In its place, they stay resolute to being by the side of Papuans in need of professional medical treatment and health services.
The strong commitment was voiced by several UI Medical School's alumni currently working in Papua during a recent teleconference held in which the medical school's dean, Prof. Ari Fahrial Syam, also joined.
Dr. Samuel Baso, SpPD, working with Provita Hospital in Jayapura, the capital city of Papua Province, has offered his services in the province since 1993 and stays committed to serving the people of Papua.
Baso affirmed that despite having entered retirement stage, he will continue to stay in Papua and work as an expert staff and lecturer at the University of Cenderawasih's Medical School.
Dr Rizky Aniza Winanda SpKJ, a psychiatrist at West Papua Province's Schoolo Keyen Hospital, admitted to feeling a sense of security in Sorong, as the city's condition was unlike what the media had reported. The media had blown the actual condition out of proportion in their reports, as not all parts of Papua were hit by unrest.
"The area where we reside is secure. There are many people of Makassar here, and the native Papuans receive those migrating to their land with open arms. On the day a violent protest broke out on August 19, 2019, the native Papuans protected us and the working staff at the local hospital," she noted.
In spite of this factual reality, Dean of the UI Medical School Professor Ari Fahrial Syam echoed the demand of working doctors in Papua for a safety and security guarantee to ensure optimal services are offered to those in need.
To this end, representatives of the Association of the UI Medical School's graduates had voiced their doctors' demand for security and safety to the Health Ministry’s authority, Professor Syam stated.
The Papua provincial administration has pledged to ensure the safety and security of working paramedics across the province after a senior medical doctor was killed following the riot and exodus of working paramedics in Wamena.
Secretary of the Papua Provincial Administration Hery Dosinaen stated that the provincial government had coordinated with the commander of XVII Cenderawasih Regional Military Command and Papua police chief.
The Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) had earlier appealed to security agencies and other related stakeholders as well as community members to guarantee the safety and security of working paramedics across Papua.
Their safety and security are of paramount significance to enable them to work optimally, Chairman of the IDI-Papua Chapter, Dr. Donald Aronggear, told Antara in Jayapura on September 26.
Aronggear remarked that all paramedics in Papua were mourning the death of 53-year-old doctor Soeko Marsetiyo in Wamena's deadly rioting that had erupted early this week.
Following Soeko's death, several doctors at the Wamena public hospital had sought leave from the hospital, which was understandable, since they too are humans and seeking a sense of security, he stated.
Wamena's deadly rioting took place during a rally that native Papuan students had staged on September 23.
Some 33 people, including a medical doctor, were killed, while at least 77 others sustained injuries due to the riot that had also compelled several thousand residents, mostly non-native Papuans, to take refuge.
The masterminds behind this deadly riot are allegedly members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), National Police spokesman, Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo stated.
The dead and wounded included non-native Papuans assaulted by rioters brandishing machetes and arrows.
EDITED BY INE