Indonesia: Thousands displaced by military operations in Papua's central highlands
| Publisher | Norwegian Refugee Council/Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (NRC/IDMC) |
| Publication Date | 22 December 2011 |
| Cite as | Norwegian Refugee Council/Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (NRC/IDMC), Indonesia: Thousands displaced by military operations in Papua's central highlands, 22 December 2011, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4f0eded82.html [accessed 20 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Operations conducted since early December by the Indonesian security forces against rebel forces of the Free Papua Movement (or OPM) in Paniai regency in the Papua's central highlands have reportedly displaced significant numbers. The armed forces reportedly used grenades, heavy artillery and aerial bombardments during the offensive, which destroyed homes in 26 villages. Some 500 people fled in anticipation of the violence, and as many as 10,000 more may have been displaced from 130 villages during it, according to local sources.
Some displaced people sought refuge in the Enarotali area, and others with relatives. Many people are also likely to have gone into hiding in the forest. While some IDPs sheltering in the town hall in Enarotali may have received some assistance from local authorities, the majority have had to rely on help from host communities. The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has urged the government to withdraw troops from the area to allow the IDPs to return.
