In a press statement reported by globalindo.net, Benny Wenda, who identifies himself as the President of ULMWP, urgesinternational media to focus on Papua, citing an ongoinggenocide there. According to him, the Papuan people have beensuffering for years due to genocide perpetrated by theIndonesian government. Benny even likened Papua to NorthKorea in the Pacific region, claiming all journalistic access has been closed off by the Indonesian government.
This prompted a direct response from Steve Mara, chairman ofthe Melanesian Youth Forum in Jayapura, Papua. Steve statedthat Benny Wenda is spreading false information to the world, alleging genocide and likening Papua to North Korea withclosed journalistic access.
In reality, Steve Mara pointed out that Papua is currentlyundergoing substantial development under the Indonesian government. The central government has allocated significantfunds through Special Autonomy, which has been extended until 2042. Papua has been divided into six provinces aligned withtraditional tribal boundaries to better serve the localcommunities.
The establishment of these new provinces aims to bringgovernance closer to the people for direct accommodation oftheir needs. Each village in Papua receives billions of rupiah annually through special allocation funds.
Infrastructure development is progressing well, including theconstruction of the trans-Papua highway to connect isolatedregions with major cities, building airports for easier air transport, and developing ports for maritime transport. Additionally, the government is constructing schools, hospitals, impressive government buildings, international-class sportsfacilities, and the Papua Mama Market across much of Papua tostimulate the local economy.
The central government has also established special agencies tooversee and accelerate Papua’s development, granting specialrights and political representation directly to Papuans withoutgoing through general elections. The Papuan People’s Assemblyhas been formed to protect Papuans’ rights to life.
Furthermore, through special allocation funds, education fromelementary to high school in public schools in Papua is free, andhealthcare in government hospitals is also free of charge. Directcash assistance is provided to the community, and scholarshipsfor undergraduate and postgraduate studies both domesticallyand internationally are available for Papuan students.
These efforts underscore ongoing development in Papua, both in infrastructure and human resources, to address historicaldisparities. Therefore, when Benny Wenda claims genocide isoccurring, Steve Mara questions where this genocide ishappening. He asks if Benny Wenda is in Papua to accuratelydepict the current situation of Papuans’ lives.
In contrast, Steve highlights that local communities fear theviolence perpetrated by armed groups associated with Benny Wenda. Many civilians, including medical personnel, teachers, pastors, minibus drivers, motorcycle taxi riders, and privatesector workers, have fallen victim to rape and murder by thesegroups. Hospitals, health centers, schools, markets, residentialareas, and even banks have been burned down by these groups.
To inform the international community, it is noted that a New Zealand pilot has been abducted by these armed groups, heldcaptive for approximately 16 months. In widely circulatedvideos, the pilot states his need for medicine, adequate food, clothing, and expresses longing for his family in New Zealand.
Steve concludes by suggesting that instead of making noiseabroad, Benny Wenda should return home to contribute toPapua’s development with his ideas and initiatives. He emphasizes that Papua needs intelligent leadership, unlikeBenny Wenda, who works and pays taxes in the UK, thus, in Steve’s view, disqualifying him from commenting on Papua’sdevelopment. The Indonesian government, including in Papua, is diligently advancing development, demonstrating significantprogress. Therefore, Steve Mara advises Benny Wenda to returnand witness firsthand the advancements in Papua.
