by Oktovianus Pogau
January 7, 2013
Merauke, Papua: Anis Jambormase, a family member of female pastor Frederika Metalmeti (38 years old), is questioning the legal process against the shooting of their child in Boven Digoel, Papua, on 21 November 2012.
“We still have hope Danrem (KomanDan Korem or Battalion level Commander) 174/ATW from Merauke and the Commander XVII from Cenderwasih will close the legal proceedings.”
When contacted by Suara Papua (
suarapapua.com) on 7 January 2013, a statement was delivered by Jambormase in Tanah Merah, Digoel, Papua.
According to Jambormase, through Danrem 174/ATW Merauke, the TNI has confirmed one of the shooters was from the military. Accordingly, the TNI has pledged to fire any corrupt officers.
“Our family will continue to wait for the trial to take place in the Supreme Military Court in Jayapura”, said Jambormase.
Meanwhile, when contacted by the media this afternoon, Lieutenant Inf Jansen Simanjuntak from Cenderwasih, claimed all suspects had already been handed over to the military in Mahmil (Mahkamah Militer or Courts-Martial / Military Court).
Speaking on the telephone, “The military in Mahmil are currently going through the files. If they’re satisfied, the trial will be held in the near future”.
According to Kependam, since the beginning of the trial, the Commander vowed to proceed with the case. Any individual members who commit such acts will be severely punished.
“We ask for the family to believe in the Commander’s promise, he is not messing around with this case, the legal proceeding will take place”, said Lieutenan Inf Jansen Simanjuntak.
A hospital official who had conducted an autopsy on one of the victims said gunshot wounds and bruises were found on the body.
There were three shots to the body: the head, the left chest and right arm. Sharp tools had caused bruises and cuts on the face.
When the national Commission on Human Rights met Commander XVII Major General Zebua Christian from the Cenderawasih military on 30 November 2012, he promised to severely punch rogue member of the military, and that a dismissal process will be considered.
(Translated by West Papua Media volunteer translators)
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January 9, 2013 | Categories: News alert, syndication | Tags: arbitrary killings, arbitrary shooting., Boven Digoel, brutality, corruption, Court Martial, excessive use of firearms, Frederika Metalmeti, Gross Human Rights Violations, Human Rights and Liberties, Impunity, Indonesian National Armed Forces, Indonesian State Violence, Kopassus, Merauke, Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate, MIFEE, military justice, murder, oil palm, Tanah Merah, TNI | Leave A Comment »
Tabloid Jubi
by Benny Mawel , Editor : Victor Mambor
January 6th, 2013
A spokesperson for the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) has claimed that the detention of a number of KNPB activists and the addition of more KNPB members’ names to the Wanted Persons List has been done purely in the interests of the Papuan political elite.
Photo caption: Wim Medlama (in blue hat) with Hakim Pahabol, West Papua National Parliament member, and KNPB members during their press conference.
KNPB stated that the political elite, along with the Regional Police Chief, are trying to place the blame activists and the broader Papuan community [for the lack of democracy].
“Papuan police are suppressing democracy in order to favour the Papuan political elite. It is in the elite’s interest that the people of Papua are being victimised. Many members of society and of KNPB have had their names added to the Wanted Persons List,” KNPB’s spokesperson Wid Medlama said during a press conference on Saturday (5/1), at the Cafe Prima Garden, Abepura, Jayapura, Papua.
KNPB are urging the Regional Police Chief to free a number of KNPB activists and remove their names from the Wanted Persons List. “Clear the names of all KNPB members and activists from the wanted list, and free those detained without clear evidence,” Wim said.
According to the KNPB, the people of Papua wish to have the freedom to fulfil their aspirations and to go about their lives without anyone having to suffer. Space for the people to express themselves collectively must be made available by the government. Without this space, the government cannot talk about a ‘democratic country’ or a ‘democratic society’.
“A democratic space is needed for the people of Papua. Without it, there is no point in [calling ourselves] a democratic nation. What is the meaning of becoming a democratic nation if there is no democracy for the people?” added Hakim Pahabol, a member of the West Papua National Parliament.
(Translated by West Papua Media translators)
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January 7, 2013 | Categories: News alert, syndication | Tags: arbitrary arrests, Australian military training, civil resistance, Daftar Pencarian Orang, Democracy, Detachment 88, DPO, excessive force, excessive use of firearms, Human Rights and Liberties, Impunity, Indonesian State Violence, knpb, Papuan people, POLRI, Rebellion/Subversion charges, right of free expression, village burnings, Wamena, West Papua National Committee | Leave A Comment »
January 4, 2013
by OKTOVIANUS POGAU of SuaraPapua.Com
ANDREAS HARSONO, Indonesia Consultant for Human Rights Watch. (FOTO: RIDHA/SuaraPapua)
SUARAPAPUA, Jakarta - Human Rights Watch (HRW) consultant for Indonesia, Andreas Harsono, questioned the actions of the Indonesian security forces whose shootings led to the death of 22 members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) during the year 2012; 55 people were arrested, and hundreds of others were injured.
‘Given that 22 KNPB members died from shootings, dozens were arrested and unknown hundreds were injured, there has been no transparent judicial process, and no internal mechanism to question police procedures in Papua, we have to raise the question of whether this repression of the KNPB is legal?’.
The statement was re-affirmed by Andreas, when interviewed by suarapapua.com on Thursday 3rd Jan 2013). According to Harsono , the police may justify their actions by incriminating KNPB members in violence, attacks on transmigrant settlers and security forces, but they still need to make their case transparent.
“The problem for police is working with transparency – can the police show this? At the same time, the KNPB needs to carry out an internal investigation in response to police accusations of involvement in violence’, he said.
