Category: syndication

Unreliable Police allegations against Mako Tabuni

ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED IN SEVEN CASES
Bintang Papua, 14 June 2012

Following the assassination of Mako Tabuni, the deputy chairman of the KNPB (National Committee of West Papua), the police are now alleging that the man they murdered was responsible for seven cases of violence perpetrated by the KNPB, and say they are now conducting investigations to see whether he was responsible for seven acts of violence including the shot fired against a German visitor. They are alleging that this is based on confessions made by the Buchtar Tabuni, the chairman of the KNPB, and other KNPB members who are now facing charges. The chief of police is quoted as saying: ‘According to confessions by KNPB members, Mako Tabuni was responsible for a numbe of violent actions, all of  which are now under investigation,’

The police also claim that they found a pistol and bullets among Tabuni’s possessions which have now been sent to Jakarta to establish whether the bullets are the same as those found in the bodies of persons who have been shot.

Asked about the furore that has followed in the wake of the killing of Tabuni, the police chief said that was ‘incidental’  ‘In some cases the members act as if they are wiling to surrender but then put up resistance and try to seize weapons which is why the police opened fire.’

He also said that his men are now hunting down eight members of the KNPB who are alleged to have been involved in recent acts of violence.

According to the police, Tabuni was shot four times, twice in the thigh, once in the head and once in the waist.

[Comment by TAPOL: Can we now draw the conclusion that the police themselves have been responsible for the recent spate of shootings that have occurred, so as to be able to pin the blame on an organisation such as the KNPB which has been involved in peaceful advocacy such as calling for a referendum to be held in West Papua?]

[Translated by TAPOL]

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Imparsial criticises police for the death of Mako Tabuni

JUBI, 14 June 2012

Imparsial, the Indonesian Human Rights   Monitor, has expressed its deep regret at the action by the police who shot Mako Tabuni, the chairman of KNPB, the National Committee of West Papua, resulting in his death.

The executive director, Poengky Indarti said that if the police suspected that Mako Tabuni was involved in recent acts of violence , they should have acted in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Code

‘It is extremely regrettable that  the police shot Mako Tabuni, as a result of which this activist died,’ she said.

She went on to say that the police would have needed evidence in order the conduct an investigation. and if they did have such evidence in this case, Mako Tabuni should have been taken into custody and treated as a suspect.

‘The procedure would then be for the police to summon the person in question for interrogation. He can only be detained  if there is reason to fear that he may abscond or commit a further crime.

A person can indeed be arrested if he is caught red-handed. But bearing in mind that this was not the case, the action by the police in arresting and shooting Mako Tabuni was a violation of the criminal procedural code, KUHAP.

‘Even if he had resisted, the security forces should not have taken action that resulted in his death. If he had offered resistance with a sharp weapon or with a firearm, the police should have first warned him of the consequences, and if forced to shoot, they should have made sure that this would not cause any fatal injuries.’

The Imparsial executive-director said that  it was also very regrettable that the  death of Mako Tabuni had made the situation in Jayapura worse than ever. The response to his death by members of the KNPB has resulted in the situation in Jayapura becoming very tense indeed. ‘We urge the security forces to take greater care in handling a case like this, and they should always act in accordance with the provisions of the law.’

The failings of the police can only result in the situation getting worse, reinforcing the occurrence of further acts of violence and causing the people to feel even more insecure.

[Translated by TAPOL]

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Papua could soon become an Emergency Zone

Bintang Papua,
13 June 2012

Leaders of two of the main churches in Papua, the Kingmi Church and the Alliance of Baptist Churches in Papua, say that many of their church members are now afraid to leave their homes in the evening.

The chairman of the Baptist Alliance, the Revd Socratez Sofyan Yoman said that the efforts by the Papuan people to transform West Papua into a zone of peace are being obstructed by certain forces. The recent series of shootings is turning Papua into an Emergency Zone.

According to the Rev. Socrates, the core of the conflict in Papua is greed on the part of those who violate human rights.  The Indonesian government is dealing with the situation in Papua by strengthening the repressive security forces, the TNI and the police, while  paying no attention  to the health and educational needs of the Papuan people.

‘The government  continues to split the province up into more districts in order to be able to increase the number of the security forces,’ he said.

The actions of the government could result in the emergence of youth groups who will fight for the aspirations of the Papuan people by peaceful means. Rev Socrates urged the Indonesian government to enter into discussions as soon as possible with  representatives of the Papuan people in order to create a permanent state of  peace in Papua as a way of reducing the the process of radicalisation of the young people which is further promoted by acts of violence and the neglect of human rights abuses.

