Jayapura – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) central management has stated that the terror attack that occurred at the KNPB central secretariat in Kampwolker, Waena, Jayapura city, Papua, was part of a widespread pattern of intimidation against activists and civil liberties.
The incident, which is suspected to be an exploding bomb, occurred in the early hours of Monday March 16 after an object was dropped using a drone in the yard of the KNPB secretariat.
KNPB General Chairperson Agus Kossay believes that the repeated pattern of attacks with increasingly sophisticated methods indicates the involvement of certain organised parties.
"The series of attacks ranging from the use of homemade bombs, drones, to intimidation of journalists and human rights activists is a form of open terror that threatens press freedom and democratic space in Papua", said Kossay in a statement on Tuesday March 17.
Kossay emphasised that this incident does not stand alone, but is related to a number of other incidents that have befallen journalists and human rights defenders. This includes the Molotov cocktail attack on the Jubi editorial office on October 16, 2024, and the recent acid attack on activist Andrie Yunus on March 13.
According to Kossay, this series of events is a systematic attempt to silence human rights defenders and media workers, even though their protection has been guaranteed in various national and international legal instruments, including the Indonesian Constitution and a number of international conventions.
A similar view was expressed by KNPB Central Chairperson I Warpo Sampari Wetipo. Wetipo said the explosion occurred about two meters from the office wall while the KNPB members inside were resting.
"The loud sound of the explosion woke us up and also shocked the local residents. A hole was formed at the location like a small pond due to the explosion", he said.
Wetipo explained that a number of pieces of evidence were found at the scene, including pieces of black metal plate, cardboard, duct tape and small nuts and bolts which are thought to be part of the explosive device. All the findings have been documented by KNPB members.
This incident, said Wetipo, adds to the list of violence that previously occurred at the same location. On January 17 the central KNPB secretariat was attacked by a Molotov cocktail by unknown persons that caused a fire on the wall, before KNPB members succeeded in extinguishing it.
In that incident, the perpetrators fled using a car that was waiting in front of the location, while a number of pieces of evidence such as fuel jerry cans and gloves were found at the scene.
The KNPB strongly condemns this series of terrorist acts and views these actions to be a form of curbing democratic space and a violation of human rights in the land of Papua.
They are urging the authorities, especially the Papua Regional Police (Polda), to immediately and thoroughly investigate the perpetrators, including the intellectual actors behind the attack. In addition, the KNPB is calling for an end to all forms of intimidation against activists, humanitarian workers and journalists.
The KNPB is also asking for an independent investigation involving international parties, to uncover cases of human rights violations and guarantee the protection of civil liberties in the land of Papua.
"We emphasise that security and civil liberties must be guaranteed for all people, especially human rights defenders and members of the press in Papua", said Kossay.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Teror Bom Sekretariat KNPB Sinyal Operasi Terorganisir Bungkam Aktivis Papua".]
