Urging Rights After PON, Demonstrators: If Unable, Change Acting Governor

Dozens of indigenous people in Jayapura Regency, Papua, demonstrate to demand payment for the use of their customary land used for the XX Papua National Sports Week (PON), October 2021.

The Monday afternoon action (24/01/2022) took place in front of Istora Lukas Enembe, Kampung Harapan, Sentani as well as alternative roads in Kampung Netar, Jayapura.

Protesters unfurled banners urging the Papuan provincial government to pay off their rights. They also asked the Central Government to appoint an Acting Governor if Governor Lukas Enembe was unable to answer the request of the adat community.

"Our action represents the entire community who owns customary land rights, where alternative roads and a number of PON venues have been built," said Biltje Mehue, SIP, S.Th, a protester, Monday afternoon.

The former member of the Jayapura Regency DPRD revealed that it was the first time he took the initiative to cross the location for the construction of the venue. At that time, he proposed that before the PON venue was built, the government would bail out their rights first.

"Yes, compensation for plants and customary land. But the district government then negotiated with us that it would be resolved,” he said.

After negotiations, the location bar was finally opened. "But all this time we were being toyed with," he said.
 
It didn't stop there, in November 2020, again Mehue together with hundreds of residents demonstrated at the Jayapura Regency Regent's Office, in Gunung Merah. At that time, they negotiated with the Regent of Jayapura Regency, Mathius Awoitauw.

“The regent met with us, indigenous people and tribal chiefs, and said that in March 2021, it would be completed. We're back. At that time, we agreed; Regent, Regional Secretary and Head of the Jayapura Regency Land Service," he explained.

But what happened, after the implementation of the PON, their rights were still ignored. Even then, the Papuan Regional Police Chief, Inspector General of Police Mathius D. Fakhiri had guaranteed that the rights of indigenous peoples would be paid after the PON.
 
"So, we asked. We need to convey this," he said.

Mehue said that if the Papuan government does not respond to their demands, Governor Lukas Enembe should be replaced with an Acting Governor who is able to accommodate the demands of the community.

"If the governor is in an unstable condition, maybe (the Central Government) can appoint a new official so that we can pay attention to our rights, we can't wait long, because we have promised repeatedly," he said.

At the end of 2021, a series of demands to the government regarding post-PON issues continued to strengthen.

The Indigenous Community of Kampung Ifar Besar, for example, demanded compensation for the construction of the Nendali-Yabaso Alternative Road section, as well as the Yehekulu pier.

The chairman of the Sentani Tribal Court of Jayapura Regency, Jackob Fiobetauw, said that the Papuan government should not let go of people's problems. He even plans to convey their aspirations directly to President Joko Widodo in Jakarta.

"We want the President to look at the problems after the Papua PON, especially in Jayapura Regency," he concluded.

SOURCE: https://nusantarainside.id/2022/01/24/desak-hak-pasca-pon-pendemo-jika-tak-capable-ganti-pencepat-gubernur/