Harsono also hopes that the organisation led by Victor Yeimo will quickly announce the outcome of the investigation, along with decisions to dismiss KNPB members found to be involved in acts of violence. As previously quoted, the KNPB head Victor Yeimo has stated that 22 KNPB members were killed in 2012 by Indonesian forces, 55 arrested and many among them are currently listed on the police wanted list.
(Translated by West Papua Media translators)
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January 6, 2013 | Categories: News alert, syndication | Tags: Andreas Harsono, arbitrary arrests, arbitrary killings, Australian military training, black operations, brutality, civil resistance, Densus88, destablisation, Detachment 88, excessive force, excessive use of firearms, extrajudicial execution, HRW, Human Rights and Liberties, Impunity, Indonesian State Violence, knpb, Orang Terlatih Khusus (OTK), Rebellion/Subversion charges, right of free expression, security approach to political freedom, security crackdown, torture, Victor Yeimo | Leave A Comment »
December 18, 2012
Bintang Papua
(see important editorial note below)
Jayapura: The fatal shooting of an activist of the KNPB, Hubertus Mabel, has been condemned by his family and by the KNPB – National Committee of West Papua – as unlawful. According to the law, if a person is deemed to be engaged in unlawful acts, he should be arrested and charged before a court of law but this did not happen in the case of Mabel and his colleague.
A spokesman for the KNPB, Wim Medlama, said that Hubertus had been immobilised by being shot in the legs. The security forces then pushed him into a police van where he was tortured and stabbed.
When he was arrested along with Natalis Alua, the two of them did nothing to resist arrest yet nevertheless they were shot.
‘We understand,’ said Medlama, ‘that Hubertus was severely beaten and stabbed in the chest. Natalis was also badly injured and is now being treated in hospital,’ said Medlama. He accused the security forces of acting without having any thought for the lives of their victims. ‘The security forces behaved like sadists and won’t even allow members of his family or his KNPB colleagues to see his body or demand an autopsy.’
Hubertus and his colleagues were not involved in the attack on Pirime Lanny Jaya. His activist colleagues believe that the police were feeling very frustrated and had opened fire on Hubertus and his colleague out of a sense of revenge for the deaths of three members of the police force who died during an attack on the Pirime police station.
‘The scenario was to convict Hubertus for showing resistance but this is simply not true.’ According to the law, a person should be taken into custody and brought before the court, not shot dead.’
‘When taking someone’s life, the police should be able produce powerful evidence before taking the law into their own hands like this,’ said Medlama.
If Hubertus did violate the law, he should be tried, not shot dead as happened to Mako Tabuni.
‘What the security forces are trying to do is to stamp out the issue of Papua Merdeka but the way they behave is having precisely the opposite effect, making Papuans more determined than ever to achieve an independent Papua.’
‘For every single Papuan who is murdered, a thousand Papuans will rise up and struggle for their freedom,’ said Medlama
‘They have accused us of being terrorists but we don’t have any bombs yet the allegations still persist. We have no idea what other tricks the security forces have up their sleeves in order to discredit us and the people of Papua, he said.
[Translated by TAPOL]
(West Papua Media Note: despite WPMs article yesterday on the fake journalism (allegedly done by a staff member with connections to Indonesian intelligence agencies) that made it through Bintang Papua’s editorial process, WPM can verify each and every statement made in this report is accurately reported, as we have received independent statements from the KNPB that verify this, and of course WPM broke the original story. All our syndicated articles from Papuan media outlets must go through the same verification standards as our other sources, and we must take the time to point out that the majority of reporters at Bintang Papua are professional journalists and are not Indonesian intelligence agents. We do believe there needs to be a tightening of their editorial process however to eliminate fake journalism – same as any media outlet.)
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December 19, 2012 | Categories: News alert, syndication | Tags: arbitrary shooting., Australian military training, brutality, Detachment 88, excessive force, excessive use of firearms, extrajudicial execution, Human Rights and Liberties, Impunity, Indonesian State Violence, knpb, Mako Tabuni, Rebellion/Subversion charges, torture, village burnings | Leave A Comment »
Report of Human Rights Investigation by Monitoring Team from LP3PH (Institute for Research and Development of Legal Aid), Manokwari, as assembled from various local sources and members of the victim’s family.
December 6, 2012
Wednesday 5 December 2012, the weather was overcast without rain, seeming to restrain the usual busy activities of the local population, government and private company staff, white and blue collar workers, market traders, farmers, fishers, schoolkids and students, plus the security forces: army, police and intelligence.
From early morning the atmosphere was tense: from about 07.00 to 09.oo [Papua time] groups of local people could be seen moving to blockade various major road intersections in Manokwari Town. Primary official routes like Jl. Yos Sudarso, [near Sanggeng in front of the Bank Mandiri, Bank BRI and Bank Papua complex] as far as the three-way intersection on Jl. Merdeka & Jl. Gunung Salju [Makelew Fanindi complex] were blocked by mobs using wood, old tyres set on fire, tables, and tree branches, all thrown on the road. Various intersections of roads heading out to the residential areas of Fanindi beach [beside the Swissbel Hotel], Arkuki [beside the Bahagia store], Sanggeng market, and Jl. Serayu Sanggeng were blockaded by a populace brewing with anger.
While the atmosphere in Manokwari has been tense there has never been any trouble between groups in civil society or between the local community and the security forces. Several witnesses said that ‘people are very emotional, they are making these protests because of the shooting of Timo Ap’. The police secretively shot and killed Timo Ap, and then took his body to his house in Wirsi, Manokwari.
