Wukahilapok and Meagama Peace deal

Peace deal in Papua

Wamena (ANTARA) – Two war groups in Jayawijaya Regency, Papua Province, agreed to make peace after having fought three days in a row.

Jayawijaya Police Chief AKBP Dominggus Rumaropen in Wamena, Sunday, said the agreement was made at the Jayawijaya Police Headquarters.

“Saturday, (12/9) yesterday we had a meeting at the police station and thank you both parties for agreeing to make peace,” he said.

The police chief said the two parties agreed to make peace because until now they also did not know the perpetrators of the burning of the traditional houses or honai that triggered the war.

“If you want to be accused of Pelebaga, it is impossible because the distance is quite far so that after the dialogue, the public can measure for themselves that there is an error in accusing the next group of burning it,” he said.

From the mediation, both parties understood that war only brought suffering to the people there.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the two groups who agreed to end the war and also thanks to the members of the Jayawijaya Police, Brimob who had fallen up and down to maintain security at the border of the two villages,” he said.

The head of the Wukahilapok village war tribe, Lukas Wuka, said that he had ordered his war-ready residents to return to their respective villages.

“We are not at war anymore. As the chief of the Wukahilapok village in the Pelebaga District, I have stated that I will not command another war,” he stressed.

The chief of the Meagama Village War tribe, Simeon Elopere, admitted that he was disappointed because they did not continue the war, but as believers they surrendered everything to God.

“We leave this dissatisfaction to God. Later God will arrange for the sake of togetherness, security, comfort, so I, as the head of the war in Meagama Village, Hubikosy District, the war ended on Saturday, and it will not continue again,” he said.

Peace deal in Papua is not as easy as it seems because traditional war between two villages in the region has its own complexity, from culture and tradition, acceptance of fairness during the war, and the roots of the problems.