Jayapura – Papuan political figure Laurenzus Kadepa said Papua is not only rich in natural resources such as gold and natural gas, but also home to Indigenous Papuans whose existence must be protected.
Kadepa, a former member of the Papua Regional House of Representatives (DPR Papua) serving the 2014-2019 and 2019-2024 terms, said Indigenous Papuans have a long history and identity as a distinct people, which he argued has been shaped by political processes that integrated them into Indonesia.
He made the remarks in response to a series of recent shootings allegedly involving security forces that have left several civilians dead across Papua.
In Dogiyai, for example, six residents – including children and elderly people – were reported shot dead between March 31 and April 2, 2026, during a police sweep operation.
The operation followed the killing of a police officer, Brigadier Second Class (Bripda) Jufentus Edowai, who died after being attacked with a machete by unidentified individuals in Kimupugi Village, Kamuu District, Dogiyai, on Tuesday (April 1, 2026).
A separate incident occurred in Puncak, where at least nine residents from Tenoti and Kumikomo villages in Kembru District were reported shot dead, and five others injured, following a military operation allegedly carried out by the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) on April 14, 2026.
"Papua is not only about wealth such as gold and gas. It is not just about Freeport Indonesia or LNG. There are people here, and Papuans have their own history and existence as a people," Kadepa said in an audio statement received by Jubi on Sunday (April 27, 2026).
Kadepa said such conditions are part of a long-standing pattern experienced by Papuans, dating back to the 1960s, and criticized what he described as the state's lack of response.
"We must acknowledge how the state or central government has responded over the years. When victims are in Papua, or when such situations occur here, they are often treated as something ordinary – 'it's just Papua.' So why bother addressing it?" he said.
According to Laurenzus Kadepa, this pattern continues today. He argued that if similar incidents occurred elsewhere in Indonesia, they would prompt immediate responses from the president and state institutions, even if the number of victims were smaller than in Papua.
He added that national media would also provide extensive and repeated coverage – something he said is lacking when incidents occur in Papua.
"This is the reality we have faced for years. For the incidents in Dogiyai and Puncak, I urge the president to take a wise and serious approach in addressing Papua," he said.
Kadepa reiterated his call for the central government to evaluate its security policies in Papua, arguing that the current approach has harmed local communities.
"Papuans do not need more security operations. What they need are proper healthcare services and quality education," he said.
He also urged the National Commission on Human Rights Indonesia to establish an independent fact-finding team, involving neutral and credible institutions, to investigate the shootings in Dogiyai and Puncak and ensure accountability.
He said identifying the perpetrators should not be difficult, as some victims survived and witnessed the incidents firsthand, but emphasized that a thorough investigation remains necessary.
"The president must speak out, because Papuans are human beings like any other Indonesians and have their own existence as a people. Their dignity and presence must be respected," Kadepa said.
He also expressed appreciation for Elvis Tabuni, Regent of Puncak, who recently traveled to Jakarta to raise humanitarian concerns affecting his region directly with the central government.
During the visit, Tabuni, along with Puncak Regional Legislative Council (DPRK) Speaker Thomas Tabuni, met with Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai and submitted key demands, including details of victims affected by the violence.
"The regent's willingness to express his grief publicly is commendable. He is not only a regional leader, but also a community elder and traditional figure in Puncak. It is natural for him to feel this deeply, and we hope he can help bring justice to his people," Kadepa said.
Source: https://jubi.id/pacnews/2026/not-just-gold-kadepa-urges-protection-of-lives-in-papua