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![Demainus Waney [red circle] in the hands of authorities after demanding the crowd to break up using a loudhailer](http://westpapuamediaalerts.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/heboh_manokwari5.jpg?w=150&h=87)
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Demainus Waney [red circle] in the hands of authorities after demanding the crowd to break up using a loudhailer
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Timo AP’s coffin is returned to the people by the Police
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The atmosphere at Jl. Siliwang in front of the West Papuan Governor’s office: many street traders’ sites have been smashed and burned.
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![The victim Timo Ap has been bandaged around the chin after death [rigor mortis]](http://westpapuamediaalerts.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/foto0071.jpg?w=150&h=112)
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The victim Timo Ap has been bandaged around the chin after death [rigor mortis]
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Mrs Nelestin, the victim’s aunt, opens the victim’s clothing to show his wound.(LP3PH)
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Several news sources in Manokwari reported that the victim had been shot in the head, however it is clear there is no injury to his head.
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A wound has been stitched in the stomach where the victim was shot
All Photos: LP3PH/West Papua Media
Chronology
A chronology of events has been put together as follows, from various civilian sources including the family of the victim Timotius Ap:
1) More than 3 days ago the victim Timotius Ap, grandson of the late Timotius Ap, [former area head of Wirsi complex in West Manokwari], returned from Java to Manokwari: in Java he had been staying with family and working as a Marine;
2) Timo Ap returned home to Manokwari with his wife Iwanggin;
3) Timo was rarely present at the Wirsi house, he was mostly elsewhere due to being on the DPO [Wanted List], related to various cases that the Police accused him of;
4) On Tuesday, 4 December 2012, as morning was turning to midday, Timo Ap was hanging out with his friends at Wirsi and wanting to eat areca nuts [?] but after eating them, his friends cannot account for his whereabouts;
5) By the evening of 4 December, at around 09.00 Papuan time [21.00?] Timo was received and treated at the Dr Azhari Hospital [Navy Hospital] Manokwari;
6) Around 10.00 [22.00?] Papuan time on 4 December, a friend of the family brought a message to Timo’s aunt Nelestin Ap, to ‘please come to the hospital to see Timo, whether he is still alive or already dead’. So then Timo’s aunt and other relatives hurried to the Navy Hospital but on the way they passed police and medical vehicles taking Timo’s corpse home to his grandmother’s house at Jl. Simponi Rindu, Wirsi, West Manokwari;
7) On arriving at the house, there was only the victim’s grandmother, in her 70’s, living alone. She had no idea that her grandson’s body was being brought to her house. ‘The employees bringing in the corpse said nothing at all to the grandmother’, and then those employees just left the coffin there and went off;
8) After several minutes the aunt and several of the victim’s loved ones arrived, or came back from the hospital and cried hysterically upon seeing the body wearing only underpants and a clean T-shirt that he had been dressed in. His friends said that he had no other clothes apart from the clean T-shirt and underpants he had been dressed in. At the hospital he had been wrapped up in bandages around his chin and neck as though he were injured, but there appeared to be no injury to his neck, chin or head in general. His only wound was discovered to be on his stomach near the centre, where a surgical incision to remove the projectile [bullet] had been stitched up.
9) By 11.30 the news had started to spread widely, that the victim Timo Ap had been shot dead by Police, and the local community began arriving to pay their respects and condolences.
10) In the morning at about 06.00 [Papua time] various family members began blockading the route into Wirsi [Jl. Simponi Rindu]. Blockades then spread to various road junctions in Manokwari, while the local daily paper MEDIA PAPUA released in its Headline news that Timo Ap had been shot dead by the OPNAL [Professional Operations Team] of Polsek [Police sector] Manokwari town at Maripi beach, South Manokwari district at about 16.00 Papua time. This was due to his opposing the officers with an improvised pistol; he was killed with a shot to the head;
11) From around 07.00 to 09.00, Papua time, the community closed off the main roads of Mankwari such as Jl. Yos Sudarso, Jl. Merdeka, the route to Sanggeng settlement, Jl. Siliwangi, Jl. Soedjarwo Condronegoro [?], Jl. Gunung Salju [heading to Ambun];
12) At the same time, activities in Manokwari came to a complete standstill. The business centre, Hadi department store, Orchid Swalayan, the market, stalls and shops were closed en masse by their owners. Offices also shut their doors – the Manokwari Regency Government office of West Papua province, schools, banks: from early this morning until mid-morning as this report is written;
13) At 10.00 Papua time, large groups began violent action, smashing shops along the length of Jl. Yos Sudarso and Jl. Merdeka as far as Jl. Siliwangi. Tens of buildings along the road suffered quite serious damage, and many cars and motorbikes were wrecked by the mob;
14) Around 12.00, as the mob moved towards the town centre right in front of the West Papuan governor’s office, patrols of Brimob [mobile brigade], Dalmas Polres [area police] backed up with Indonesian Army forces were seen closing off the intersection that the crowd wanted to pass;
15) A local man, Demianus Waney held a megaphone in front of the security forces, asking the crowd to disperse and go home…. ‘I say go home’… said Demianus Waney….. but hearing those words, the crowd became more worked up. In the process of their demonstrations against Demianus Waney, a number of buildings, restaurants owned by transmigrants around the harbour and PT Pelni [national shipping line] became targets of their anger;
16) The police, Brimob and TNI [Indonesian army] started to rush forward but were stopped by an attempt at negotiation by a priest, who said he had been the victim’s priest [i.e. Timo Ap who had been shot and killed]. However at the same time Demianus Waney said that every avenue had been tried already, inviting the armed forces to action;
17) The security forces then moved forward to break up the crowd. The police, Brimob and soldiers using trucks, paddy-wagons and Barracuda vehicles moved rapidly to take over the main road that had been controlled by the mob;
18) Around 13.00, Papua time, the situation had become calm and back to normal.
