The ABC gains rare access to Indonesia's West Papua province, speaking with Papuans ahead of the inauguration of Indonesia's new president — a former military general accused of historic human rights abuses.
It was September 2021, and the Indonesia n military were hunting Papuan separatists."We know, we've learned from our brothers in the mountains, when conflict occurs, what kind of approach the military takes," she said.Ms Faan now lives in a camp for displaced people in Sorong, the largest city in the Indonesia n province of West Papua .
The ABC's The Pacific program gained rare access to West Papua and was able speak with locals who said they felt neglected. Earlier this year, the UN published a report expressing concern about "the use of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment" against Papuans. In yet another sign West Papua has become increasingly militarised, there have been reports the Indonesian army has been deployed to ensure a major development project in Merauke district can go ahead without resistance.
Usman Hamid, the executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia, said environmental degradation was an "existential threat to the people of West Papua".West Papua is rich in copper, oil and fertile soils. It's also home to one of the world's biggest gold mines.Despite their mineral wealth, Papua and West Papua provinces have the highest rates of poverty in Indonesia.
"President Jokowi's legacy in West Papua is a disappointment … the number of displaced people, the intensity of the conflict has never been this high before," Ms Koman said.
Separatist Indonesia Prabowo Subianto Papua Military Human Rights Papua New Guinea
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