He also called  upon the international human rights institution of the United Nations  to do what it can to help reduce the crimes being committed in Papua. He called upon his own congregation to remain vigilant and do everything they can to preserve an atmosphere of peace and prevent the actions of those who  are trying to make the conditions worse.

The Rev. Benny Giay said that the people live in a sate of fear because of the situation in Jayapura that has developed in the past two months and said that the there is no end to the shootings even though the city of Jayapura is more controllable than mountainous regions such as Puncak Jaya  and Timika

With regard to the recent statement by the chief of the intelligence agency BIN that the people doing the shooting have come from the mountains, the Rev. Giay said that the BIN agency chief should take action to arrest the people responsible for the shooting instead of raising new issues which do nothing help to clarify the situation.

He also said that the  policies being pursued by the government such as setting up the UP4B (development unit) are not rooted among the Papuan people. ‘The Papuan people  cannot understand the policies that the govrnment is pursuing. The central and provincial governments should respond to what the Papuan people have been yearning for for years. ‘Only the Papuan people can know what conditions are necessary for the sustenance of their lives.

[Translated by TAPOL]

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TPN-OPM deny responsibility for recent shootings

JUBI, 12 June 2012The leader of one of the OPM group which is based along the border with PNG insists that the OPM is not responsible for the series of terror shootings that have occurred around Jayapura recently.

The OPM leader, Lambert Pekikir, said that the Indonesian government is always trying to demonize the OPM  He said that they (the OPM) are well aware of the recent spate  of shootings since shots were fired at a German visitor some weeks ago, having read all about it in the local media. ‘Like others, we too are very confused with these developments.’ He said: ‘We have written to the government and to all relevant governmental institutions that we are not responsible for these acts of terror.’

He said the OPM as making preparations to fly the Morning Star flag on 1 July this year to mark the organisation’s anniversary but this is in no way connected with any acts of terror. ‘Such actions are simply not on our agenda,’ he said.

The NGO, ELSHAM-Papua said that these acts of terror  are part of a project by the government to stigmatize indigenous Papuans as being people who are spreading anarchy  and willing to murder anyone.

He drew attention to the fact that the latest series of shootings have occurred at a time when the international community is showing greater attention to the violations of human rights in Papua. He pointed to the fact that the targets of these latest shootings  were all foreigners or immigrants from elsewhere in Indonesia.’There is no reason to believe that the military wing of the OPM – the TPN-OPM – would have the slightest reason to shoot ojek drivers  or schoolchildren.

Ferdinand said that  the authorities want to convince the international community that the TPN-OPM want to kill immigrants. They have made it clear that they are waging their struggle peacefully and will not allow themselves to pursue the path of violence.

‘We once again call on the  police to thoroughly investigate these acts of terror and reveal who it is who is behind them so as to put an end to these attempts to demonize the Papuan people.’

[Translated by  TAPOL]

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Theo van der Broek: Jakarta-Papua dialogue: It’s nothing but talk-talk

JUBI, 12 June 2012Solving the Papuan conflict by means of peaceful communication has been constantly talked about by the government, by traditional leaders as well as by  religious leaders in Papua as well as in Indonesia but nothing has happened yet, said Theo van der Broek, chairman of the Franciscan  KPKC in Jayapura.

‘Everyone is talking about a peaceful settlement. Papuan church leaders met the Indonesian President at the beginning of the year when the President recognised that dialogue was the way to resolve the issue.

‘The matter was then handed over the Vice-President but the government has taken no further action .  I haven’t seen any follow-up. Everyone is just talking, but the promises are nothing more than promises.’

He went on to say that violence and terror are still continuing in the kampungs as well as in Jayapura.

‘Although the problem is getting more and more complex, nothing is being done by the government.They are all busy with other things, like campaigning for the gubernatorial elections. This only creates confusion for everyone.The violence is continuing with no end in sight.’

It is up to the government to resolve the problems and arrest those who have perpetrated the shootings in Jayapura., he said.

‘It is not difficult to identify the perpetrators of the violence. All that is needed is serious and honest investigation by the police to avoid further speculations. The investigations would then need to be followed up,’ said this Dutch-born missionary. ‘We need to sit down and talk about what is true and what is not true and listen to each other.Everyone needs to be open and frank about their ideas regarding the Papuan problem and its solution,’ he said.

He went on to say that everyone concerned about finding a peaceful solution to the Papuan issue  must come together to find a solution, a solution that does not sacrifice the interests of either side. A solution must be found that is beneficial to all sides.

‘If we all just stick to our own ideas about the problem, we will never be able to reach a solution.’

[Translated by TAPOL]

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