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December 7, 2012 | Categories: Briefing by Papuan Civil Society members, Human Rights Report, News alert, Urgent Action | Tags: arbitrary killings, arbitrary shooting., brutality, excessive use of firearms, extrajudicial execution, Human Rights and Liberties, Impunity, Indonesian National Police, Indonesian State Violence, Manokwari, Police violence, riots, torture | Leave A Comment »
AH-64 Apache (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Press Release
Contact: John M. Miller, +1-718-596-7668; mobile: +1-917-690-4391, john@etan.org
Ed McWilliams, +1-575-648-2078, edmcw@msn.com
March 30, 2012 – Ninety organizations today urged the U.S. government and Congress not to provide deadly attack helicopters to Indonesia. Indonesia has announced that it plans to buy eight AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from the United States.
The groups warned that the helicopters will escalate conflicts in Indonesia, especially in the rebellious region of West Papua: “Providing these helicopters would pose a direct threat to Papuan civilians.”
The Indonesian military (TNI) regularly conducts “sweep operations,” involving attacks on villages where innocent villagers are forced from their homes. The groups write that “Papuan civilians either flee the attacks to neighboring villages or into the surrounding forests where many die or face starvation, cut off from access to their gardens, shelter, and medical care.” Sweep operations are now underway in the Central Highlands region of West Papua.
The letter was organized by the U.S.-based East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) and the West Papua Advocacy Team and signed by human rights, religious, indigenous rights, disarmament and other organizations based in 14 countries.
Signers include: Faith-based Network on West Papua, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Peace Action, International Lawyers for West Papua, Land Is Life, KontrS (Indonesia), and Pax Christi Australia. A complete list of signers can be found here: http://www.etan.org/news/2012/03helicop.htm
The AH-64 is designed for air to ground attack. It can operate day or night and is armed with high caliber chain guns and equipped to fire missiles.
ETAN was formed in 1991. It celebrated its 20th anniversary this December 10, advocates for democracy, justice and human rights for Timor-Leste and Indonesia. See ETAN’s web site: http://www.etan.org
Text of Letter
As organizations concerned about human rights in Indonesia and West Papua, we are writing to urge the U.S. government and Congress not to allow the sale of AH-64 Apache attack helicopters to the Indonesian military (TNI). Providing these helicopters would pose a direct threat to Papuan civilians, who have been the target of deadly TNI assaults for many years.
The sale of this weapons system to the TNI — notwithstanding its long record of disregard for civilian casualties, corruption, human rights violations and impunity in East Timor, Aceh and elsewhere — would only increase the suffering of the Papuan population.
Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin told the Antara news agency, that Indonesia intends to buy eight AH-64 Apache helicopter from the United States.
The heavily-armed AH-64 is a highly lethal weapon which can be used to escalate conflict within Indonesia and in West Papua. These aircraft will substantially augment the TNI’s capacity to prosecute its “sweep operations” in West Papua and thereby, almost certainly lead to increased suffering among the civilian populations long victimized by such operations.
TNI “sweep operations,” including several now underway in the Central Highlands region of West Papua, involve attacks on villages. Homes are destroyed, along with churches and public buildings. These assaults, purportedly to eliminate the poorly armed Papuan armed resistance, force innocent villagers from their homes. Papuan civilians either flee the attacks to neighboring villages or into the surrounding forests where many die or face starvation, cut off from access to their gardens, shelter, and medical care.
The AH-64 is designed for air to ground attack. It can operate day or night and is armed with high caliber chain guns . It is also equipped to fire missiles.
Congress must be notified of major weapons sales. We urge Congress to oppose the sale of these helicopters.
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March 30, 2012 | Categories: News alert, Press Release, Urgent Action | Tags: Antara, Apache gunships, Congress, East Timor and Indonesia Action Network, excessive use of firearms, ground attack helicopters, human rights, Impunity, indonesia, Indonesian National Armed Forces, Indonesian State Violence, Papuan people, TNI, united states, US Foreign Policy, US Military Aid, US Military Cooperation, village burnings, west papua | 3 Comments »
Bintang Papua, 20 August 2011
KNPB, the National Committee for West Papua, is scheduled to announce
the results of the meeting organised by ILWP, International Lawyers for
West Papua in Oxford, at 9am this morning , at the tomb of Theys Hiyo
Eluay.
Bintang Papua also reported that Major-General Erfi Triassumu, commander
of the XXVII/Cendrawasih Military Command, said he has not yet had any
reports about the results of the ILWP meeting in Oxford, but said that
the ILWP event has triggered events affecting the security situation,
especially in Papua.
In a meeting with the press, he said that promises made by various
groups were causing confusion among the population. It was not only
because of the armed activities of civilian groups that had occurred
before and after the ILWP meeting. The security situation had indeed
intensified throughout Papua recently, which had happened both before
and after the ILWP meeting.
Other factors were the election of the governor of Papua as well as the
special autonomy law – OTSUS. People were hoping that OTSUS funds would
be evenly distributed among the communities, although some of the funds
could not yet be released.
He said that he along with the police chief in Papua had together
committed to doing what they could to restore a conducive situation in
Papua.
Meanwhile, the district chief of Puncak Jaya, Lukas Emenbe. called on
everyone whatever their differing opinions to hold a dialogue in order
to agree on peaceful solutions. ‘ All these problems can be resolved,’
he said, ‘as long as we publicly express our opinions.’
The military commander, asked whether there would be an increase in the
number of troops in preparation for the forthcoming Idul Fitri [the last
two days of Ramadan] said that organic troops may carry out routine
movements because the Korem under Battalion 751 in Sentani does not
have special units available for security purposes.
