ConflictBarometer_2016

ASIA AND OCEANIA
placements for churches torn down the year before. Local
authorities claimed they had only allowed the construction
of tents for Christmas celebrations, while Church leaders denied
the existence of such an agreement.
On January 17, at least 100 people armed with machetes and
clubs attacked a church in Kampar, Riau province, destroying
the church's equipment.
In North Bekasi, West Java province, around 1,000 protesters,
referring to themselves as the Bekasi Islamic Forum, blocked
the construction of Santa Clara church on March 7. The following
day, the mayor confirmed the validity of the construction
permit. Protests resurfaced on August 8, when around 2,000
demonstrators from various Islamic groups rallied in front of
the Bekasi administration office. The office decided to halt
the church's construction and to reassess the validity of its
building permit, but did not revoke it.
On March 16, local authorities announced that they would
tear down 13 of the 14 remaining churches in Aceh Singkil
if the Christian community did not fulfill the requirements for
building licences until March 23. Christian community leaders
argued that obtaining the licenses would be impossible
due to lack of cooperation of local authorities, while the latter
denied these accusations.
In April, representatives of Christians in Aceh Singkil filed a report
with the National Commission on Human Rights, in which
they accused the local government of discrimination concerning
church construction permits, schools and courts.
The National Commission on Human Rights reported in June
that Islamic organizations in Bandung, West Java, had extorted
money from local churches for building permits. The
allegations were denied by several Islamic organizations. On
June 18, the Aceh administration and the Aceh Provincial Legislative
Council announced they would issue a sharia-based
bylaw on places of worship and guidance for interreligious
harmony until the end of the year.
A Muslim migrant from Bekasi, West Java, attacked an elementary
school in West Sabu, East Nusa Tenggara province,
on December 13, injuring seven children with a knife. Locals
captured the perpetrator and handed him over to a West Sabu
police station. Two hours later, thousands of people attacked
the police station and beat the attacker to death. Local religious
leaders called on residents to remain calm after the
incident. mhe
INDONESIA (PAPUA)
Intensity: 3 | Change: | Start: 1961
founded.
Throughout the year, Papuan and non-Papuan activists conducted
several protests in the two provinces. There were several
reports of maltreatment by the police, as well as vandalism
and violence by the protestors. For instance, secession
supporters rallied for the elevation of ULMWP's observer status
to full membership in the Melanesian Spearhead Group
(MSG) as well as for West Papua's independence. Between
April and December, police arrested a total of 4,078 activists
during protests linked to MSG meetings. Other protests were
held in connection with the anniversary of the 1962 New
York Agreement that incorporated West Papua into Indonesia
on August 15. Rallies were held throughout September,
demanding the Pacific Islands Forum to address human rights
abuses in West Papua at the UN General Assembly. On July
15, in Yogyakarta, eponymous Special Region province, police
confined Papuan students in their dormitory to prevent
them from participating in an event of the People's Union
for West Papua Freedom (PRPPB). On December 10, several
thousands protested to commemorate the international human
rights day. Police arrested nine protesters.
Suspected OPM leader Kelenak Telenggen was injured while
being arrested by the police on May 31. On January 3, police
killed two men while searching the attackers of a police
station in Sinak, Papua, on 12/27/15. At the end of March, 20
armed members of the West Papuan National Liberation Army
(WPNLA) attacked eleven road construction workers in Puncak
Regency, Papua, killing four. Between April and August, one
activist died in police custody and others were injured in police
operations. Moreover, two indigenous Papuans died in
incidents with police involvement in Papua. On October 17, a
Papuan separatist injured one military officer in a shootout in
Gurage, Papua. After indigenous Papuan demonstrators had
erected a street blockade in Manokwari, West Papua, on October
26, police killed one and injured six.
The same month, President Joko Widodo introduced a policy
to lower the fuel prices in Papua and West Papua to the same
level as in other provinces. mbe
JAPAN – CHINA (EAST CHINA SEA)
Intensity: 2 | Change: | Start: 1971
Conflict parties:
Japan vs. PRC vs. ROC
Conflict items: territory, international power, resources,
other
Conflict parties:
Conflict items:
OPM, ULMWP, KNPB, FRI-West Papua,
PRPPB vs. government
secession
The violent crisis over the secession of the provinces of Papua
and West Papua and resources, such as timber, gold and copper,
between mainly indigenous Papuans and the government
continued. The Papuans were represented by the Free
West Papua Movement (OPM), the United Liberation Movement
for West Papua (ULMWP), and the National Committee
for West Papua (KNPB). Additionally, on November 29, the Indonesian
People's Front for West Papua (FRI-West Papua) was
148
The non-violent crisis over international power and resources,
such as fish, oil, gas, and territory between the People's Republic
of China (PRC), the Republic of China (ROC), and Japan
continued. All parties repeatedly claimed sovereignty over
the contested Senkaku/Diaoyu islands. The PRC and Japan
sent patrol vessels into the area and increased their military
presence, while criticizing the intrusions of the other party.
While Japan doubled its amount of F-15 fighter jets in Okinawa
Prefecture in February and installed a radar facility on
Yonaguni Island in late March, the PRC built a new armed coast
guard vessel.
On January 17, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called