, speaking of "shocking abuses" against local populations listing "child killings, disappearances, torture and mass population displacement."[22]
Indonesian governance in the region has been compared to that of a police state, involving the suppression of free political association and expression,[23] although others have noted conflicts in Papua are instead caused by the near or total absence of state involvement in some areas.[24]
The Indonesian authorities continue to restrict foreign access to the region due to what they officially claim to be "safety and security concerns".[25] Some organizations have called for a peacekeeping mission in the area.[26][27]