JAYAPURA - Papua Governor Lukas Enembe appreciated Amnesty International for criticizing the human rights situation in Papua, more specifically related to gold mining plans in Blok Wabu, Intan Jaya, Papua.

"On behalf of the Provincial Government of Papua, I appreciate Amnesty International for paying attention to the land of Papua and the Papuan people. This is important to further understand the human rights situation of Intan Jaya," Enembe said when receiving an Amnesty International delegation at the Papua Provincial Government Liaison Agency office, Jakarta, Friday (05/27/2022), as the release received by the editor.

In the meeting, Enembe was accompanied by the Head of the General Bureau of the Papua Provincial Government, Elpius Hugi and the Head of the Liaison Agency of the Papua Provincial Government Alexander Kapisa.

Enembe is in Jakarta for work meetings and regular health checks.

Amnesty is represented by Regional Office Director Erwin Van der Borght, National Office Director Usman Hamid, representative of Amnesty Australia, O'Connor and Amnesty New Zealand, Margaret Taylor, and the board of one of the oldest and largest human rights organizations.

To Amnesty, Enembe explained that he continues to follow the situation of Intan Jaya. Enembe was not surprised if the people interviewed by Amnesty expressed fear of losing customary land.

"I also received reports of Intan Jaya residents who were worried about losing customary land. Reasonable. Papuans are farmers. The economy is populist like Mohammad Hatta, the proclamator of the Republic of Indonesia who I respect and was once exiled to Boven Digoel, Papua. Even if it is only one year away from taking office, I will try to preserve the land of Papua," Enembe said.

"I also support law enforcement to do its job in Papua so that there is justice. Regarding the gold mining plan in the Blok Wabu, I have written to the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources to temporarily stop the licensing process. The content of my letter is similar to the recommendation of the Amnesty report, which is to be temporarily suspended until the situation is safe," Enembe said.

The Governor of Papua has sent a letter numbered 540/2044/SET dated February 18 to the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) regarding the Temporary Suspension of the Blok Wabu WIUPK Process. Here is an excerpt of the letter.

"The Papua Provincial Government needs mining investment to accelerate regional development, mining activities that are capital-intensive and technology-intensive. However, because the investment is high risk, legal certainty and conducive safety factors are needed so that they can develop mining activities properly and correctly."

"But unfortunately the security conditions that occur in Blok Wabu, Intan Jaya Regency, are currently not conducive. Therefore, we have asked the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources to temporarily stop the administrative process of WIUPK for Blok Wabu until the creation of a security situation for the local community."

"The Papua Provincial Government will re-coordinate once security conditions improve," the letter concluded. ***