Asked about the manoeuvres by armed groups which had been involved in
fighting in urban areas such as in Nafri, he said because of the current
civil emergency status, the police would be in the front line together
with the local government, because the govrnor, the district chief and
the city mayor are the ones who are responsible for security.’
‘I will assist if there is a request from the police for additional
personnel to help the police,’ he said.
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August 23, 2011 | Categories: News alert | Tags: arbitrary arrests, brutality, civil resistance, criminalization of peaceful dissent, excessive force, excessive use of firearms, Human Rights and Liberties, Impunity, Indonesian National Armed Forces, Indonesian National Police, Indonesian State Violence, Jayapura, knpb, Komite Nasional Papua Barat, National Committee for West Papua, Papua, Papuan people, POLRI, Puncak Jaya, summary justice, Theys ELuay | 3 Comments »
from Westpapuamedia.info and Local Sources
Indonesian Police and Army from a joint taskforce opened fire on a car of West Papua independence activists in Abepura, West Papua, on August 18, after arresting three other activists from the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) for distributing pamphlet in support of demonstrations planned for August 20.
The shooting occurred when KNPB (Komite Nasional Papua Barat) members attended the Jayapura police headquarters to check on the welfare of detainee Octovianus Mayor. Mayor was arrested by members of the joint TNI/POLRI taskforce at 1000am local time at Expo Waena, for distributing pamphlets for a planned announcement on August 20 of resolutions from the Oxford ILWP “Road to Freedom” conference, at the grave of the late Theys Hiyo Eluay in Sentani. Mayor is the Secretary General of the Timika Region KNPB.
Colleagues of Mayor went by car to Abepura police station upon hearing of his arrest to ensure his safety. Demi Asso, Soni Kosa and several friends asked police guarding a post at Abepura of the whereabouts of their friend, whose location was given by police at District Police Jayapura. After they left the police station and drove towards PolRes Jayapura. According to witnesses, police followed the activists from the police station, and began to shoot at their car, a black Avansa.
Police quickly pursued the KNPB activists vehicle, which was fired on by police officer Bripka Numberi at 12.000 midday, at Abepura circle, Jayapura, Papua.
Bripka Numberi allegedly fired indiscriminately in pursuit of the vehicle,shooting 10 rounds into the rear of the car, 4 rounds through the windscreen, 6 rounds into the rear bumper and 1 round in the wheel, causing the Avansa to stop. The vehicles occupants panicked and ran, according to a a KNPB witness report and chronology obtained by West Papua Media. The police continued to open fire on the unarmed group, shooting Demi Asso, Soni Kosay in the feet. The three other unidentified activists did not sustain bullet wounds, and police arrested all immediately. At around 13:00 the two shot KNPB activists and three others were taken to the Jayapura Police for further processing.
KNPB have appealed for support from international human rights observers, lawyers and NGOs to press for a credible investigation into the circumstances of this arrest and the excessive force used by Police to capture unarmed activists.
Nick Chesterfield, local sources
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August 20, 2011 | Categories: News alert | Tags: arbitrary arrests, brutality, civil resistance, criminalization of peaceful dissent, excessive force, excessive use of firearms, Human Rights and Liberties, Impunity, Indonesian National Armed Forces, Indonesian National Police, Indonesian State Violence, Jayapura, knpb, Komite Nasional Papua Barat, Papua, Papuan people, POLRI, summary justice, Theys ELuay, west papua media alerts | 4 Comments »
The Indonesian State is responsible for the shooting of three civilians in Dogiyai
(JAKARTA, Friday, May 13th 2011) – The Anti-Militaristic Papuan Students’ Coalition urges the Head of the National Police to immediately dismiss the Heads of Papua provincial police, Nabire regency police and Moanemani district police after the shooting of three civilians that occurred in Moanemani district, Dogiyai regency, Papua.
This was stated by Frans Tomoki from the Anti-Militaristic Papuan Students’ Coalition during a press conference at the KontraS office, Jln. Borobudur No. 14, on Friday, May 13th.
According to Frans, shooting incidents have been occurring for nearly one month but haven’t been clarified yet. He also criticized the brutal behavior of the police officers who shot at civilians without warning.
“There must be a warning before shooting, but the police directly opened fire without thinking of the possible consequences. This can be categorized as a serious human rights violation.”
According to Agus Okama Kosay, human rights violation have been going on in Papua since the territory was forcefully merged into Indonesia. “From 1961 on there have been human rights violation and tensions keep rising.”
In the Reformasi era, all the more since the implementation of the Special Autonomy Law, human rights violations should have decreased. But this eventually didn’t materialize. As compared to the Ancient and New Order eras, the Special Autonomy era is even worse.
“Why do Papuan people think that the Special Autonomy is a total failure? Because human rights violations keep occurring and the central government never tried to solve this problem,” Agus explained.
The Anti-Militaristic Papuan Students’ Coalition also urges the international community to lobby the Indonesian government to take responsibility for the frequent serious human rights violations in Papua, including the shooting incident in Dogiyai regency.
Images of shooting sites, Dogiyai (IMages courtesy of witnesses on ground)
“The international community must lobby the Indonesian government to thoroughly investigate several human rights violations in Papua,” Agus added.
The shooting of three civilians by police officers took place on April 13th, 2011, around 1.30 pm. It began as police officers raided a togel [illegal lottery] kiosk in Moanemani market housing complex. They seized the money belonging to the togel vendor who was just known as an agent working in fact for police members.
A group of people refused this and followed the police car to the district police station. The upset police officers shot at three civilians and wounded two others, directly in front of the district police station. Dominikus Auwe (24), Otniel Yobe (26) and Agus Pigay (24) died, while two of their friends were critically wounded.
