The Promise of the Director of LBH Papua Merauke
John Teddy Wakum, the Director of LBH Papua Merauke, made a solemn pledge to lead his organization in assisting the people of South Papua in their pursuit of justice. He delivered this promise alongside the Director of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), Muhamad Isnur, and the Director of LBH Jayapura, Emanuel Gobay, during the Declaration of the Establishment of LBH Papua Merauke on March 13, 2025.
Prior to this, Indigenous representatives had entrusted a spear, bow, and arrow to Isnur and Emanuel Gobay, who then passed them on to John Teddy Wakum. Additionally, nine Indigenous leaders from South Papua bore witness to the establishment of LBH Papua Merauke.
The handover of these symbolic weapons represented the trust of South Papua’s Indigenous communities in LBH Papua Merauke to lead them in their struggle for justice. The Indigenous groups present included representatives from the Auwyu, Marind Animha, Yei, and Muyu Mandobo tribes.
The declaration of LBH Papua Merauke was part of the Merauke Solidarity Consolidation event, held from March 11 to 14, 2025, at the Petrus Vertenten MSC Center on Jalan Raya Cigombong, Kampung Kelapa Lima, Merauke District, South Papua.
Approximately 300 representatives from NGOs and Indigenous communities affected by the National Strategic Project (PSN) attended. The PSN-affected community representatives came from Jambi, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, and Papua. They shared their experiences as PSN victims, emphasizing how government projects in their regions had led to displacement and environmental destruction.
Several civil society organizations participated in the event, including Bentala Pusaka, YLBHI, Walhi, the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN), Trend Asia, KPA, and LBH.
Janji Direktur LBH Papua Merauke
Direktur LBH Papua Merauke John Teddy Wakum mengucapkan janji bahwa dia akan memimpin lembaganya untuk membantu masyarakat Papua Selatan memperoleh keadilan. Janji tersebut disampaikan didampingi oleh Direktur Yayasan Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Indonesia (YLBHI) Muhamad Isnur dan Direktur LBH Jayapura Emanuel Gobay di acara Deklarasi Berdirinya LBH Papua Merauke pada 13 Maret 2025.
Sebelumnya perwakilan masyarakat adat menyerahkan tombak, busur, dan panah kepada Isnur dan Emanuel Gobay. Tombak dan panah tersebut selanjutnya diserahkan ke John Teddy Wakum. Selain itu, sebanyak 9 tokoh adat Papua Selatan menjadi saksi berdirinya LBH Papua Merauke tersebut.
Penyerahan tombak, busur, dan panah tersebut adalah simbol kepercayaan masyarakat adat di Papua Selatan kepada LBH Papua Merauke untuk memimpin mereka menuntut keadilan. Masyarakat adat yang hadir antara lain dari perwakilan Suku Auwyu, Suku Marind Animha, Suku Yei, dan Suku Muyu Mandobo.
Deklarasi berdirinya LBH Papua Merauke itu merupakan salah satu rangkaian acara Konsolidasi Solidaritas Merauke yang diadakan pada 11-14 Maret. Acara tersebut diadakan di Petrus Vertenten MSC center, Jalan Raya Cigombong, Kampung Kelapa Lima, Kecamatan Merauke, Papua Selatan.
Sekitar 300 orang perwakilan dari NGO dan masyarakat adat korban PSN dari seluruh Indonesia hadir. Perwakilan masyarakat korban PSN berasal dari Jambi, Kalimantan Tengah, Kalimantan Timur, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Maluku, dan Papua. Mereka berbagi cerita mengenai kondisi mereka yang menjadi korban PSN. Proyek pemerintah di daerah mereka justru menyebabkan masyarakat tergusur dan merusak lingkungan.
Sejumlah organisasi masyarakat sipil yang ikut serta dalam kegiatan tersebut antara lain Bentala Pusaka, YLBHI, Walhi, Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara, Trend Asia, KPA dan LBH.
