Pes Yanengga, Jayapura – Students from several regions in Papua have agreed to form the Papuan Customary Land Student and Youth Alliance of Concern or AMPPTAP to fight against the seizure of customary land and militarism.

The agreement to form the AMPPTAP began from a discussion about the National Strategic Projects (PSN) and their impact in various parts of Papua that was initiated by the Jayawijaya High School and University Students Association (HMPJ) at the Nayak III student dormitory in Jayapura City, Papua Province, on Monday evening October 6.

AMPPTAP General Coordinator Vara Iyaba said that they formed the AMPPTAP Front to respond to and articulate the issue of massive deforestation in the land of Papua.

"We will continue to consolidate and build a common strength to fight all forms of crimes, the AMPPTAP Front will work with students in several areas who are experiencing the same problems related to deforestation", said Iyaba.

"In the future, the AMPPTAP Front will hold an action in Jayapura city to reject all forms of attempts to seize natural resources in the land of Papua", he said.

Meanwhile, AMPPTAP deputy field coordinator Kamus Bayage said that none of the projects, especially the PSNs that have been carried out by the central government, have involved indigenous communities who have lived in the areas for a long time.

"Reading the situation in Papua regarding PSNs, we see that the government's (efforts) to involve youth or indigenous community figures are illegal, because those who participate in meetings discussing land do not come from local indigenous communities. Many are [just] in the name of indigenous peoples", said Bayage.

The central and regional governments are being asked to involve indigenous communities because PSNs are a serious threat to indigenous peoples.

"Because the presence of the PSNs in Merauke, Sorong and Keerom are a serious threat to indigenous communities, we don't want that to happen to Hubula communities, AMPPTAP was formed to respond to that", he said.

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Mahasiswa Tanah Papua Sepakat Membentuk AMPPTAP".]

Source: https://jubi.id/polhukam/2025/mahasiswa-tanah-papua-sepakat-membentuk-ampptap