Abeth You, Paniai, Jubi – Students from Kampung Waa, Tembagapura Sub-district, who are currently studying in Australia request the Indonesian Military and Police officers to release the arrested villagers. They argued that those people are civilians and have no connection with the separatist movement.

"The Waa villagers who have been captured by the Indonesian Military since April 1st are ordinary people," Felix Degei, a student studying in Australia, told Jubi on Thursday (14/3/2018).

Degei, who is also an alumnus of the University of Cenderewasih, stated that the military must also declare that a 45-year-old civil servant, the late Timothy Ombak; a 10-year-old Heri Banal; and a 9-year-old Iron Omabak are innocent civilians who are victims of military operations.

Another student Araminus Omaleng said the military should make both oral and written announcement stating that Waa villagers can do their daily activities without any suspicion.

"Kampung Waa is the ancestral land of the Amungme people. Therefore, the military has to stop threatening the local community," he said.

Moreover, he asked PT. Freeport Indonesia and Indonesian Military to be responsible for providing compensation to all facilities that have been damaged and burned in the military operations.

Kampung Waa comprises four villages located near the mining area of PT. Freeport Indonesia in Tembagapura Sub-district, Papua. (*)

Source: http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/papuan-students-in-australia-ask-military-to-release-waa-villagers/