As a consequence, local people were angered and torched the Moanemani district police station as well as several kiosks belonging to migrants from other islands, including the illegal lottery kiosk operated under the names of First Brigadiers I Made Sudarsa and Eka. Papua provincial police sent two Brimob [Mobile Brigade] platoons to secure the area in Dogiyai and investigate the involvement of police officers but to date, no further clarification was provided. (**)
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May 15, 2011 | Categories: News alert | Tags: 753 Battalion, arbitrary arrests, Australian military training, brimob, brutality, Chief of police, Densus88, Detachment 88, Dogiyai, excessive force, excessive use of firearms, extrajudicial killings, human rights, Human Rights and Liberties, Impunity, indonesia, Indonesian State Violence, Nabire, Papua, Papuan people, right of free expression, summary executions, village burnings, west papua, `mysterious' killings | 4 Comments »
WEST PAPUAN PEOPLE’S UNITED STRUGGLE FRONT (WPPUSF) –
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE
(EKNAS FRONT PEPERA PB)
Secretariate: Padang Bulan II – Abepura – Jayapura – Papua
=============================================================================
“Together for the History of the Star of the East”
Press Release
“Military and Police called upon to immediately restore sense
of security to the people of Kamuu Valley”
In the aftermath of the bloody tragedy that began on April 13 2011, the people of Dogiyai Regency have fled their homes. On April 13 and 14, TNI (Indonesian Military) and POLRI (Police) units killed two local civilians (Dominikus Auwe and Aloisius Waine) and left three others in critical condition (Otin Yobe, Matias Iyai and Albert Pigai). According to information obtained on April 15, joint Military/Police operations have combed several villages in Dogiyai, razing at least ten homes and destroying crops and livestock. In an ongoing situation of effective all-day curfew in Moanemani, the capital town of Dogiyai, it is difficult to gather information about these incidents and it is therefore still impossible to confirm the exact number of people who have been killed as a result of these Military/Police sweepings.
Military and Police troops with full combat weaponry continue to be deployed to Dogiyai Regency from surrounding regencies, including Deiyai, Nabire, Paniai and Timika; meanwhile Papua Provincial Police headquarters in Jayapura sent a platoon (two trucks) of troops on Sunday April 17. Constant troop convoys are running between Moanemani and Paniai in a show of force on the part of the Indonesian Military and Police while villages surrounding Moanemani are combed by the troops. Moanemani and surrounding districts are quiet, with the local population in hiding. All government activities have ceased, including schooling. Not a single person can be seen in Moanemani, save for soldiers and Brimob (Police Mobile Brigade) officers firing their weapons into the air.
All local civilians have fled to villages in nearby regencies, and many have sought refuge in the forest. As a result, local people are suffering starvation and sickness that has led to several deaths, including that of eight-year old Detianus Goo who had escaped into hiding with his mother. This child, from Putapa Village, Kamu Selatan District, Dogiyai Regency, died on April 16 at 9 AM (Papua time). Besides him, Rosia Goo, a 40-year old woman who fled from Mauwa to Udekebo to seek safety, died in Udekebo on April 16. Meanwhile, residents of Kimupugi and Ikebo whose physical conditions of old age or disability prevented them from fleeing have been in a severe state of torment, under threat of police violence. Local Police threatened to attack homes if the weapons seized by residents were not returned by April 18 2011.
This drastic situation began to be rectified when the DPRP’s (Papua Provincial Legislature) Join Team, led by Commission A head Ruben Magai, travelled to Dogiyai on April 18 2011 and conducted meetings with local government leaders including Papua Police Special Team as well civil society representatives in Moanemani on Tuesday April 19 between 9 AM and 2:30 PM at the Regent’s (Bupati’s) office. During this meeting, the DPRP Joint Team asked all parties, including local communities as well as Military and Police to maintain security, refrain from selling and consuming alcohol and gambling. Meanwhile, local community representatives asked Papua Police and the Cenderawasih Division Military Commander to immediately pull all troops out of Dogiyai Regency, including “organic” (locally-based) and “non-organic” (deployed from other regional bases) troops. They demanded that the local police chief be the only state officer permitted to carry a firearm, and offered to gather and return all weapons stolen by local civilians to the President as these weapons are the tools of the State, however they asked to meet the Papua Provincial Police Chief first. This meeting in Moanemani ended after some commitments were agreed upon, including: 1) to return a sense of security to the local population of Kamuu, Dogiyai; 2) all Military and Police units to be pulled out; 3) all local economic and administrative activities to be resumed; 4) stolen weapons to be returned to the President, with DPRP as well as DPRD (Regency Legislature) asked to facilitate the transfer.
The DPRP Joint Team, led by the Commission A head accompanied by various DPRP members, Papua Human Rights Commission Vice-Head Matius Murib and Church representative Yones Douw (Coordinator of Justice and Peace for the Synod of Kingmi Papua Church), as well as student and youth envoys, began yesterday afternoon to circulate around the Kamuu Valley, asking local residents to return from their refuges in nearby forests and villages. Today, regular local activities began to return to normal. Still, the security situation has yet to fully return to normal given that the arbitrary violent sweepings by Security Forces over the past days have left local communities with severe trauma. To respond to the current situation in Dogiyai Regency, we urge the following actions to be taken:
1. Military and Police immediately restore a sense of safety to the local population of Kamuu Valley, Dogiyai Regency;
2. Immediately pull all Military and Police troops out of Kamuu Valley so as to allow local people to feel secure;
3. Heads of Security Forces at the Provincial and Central (Jakarta) level, especially Papua Police Chief and the President of the Republic of Indonesia immediately accept responsibility for the deaths of two civilians who were shot to death (Dominikus Auwe and Aloysiuis Waine) as well as shooting victims (Matias Iyai, Albert Pigai and Otin Yobe) who are in critical condition at Nabire Hospital;
4. President of the Republic of Indonesia immediately replace all troops currently deployed from the District to the Provincial Level in the Land of Papua;
5. Gambling managers disciplined firmly and the perpetrators of the shootings of civilians fired and punished according to the law;
6. Dogiyai Regency Government and Papua Province Governor accept responsibility for material destruction (homes, crops, etc);
7. Provincial Government and DPRP in the Land of Papua immediately issue a Provincial Ruling banning illicit alcohol, gambling, bars and casinos in the Land of Papua so as to preserve security, order, morals and faith in humanity.
