Identifying Special Committee Issues: Yorrys Meets Church Community and Papua Joint Defense Command III

31 July 2026 oleh admin

Timika, dpd.go.id – Yorrys Raweyai, Chairperson of the DPD RI Special Committee on Conflict Resolution and Humanitarian Affairs in Papua, held meetings with the Kingmi Gospel Church Community of Indonesia (GKII) Central Papua and the Joint Defense Command III for the Maluku and Papua Islands. The meeting aimed to gather input on the current situation and actionable steps to address the conditions faced by communities in conflict-affected areas.

During the meeting with GKII, the President of the GKII Synod, Hans Wakerkwa, stated that thousands of residents across various districts in the Puncak region have chosen to flee and abandon their homes due to the trauma of prolonged conflict. They live in fear and anxiety caused by the presence of non-organic security forces, which they view as intimidating rather than ensuring safety and peaceful living conditions for the locals.

“We request the DPD RI to summon the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) to explain their presence in the Puncak region. This includes explaining the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and the legal framework used as the basis for managing this conflict,” Hans emphasized in Timika on Tuesday (July 29, 2026).

GKII stated that the narrative claiming non-organic forces are there to protect the public from the West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB), Armed Criminal Groups (KKB), or the Free Papua Movement (OPM) starkly contrasts with the reality experienced on the ground by the community.

“We ask the government to honestly and openly acknowledge that alleged human rights violations have occurred during conflict management in Puncak. To prove this, various acts of violence must be resolved transparently in accordance with applicable judicial processes,” Hans added.

According to Hans, church communities spread across all districts in Puncak have witnessed acts of violence committed by non-organic forces, proving that the reality of this violence can no longer be tolerated. Consequently, GKII is also requesting open dialogue between Jakarta and Papua to identify and establish concrete solutions to resolve conflict and humanitarian issues in Puncak and across Papua.

Meanwhile, Commander of Joint Defense Command III, Major General Lucky Avianto, stated that the deployment of non-organic forces is an unavoidable necessity to anticipate potential conflicts and counter acts of terror carried out by the TPNPB or KKB in Puncak.

“The unsupportive security conditions forced us to take enforcement measures. Furthermore, the geographic terrain requires reinforcement and additional troops in areas that are difficult for organic forces to reach,” Lucky explained in Timika on Wednesday (July 30, 2026).

Lucky stressed that the presence of security forces aims solely to protect the public. All actions and measures taken by the military can be held accountable through supporting data and facts on the ground. Therefore, claims alleging that security forces commit violence against civilians are false.

“Narratives claiming non-organic forces commit violence against residents are baseless. These narratives are built by those who do not wish to see a safe and peaceful life in Puncak,” Lucky concluded.

According to Lucky, under current law, the TNI serves as a state instrument authorized to defend the country, protect sovereignty, maintain territorial integrity, and guarantee the safety of the nation. The TNI provides security assistance upon request, as has been conducted alongside the National Police (Polri) and other state institutions.

Lucky requested that these roles be clearly understood as part of a collective effort to sustain a better life for the public, including the TNI's involvement in Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW) to support government development programs.

Responding to the statements from both GKII and Joint Defense Command III, Yorrys affirmed that all input would be incorporated into future DPD RI Papua Special Committee meetings.

“As we enter the upcoming sitting period in mid-August, the DPD RI Papua Special Committee will review the full inventory of issues gathered regarding our mandate,” Yorrys said.

According to the Vice Speaker of the DPD RI, the Special Committee will reconvene after the recess period concludes. Following that, the committee will carry out its constitutional duties as mandated by the DPD RI Plenary Session on May 23, 2026. This includes conducting official visits to areas impacted by conflict and controversy surrounding National Strategic Projects (PSN), as well as inviting key stakeholders ranging from central and regional governments to civil society and cultural institutions involved in defense, security, and PSN policies in Papua.

“We will compile all inputs to be reviewed and discussed with the relevant parties. Ultimately, the Papua Special Committee will produce a set of recommendations to be submitted to the Central Government for follow-up,” Yorrys concluded.