Gen TPN PB Mathias Wenda: "We are here to Defend Our Rights and Our People, not to Kill Ourselves."

If I am not Mistaken, those Who Normally Kill Papuans are the Indonesian Armed Forces, Did you Ask Them?

[WUTUNG-WPNews 1 January 2003) Gen TPN PB Mathias Wenda denied the accusation of the Indonesian military that he ordered the shooting against Papuans on 28 December 2002, and blamed the Indonesian military for creating violence in the "Peace Zone" that Papuans have declared. Gen. Wenda furthermore pointed out his previous comments that the Indonesian military forces are now well prepared and its militia gangs are well equipped with modern weapons to act against Papuan people along the border between West Papua and Papua New Guinea.

When WPNews read the statement from the Indonesian military forces, he responded by saying, "We are here to defend our rights and our People, not to kill ourselves We are defending our rights to live as human beings, the rights of all Papuan people and the rights of all beings. We are not offensive forces, we are not going to Jakarta or Bali and blow up bombs in places that are belong to the Indonesians. We are here in our own country, defending our own country and our people. What a foolish thing to do if we kill our own people whose rights we defend. What is the point speaking on their behalf and defending their rights by shooting them?"

Gen. Wenda then continues, "Can't the world see how Indonesia sets up scenarios to create violence in West Papua? It has successfully carried out ambush in Timika (30 August 2002), and they blamed us. They successfully started the shootings in Wutung on 16 December 2002 and they blamed us. They kidnapped and assassinated Theys Hiyo Eluay on 10-11 November 2001 and they pointed their fingers to us. They encouraged Papuan people to attack the police post in Abepura (7 December 2000) and they said we did it. They steered up war in Wamena on 6 October 2000 that cost more than 30 lives and they said the war began after Papuans carried out the attack. They poisoned Yafeth Yelemaken (May 2001) and they said he died because of illness. They poisoned Yusuf Tanawani (Mid 2000) to death and they said he had a heart attack. They tried to kill Theys Eluay in May 2001 by poisoning him and said he had a heart attack. They kidnapped and killed Arnold Ap (April 1984) and said he disappeared. They poisoned Dr. Thom Wainnggai (1996) and said he died due to sickness in Cipinang Prison, Jakarta. They kidnapped Benny Wenda (Secretary-General of Demmak) on 26 September 2002 and said we took him away from Abepura prison that they guard 24 hours. And now they shot the members of Papuan families and of human rights defenders of the Papuan people and blaming us again. Where is justice? Where is the truth? Does the world have its eyes to see these clearly? Can't the world understand these obvious crimes?"

WPNews furthermore wanted to know if his troops carried out the attack without his order. He replies, "The very important thing for you to understand is that we are here to defend our rights and our people's lives, just the same as ELSHAM does. Only our methods are different, but what are doing are exactly the same, so that we can live safely without continuous threats, intimidation and terror. How come that any Papuan fighters that fight for these people kill their own people? It is just as simple as that. If you understand this principle, you would not be asking me more questions to force me to say "Yes!" to your question."

He then continues, "Look, Indonesian armed forces carried out various acts of terror and intimidation along the border areas. They trained various groups of militia gangs here. They first used the opportunity when the Indonesian ambassador to PNG was passing to tell him that you are Papuan but you almost got killed by your own people. You are not safe. You must force the PNG government as the Ambassador of Indonesia to deal with the TPN/OPM. Now, we have an attack on the families of human rights defenders, just like the TPN/OPM, in order to claim that Yes, the situation along the border areas is unsafe, and therefore, PNG government must do something about TPN/OPM. The goal of these all is: To get the TPN/OPM out of Vanimo region, to bring back Papuan people who are already under serious death threat into the Indonesians' hands. That is the plan that the Coordinating Minister of Political, Social and Security said recently. That is the plan of Megawati. We are in our own Papuan land, we are not in Bali, nor Java. Just leave us alone, please!"

Finally, he apologised for the casualty and said, "My am not well equiped enough to protect my people's rights and their freedom to live as human beings. I am just using my traditional weapons, cannot really compete with the Indonesian armed forces. Beware that all over West Papua is not safe for you, until all Indonesian armed forces are out from this land."