Bishop Yanuarius Teofilus Matopai You of Jayapura has issued an urgent appeal for the safe return of displaced Papuans to their homes in the Oksop district ahead of the Christmas celebrations on Dec. 25.
His plea comes amidst ongoing displacement caused by military operations in the region, according to a report by Vatican’s Fides News Agency.
On Nov. 30, military forces launched a special operation against the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-PB), prompting hundreds of residents from Oksop to flee.
According to local sources, these individuals sought refuge in the Pegunungan Bintang regency in the Papua province of Indonesia.
While Pegunungan Bintang police chief Anto Seven recently stated that conditions in Oksop have “almost returned to normal” and assured that refugees could return without difficulty, Bishop You has contradicted these claims.
According to the Bishop, a joint assessment conducted by his diocese, the Franciscans’ Secretariat for Justice, Peace and Preservation of Creation, and the Department of Law and Human Rights of the Evangelical Church in Indonesia (GIDI), revealed ongoing challenges.
“The number of refugees has reached 401 people. Among them there are more than 30 children aged between two months and 12 years and 115 women, including several pregnant women and the elderly,” Bishop You said.
The Bishop emphasized that the continued presence of troops in Oksop is the primary obstacle to the displaced residents’ return.
“The presence of the troops prevents the displaced from returning to their hometowns,” he explained, describing the situation as “a humanitarian emergency” requiring “the utmost attention from everyone.”
Bishop You also called on the Pegunungan Bintang authorities to fulfill their responsibilities. “I appeal to the institutions of the Pegunungan Bintang regency to provide protection and assistance to the refugees while they await their return,” he urged.
This ongoing crisis has placed an additional strain on local resources as the refugees, most of whom are Christians, remain unable to safely prepare for Christmas in their homes.