Jayapura, Jubi – Residents of Kuyawage District in Lanny Jaya Regency, Highlands Papua Province, have declared their opposition to the presence of non-organic Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel in their area and across Papua in general.

Chairman of the Youth Department of the West Papua Baptist Church, Akias Yas Wenda, said the declaration was made during a seminar held by the Upaga Baptist Church in the Kuyawage region on 9–10 June 2026.

According to Wenda, the presence of non-organic military posts has created fear among residents, disrupted community activities, and negatively affected education, healthcare services, economic activities, and church ministry.

“There are a number of active military posts in Kuyawage, West Wano, Agandugume, Nduga, Balingga, and Goa Balim districts, with hundreds of personnel deployed. Their presence disrupts civilian life and limits the space for Indigenous communities to carry out their activities,” Wenda said in a written statement on Sunday (14 June 2026).

He said the presence of non-organic military personnel has hindered teaching and learning activities at several schools and disrupted healthcare services at community health centers, as many service providers and residents have experienced trauma.

According to him, teaching and learning activities at Kuyawage State Senior High School have been inactive since 2025. At Gwijangge State Junior High School, educational activities have not operated consistently since 2017. Similar conditions have affected Alea State Elementary School since 2023, and Kuwome Elementary School and Mume Inpres Elementary School since 2026.

“Teachers have left the district for urban areas, causing educational activities to come to a halt,” he said.

Wenda said a similar situation has affected healthcare services. The Kuyawage Community Health Center (Puskesmas) has been inactive since September 2025 after the facility was allegedly damaged by non-organic military personnel. The West Wano Community Health Center has never operated since its construction in 2023.

“Services at the Balingga Community Health Center are operating on a limited basis, while the auxiliary health center has yet to officially begin operations. In Goa Balim District, healthcare services are being provided at a TNI post,” he said.

The Youth Department of the West Papua Baptist Church and local residents declared their rejection of the presence of non-organic TNI personnel on customary land and church-owned land.

They also opposed the construction of military posts at airports, on customary land, and within places of worship. They called on the President of Indonesia and the House of Representatives (DPR RI) to immediately withdraw non-organic military personnel, arguing that their presence has created fear and adversely affected civilian communities. (*)