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May 11, 2024

 Jayapura — The Papuan people reject a plan by the acting
Jayapura regent Purnomo Triwarno to move the grave of Papuan independence
leader and national hero Dortheys Hiyo Eluay. Theys Eluay’s grave, which is located at the Sere Sentani
field in front of the traffic lights at the entrance to Sentani airport, is
slated to be moved to Obhe Heleybhey Wabouw in Sere Village, Sentani
sub-district, Jayapura regency. Eluay is the former Chairperson of the Papuan Presidium
Council (PDP) who was found dead near the border in Skouw in November 2001
after being murdered by the Army’s Special Forces (Kopassus). West Papua National Committee (KNPB) spokesperson Ones
Suhuniap said he rejects the relocation of Eluay’s grave saying that Eluay does
not just belong to the Eluay family clan, nor does he just belong to the
Sentani people, but he belongs to all Papuans from Raja Ampat to Merauke. According to Ones, Eluay’s was buried in the Sere Sentani
field with the approval of the Papuan people as a form of respect for his
services in defending and fighting for the rights of the Papuan people, but
also as the great Ondofolo — the highest customary leader of the indigenous
people of Sentani. “His struggle ideologically was for Papua to be
independent in terms of economic rights, customs and the cultural rights of the
Papuan people. Meanwhile, one of the outcomes of his struggle was
Special Autonomy for Papua which today is enjoyed by the Papuan people, both
indigenous Papuan people as well as non-Papuan people in this land”, said
Suhuniap in a statement in Jayapura on Saturday May 11. Therefore said Suhuniap, the Papuan people reject the
relocation of Eluay’s gave from the Sere Sentani field to Obhe Heleybhey
Wabouw. “We the Papuan people reject the plan to move Dortheys
Eluay’s grave for any reason. We know very well that on November 10, 2021,
Dortheys was abducted along with his driver by Kopassus led by [Major General]
Hartomo, and 11 days after the murder then President Megawati [Sukarnoputri]
signed the 2021 Papua Special Autonomy Law.” This means, said Suhuniap, the murder was orchestrated
and planned. Because of this therefore, regional officials must
understand this and not arbitrary move the grave of the deceased to another
place. Thus the Papuan people reject this plan and for whatever
reason. – The Papuan people reject the plan to move Eluay’s grave
for any reason. – As a form of respect for developments, including Papuan
Special Autonomy that is enjoyed by Papuans and non-Papuans and was paid for
with his blood. Therefore, before any relocation it must first obtain approval
from the Papua People’s Council (MRP), the House of Representatives (DPR), all
Ondoafi and Ondofolo in the land of Tabi and the Papuan Traditional Council
(DAP). – Referring to points one and two, as a form of respect
for Dortheys Eluay, the Jayapura regency government must immediately built a
monument or statue of Eluay in front of the grave using Special Autonomy funds,
because he was a fighter for Special Autonomy. – The reason for moving the grave of hero Theys Eluay by
the Jayapura regency government does not make sense. It is as if Eluay’s grave
is a trash can that has to be cleaned up. The Jayapura regency government
should repair damaged roads and build shop houses in various places that damage
the face of the city of Sentani, instead of moving Eluay’s grave. – The relocation of Dortheys Eluay’s grave is not just an
insult to the dignity of the Papuan people, but also a form of harassment
against the social structure of the Sentani community. Because he is one of the
great figures, including the great Ondofolo of the Sentani community. – Eluay’s grave does not belong to the families of his
biological children alone, but to the entire Papuan people. Therefore, it needs
to be questioned by all Papuan people. – A call to the Papuan people to consolidate and mobilise
to reject the plan to move Theys Eluay’s grave. Earlier, Papua Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) Director
Emanuel Gobay condemned the plan to move Eluay’s grave saying that the basis
for the plan needs to be questioned. Moreover they will not hesitate to legally
challenge the move if the Jayapura regency government goes ahead with the plan. [Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the
article was “Rakyat Papua Menolak Pemindahan Makam Tokoh Besar Papua
Dortheys Eluay”.]