That is our press release, expressed with full sincerity in the hopes of immediate follow-up action by relevant actors.
Port Numbay: Wednesday, April 20 2011
“Unity Without Limits, Struggle Until Victory”
SELPIUS BOBII
(Public Head, WPPUSF (Front PEPERA PB))
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April 20, 2011 | Categories: News alert | Tags: AMPTI, brimob, brutality, Detachment 88, Dogiay, excessive use of firearms, Front Pepera, genocide, human rights, Human Rights and Liberties, Impunity, indonesia, Indonesian National Police, Indonesian State Violence, knpb, Komite Nasional Papua Barat, Paniai, Paniai Regency, Papua, Papuan people, POLRI, TNI, torture, village burnings, west papua, west papua media alerts | Leave A Comment »
JUBI, 16 April 2011Following a number of shootings of inhabitants in the district of Dogiyai in the past few weeks, the place is now like a ghost town. Many of the inhabitants along with their wives and children have left town.
‘All the offices are closed and nothing is happening here any more.because all the inhabitants have fled,’ Hanen Sendu, head of public relations of the district, told Bintang Papua over the phone.
He said that during sweepings by the police and the security forces, a number of houses were burnt to the ground.. ‘This is now regarded as a ‘red’ (ie highly dangerous) zone by the security forces,’ he said .
According to inhabitants from Dogiyai, a number of homes near the Moanemani building where agricultural training was taking place have been burnt down by security forces who were sent there by Brimob based in Enarotali. ‘They arrived from Enarotali and burnt down people’s homes,’ according to a source in the area.
Many young people from Dogiyai are not going to school any more because the security forces have spread fear among the local people.”The women and children have also left. ‘We were being shot at all the time and we were very afraid, so we have left Dogiyai,’ they said, according to a brief message received from the area.
A member of the local legislative assembly, Frits Agapa said that young people were also afraid and have fled into the forests and to kampungs in a nearby district.
‘This is not a war, but when the security behave like this, nobody would want to accept such treatment.’
A few young people who remained in Dogiyai say that they are afraid to leave their homes because they are afraid of being shot at just like their colleagues were shot at a few days ago.
‘The security forces are shooting people for no reason at all,’ said one person living in the area.
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JUBI, 17 April 2011
The association of students from the Central Highlands has urged the police to take action quickly in response to the tragedy that happened last Wednesday.
‘Besides taking action against all those who have been shooting local inhabitants, the chief of police should also place Togel port under special protection and put an end to the sweeping operations.’ said the chairman of the association, Andreas Gobai.
He also said that the police should put a stop to all the gambling and drinking in Dogiyai and other districts.
‘If he fails to do so, then he should resign for failing to act responsibly regarding the Moanemani case and other incidents that have occurred here in this region.’
Gobai said that his association is pressing for a comprehensive solution in this case.
Three days after the incident, the situation in Moanemani and the vicinity is still not conducive. Many local inhabitants are panic-stricken and have been forced to leave their homes, although everything had been very peaceful until now..
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JUBI, 16 April 2011
Following the shootings and sweepings by the police and members of the TNI, a few days ago in Dogoyai, some families were shocked by the discovery of the bodies of two young men, Kris Pigome from the Pouwouda kampung and Markus Goo, the son of the chief of Tuwaida kampung. Their bodies were found covered with terrible injuries, near the Nabire Trans highway, about 18 kms from Nabire district.
Their families have been informed of the tragedy.
‘It happened last night. We had advised them not to go to Dogiyai, but they were insistent on going because they wanted to return home to their kampungs, but they were murdered on the way,’ said Vincen Goo, one of the relatives who was contacted by JUBI.
How they died is still a mystery.
‘We have just come from the hospital and we dont know why they were killed. But it is clear that they were murdered,’ said Vincen. The bodies are due to be taken to the homes of the families in Nabire who are now in mourning.
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JUBI, 17 April 2011
Following the shooting dead of civilians in Dogiyai, the local people are shocked that the local government have not said anything about this incident.
‘People here are naturally very afraid because since that incident, there has been no attempt to close off the area by the security forces, bearing in mind that members of the security forces have shot some local people dead.
‘If local government leaders had been at their posts and were concerned about the local people, this shooting might never have happened.’
As someone who comes from the area, Petrus Agapa has also expressed his deep concern about the situation . ‘There are other ways to solve problems like this, not by shooting people,’ he said.
The local people have lost all confidence in the local government .
Until now, neither the acting bupati nor other local officials have taken any action to resolve the problem.
‘It seems as if officials in Dogiyai are just hoping that officials from the provincial government will come along and solve the problem,’ said Agapa.
