Pigai urges TNI-Polri transparency over troop deployment in Papua

Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai has asked the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police (Polri) to be transparent about the number of personnel deployed to Papua, as a form of state accountability for the use of public funds as well as the fulfilment of the public’s right to information.

Pigai made the request after monitoring the situation on the ground and observing what he considered a fairly massive presence of security personnel, particularly in urban areas that should still provide space for civil liberties.

“I see the facts on the ground: there are more security personnel. I want the TNI and Polri to state how many personnel are deployed in Papua. I am saying this as Human Rights Minister so that the public knows — this is public money,” Pigai said in Jakarta on Monday.

According to Pigai, the deployment of security personnel to carry out state duties in confronting the Free Papua Movement’s National Liberation Army (TPN/OPM) is understandable.

However, he said the number of personnel needs to be measured if the deployment is carried out for functions outside combat duties.

Pigai stressed the need to ensure that the deployment of security personnel does not reduce the space for civil liberties and democratic life for the people of Papua.

According to him, this principle needs to be taken into consideration in every policy on the placement of security personnel.

“If the personnel are functioning to carry out work outside of that, and then a large number are deployed, it must be measured. Because we want civilian liberties. Democracy is number one. We want minimal, zero militarisation across the entire archipelago, from Sabang to Merauke,” Pigai asserted.

Pigai said transparency regarding the number of troops stationed in Papua is part of the government’s accountability to the public.

According to him, the information also relates to citizens’ right to know how state resources are being used.

He asked that information on the number of personnel deployed be conveyed openly, without making it a basis for accusing the authorities of excessive deployment.

“Why would one region have excessive deployment? But I do not want to accuse anyone of excess. At the very least, it must be stated that we are stationing this many troops as a matter of public accountability, the right to information for all Indonesian people, the right to know for citizens,” Pigai said.