Jayapura, Jubi – The Wio Students' Association (IMPW) in Jayapura has issued a statement calling for comprehensive measures to address recurring inter-community conflict in Jayawijaya Regency, the capital of Papua Highlands Province, following repeated outbreaks of violence between 2024 and 2026.

The statement was released in a written press release received by Jubi on Monday evening.

IMPW said the repeated clashes have resulted in deaths, the destruction of homes and public facilities, disrupted education, paralysed local economic activity, and undermined people's sense of security.

The organisation acknowledged that residents of Jayawijaya have gradually resumed their daily lives after two years of social conflict, but stressed that the absence of recent violence does not mean the underlying problems have been resolved.

According to IMPW, many residents continue to live with trauma, uncertainty and unresolved issues that have yet to be addressed comprehensively.

The group said schools in Wouma District and surrounding areas remain closed because the security situation has not fully improved, while recovery efforts for affected communities have been inadequate.

As an organisation representing students from the Wio-Hubula community, IMPW said lasting peace can only be achieved by addressing the root causes of the conflict, ensuring a just reconciliation process, supporting victims' recovery, and strengthening the state's role in guaranteeing public security and welfare.

Among its key demands, IMPW called on the Papua Highlands provincial government, the Jayawijaya regency administration, the Papua Highlands Regional House of Representatives (DPRP), and the Jayawijaya Regional House of Representatives (DPRK) to establish a special committee to resolve the Wouma conflict.

The proposed committee would be tasked with identifying the root causes of the conflict, formulating policy recommendations, overseeing reconciliation efforts, and ensuring a comprehensive and sustainable resolution.

IMPW also urged the Indigenous Peoples Institution (LMA), the Papua Highlands People's Assembly (MRP), the Papuan Customary Council (DAP), as well as religious leaders, women leaders and youth leaders, to strengthen calls for an end to tribal fighting, prioritise customary reconciliation, and promote peaceful dialogue to restore relations between communities in Wouma, Kurima and Lanny Jaya.

The organisation further called on the Papua Highlands People's Assembly, the Papua Highlands Regional House of Representatives, and legislative councils in the province's eight regencies to initiate and deliberate a Special Regional Regulation (Perdasus) on preventing and managing social conflict based on local customary values, including strengthening traditional conflict resolution mechanisms.

IMPW also urged the provincial and regency governments to immediately rebuild homes and public facilities damaged during the conflict, reopen schools that remain closed because of security concerns, provide trauma healing and psychosocial support for victims – particularly women and children – and restore livelihoods through sustainable economic recovery programmes.

The organisation called on security forces to ensure public safety by enforcing the law fairly and professionally against criminal offences, including widespread theft, without creating new fears among local residents.

It also urged the Jayawijaya regency government to move beyond emergency assistance by implementing long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes until affected communities have fully recovered.

IMPW appealed to the public, particularly young people, to reject all forms of violence, avoid being provoked by unverified information, and resolve disputes through dialogue, deliberation and customary values.

The organisation said it believes the people of Papua Highlands possess long-standing cultural values that should serve as the foundation for rebuilding trust, solidarity and lasting peace.

IMPW also pledged to continue supporting peacebuilding efforts, advocating for the interests of local communities, and encouraging the government and other stakeholders to adopt policies that protect the public and prevent future social conflicts.

Source: https://en.jubi.id/impw-outlines-demands-over-recurring-conflict-in-jayawijaya