2003 Wamena incident

Wamena Incident

Part of the Papua conflict
| Date| 4 April 2003

|

Location|

around Wamena, Jayawijaya Regency, Papua

Belligerents
Indonesia|  Free Papua Movement[a]
Casualties and losses
2 dead
1 heavily injured[1]|  Unknown
51 civilians killed[b]
38 heavily injured[1]

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Papua conflict

1960s

* Arfai, 1965
* Sadar, 1965
* Bharatayudha, 1966
* Wibawa, 1968
* Act of Free Choice, 1969

1970s

* Pamungkas, 1970
* Jayapura, 1976
* Baliem Valley, 1977

1980s

* 1984 refugee crisis
* Gagak, 1986

1990s

* Mapenduma, 1996
* Timika, 1996
* Biak, 1998

2000s

* Wamena, 2003
* Yalengga, 2003
* Abepura, 2006

2010s

* Paniai, 2014
* Mimika, 2017
* Nduga, 2018
* Cartenz's Peace, 2018
* Mugi, 2019
* 2019 protests

2020s

* Maybrat, 2021
* Kiwirok, 2021
* Beoga, 2022
* Nogolait, 2022
* Timika, 2022
* Oksibil, 2023
* Nduga, 2023
* Gome, 2024
* Intan Jaya, 2024

The 2003 Wamena incident (Indonesian: Peristiwa Wamena 2003) involved a sweeping operation and forced relocation of civilians around the town of Wamena by the Indonesian Army and the Indonesian National Police following a raid on an armory. The operations lasted for around two months following the raid, displacing thousands of civilians and resulting in the deaths of around fifty civilians from various causes.

## Incidents

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The raid occurred on 4 April 2003 at around 1 AM,[2] launched by an unidentified mob, against the armory of the Wamena District of the Indonesian Army.[1] In the raid itself, 29 rifles were stolen by Papuan rebels alongside 3,500 rounds of ammunition.[1][3][4] During the raid, two Indonesian soldiers were killed and one was heavily injured.[1]

Between April and June 2003, sweeping operations were launched around Wamena, affecting 25 villages.[1][3] The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) estimated that nine civilians were killed and 38 were heavily injured.[1] Torture and destruction of property and public facilities were also reported.[1][5] Around 7,000 villagers were forcefully displaced, and 42 died due to starvation during this period.[1] Reports characterized the operations as not discriminating locals and those involved in the rebel movement.[6]

## Aftermath

[edit]

Investigations of the human rights violations during the incident was launched by Komnas HAM following approval by then-president Megawati Sukarnoputri.[3] However, as of 2019, the violations have not went to court.[7] The events have been referred to as Tragedi Wamena Berdarah (Bloody Wamena Tragedy).[8]

Five men arrested and imprisoned for their alleged involvement in the 2003 raid were given clemency by Indonesian President Widodo during one of his visits to Papua in May 2015.[9]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Initial raid
2. ^ 9 as a direct result of the operations, 42 due to starvation following relocations[1]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Sitepu, Mehulika (21 February 2017). "Bagaimana kronologis tiga kasus 'pelanggaran HAM berat' di Papua?". BBC Indonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved 23 November 2019.
2. ^ "MENGENANG TRAGEDI WAMENBERDARAH, 4 APRIL 2003" (in Indonesian). KontraS. 3 April 2010. Archived from the original on 2 September 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
3. ^ a b c "West Papua: Police, Military involved in Papua Abuses". The Jakarta Post. Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization. 9 August 2004. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
4. ^ "Komnas HAM Temukan Pelanggaran HAM Berat di Papua". Tempo (in Indonesian). 2 September 2004. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
5. ^ "Gov't Must Address Policy Miscalculations on Papua: Report". Jakarta Globe. 8 November 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
6. ^ "Dynamics of Conflict and Displacement in Papua, Indonesia" (PDF). Refugee Studies Centre. 2006. p. 44. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
7. ^ "Jaksa Agung Ungkap Hambatan Penyelesaian Kasus HAM Berat". CNN Indonesia (in Indonesian). 7 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
8. ^ Widhana, Dieqy Hasbi (13 June 2017). "Jokowi Tak Serius Tuntaskan Pelanggaran HAM Berat di Papua". tirto.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 23 November 2019.
9. ^ Domínguez, Gabriel; Poling, Gregory (12 May 2015). "A look at the Papua conflict - Indonesia's 'low-level insurgency'". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 23 November 2019.

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