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April 20, 2011 | Categories: News alert | Tags: amnesty international, AMPTI, brimob, brutality, Detachment 88, Dogiay, excessive use of firearms, genocide, human rights, Human Rights and Liberties, Impunity, indonesia, Indonesian National Police, Indonesian State Violence, knpb, Komite Nasional Papua Barat, Paniai, Paniai Regency, Papuan people, POLRI, TNI, torture, village burnings, west papua, west papua media alerts | 4 Comments »
http://tabloidjubi.com/index.php/daily-news/seputar-tanah-papua/11794-dua-pemuda-dogiyai-ditemukan-tewas-misterius
Jubi — After shootings and sweeps by rogue police officers and personnel of the Indonesian National Army (TNI) a few days ago in Dogiyai, families and residents currently in Dogiyai are again surprised by the discovery of two bodies of known identity.
The two bodies found were from Kampung Pouwouda, named Kris Pigome and Mark Goo, the children of the Tuwaida Village Head, Southern District of You, Dogiyai District. They were both found dead last night (15 / 4) in the path of the Trans Nabire – Ilaga road, 38 kilometers Nabire.
This incident was known by the family. “It happened last night. They both have advised us not to leave the house or do not make the trip to Dogiyai. But they are two stone heads. Those two seem to travel to return home. But they were killed in the middle of the journey toward Dogiyai,” said Vincent Goo, a family member who contacted JUBI, Saturday (16 / 4).
Until now the cause of death is a mystery for both victims. “We were from the hospital Siriwini (Nabire). We do not know why and who to kill? But clearly they were both killed, “said Vincent. Until this story was written two bodies will preach from the bottom to the family’s funeral home in the city of Nabire. (Wells)
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April 20, 2011 | Categories: News alert | Tags: AMPTI, brimob, brutality, Detachment 88, Dogiay, excessive use of firearms, genocide, human rights, Human Rights and Liberties, Impunity, indonesia, Indonesian National Police, Indonesian State Violence, knpb, Komite Nasional Papua Barat, Paniai, Paniai Regency, Papuan people, POLRI, TNI, torture, village burnings, west papua, west papua media alerts | 2 Comments »
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PUBLIC STATEMENT
AI Index: ASA 21/010/2011
15 April 2011
The Indonesian authorities must ensure a prompt, impartial and effective investigation into the unnecessary and excessive use of firearms by security forces that led to the deaths of at least two Papuans and injuries to three others.
According to credible sources, on the morning of 13 April 2011 police officers from the Moanemani sub-district police (Polsek) raided a gambling operation at the Moanemani Market Complex in Dogiyai district in Papua province, seizing money belonging to Dominokus Auwe, aged 27. Later that morning when Dominokus Auwe visited the Moanemani sub-district police station to ask about his money, the police reportedly shot him in the chest and head, killing him in front of the station. Police continued shooting and injured two other men who had followed Dominokus Auwe. Albertus Pigai, aged 25, was shot in the ribs, while Vince Yobe, aged 23, was shot in the chest. Another man in the vicinity, Matias Iyai, aged 27, was also shot in the leg and foot.
In reaction to the shootings, at about 2pm, local Papuans in the area burnt down the Moanemani sub-district police station and the police barracks. They also attacked and injured a number of police officers.
In response, police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) and military units were mobilized from Nabire and other districts to Moanemani sub-district to conduct joint operations in the area from 13 to 15 April 2011. Alwisius Waine, aged 25, was reportedly shot during these operations. His body was found on the road near Ikebo village, Moanemani sub-district in the early morning of 14 April 2011, with a bullet wound in his chest. During the operations at least five houses were burnt down, reportedly by security forces. Many villagers have fled into the jungle.
Amnesty International acknowledges the difficulties faced by security forces in Indonesia, especially when confronted with violence. However, the power to use force is restricted by relevant international human rights law and standards, the basis of which is the right to life. This right is provided for in Article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Indonesia is a state party, and in the Indonesian Constitution.
The UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms state that law enforcement officials must apply non-violent means before resorting to the use of force and firearms. Intentional lethal use of firearms may only be used when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.
Further, the 2009 Indonesian Police Regulation on the Use of Force highlights the need to respect the principles of legality, necessity and proportionality when using force, and provides a framework for police accountability when using force.
If the investigations find that there was unnecessary or excessive use of firearms by the security forces, then those responsible, including persons with command responsibility, should be prosecuted in proceedings which meet international standards of fairness, and victims provided with reparations.
In June 2009 Amnesty International published a major report, Unfinished Business: Police Accountability in Indonesia (Index: ASA 21/013/2009). The report highlighted the current weaknesses in existing internal and external police accountability systems, which contribute to the impunity of the Indonesian police.
In November 2009, Amnesty International and Indonesian NGO KontraS (The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence) sent a letter to the Police Chief of Papua on unchecked abuses in Nabire district, including excessive use of force, torture and other ill-treatment, and unlawful killings (Index: ASA 21/024/2009). To Amnesty International’s knowledge, there have been no investigations into the cases raised in the letter.
This incident once again highlights the need for the establishment of an external police oversight mechanism that is operationally independent from the government, political influence and the police itself. Its mandate should empower it to receive complaints; carry out effective investigations; and refer cases to the Public Prosecutor or to the police internal disciplinary body. Existing bodies such as the National Police Commission and the National Human Rights Commission are largely inadequate to deal effectively with public complaints about ongoing police abuses, and bring justice and reparations to the victims.
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Working to protect human rights worldwide
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April 16, 2011 | Categories: News alert | Tags: amnesty international, AMPTI, brimob, brutality, Detachment 88, Dogiay, excessive use of firearms, genocide, human rights, Human Rights and Liberties, Impunity, indonesia, Indonesian National Police, Indonesian State Violence, knpb, Komite Nasional Papua Barat, Paniai, Paniai Regency, Papuan people, POLRI, TNI, torture, village burnings, west papua, west papua media alerts | 4 Comments »
