by JPIC, GKI-TP*
January 19, 2016

(apologies for the delay in publication due to verification issues)

On Friday, July 17, 2015, 10 youths from the GIDI (Evangelical Christian Church in Indonesia) suffered gunshot wound, and 1 died from mortal wounds inflicted by Indonesian military and police.

After the shooting, the demonstrators became mad and burned gasoline outlets and the other outlets, with the fire spreading into the surrounding kiosk stalls, including a mosque. 62 citizens suffered material losses as the result of the fire.

Chronology
On Friday, July 17, 2015, at 08.30am, approximately 15 young members of the GIDI Church (Evangelical Church in Indonesia) gathered at the GIDI complex, located at the end of the of the airfield of Karubaga township to continue a seminar and Christian Youth outdoor worship (KKR) on its third day. They went to meet the Muslim community, which had gathered at the office of the Karubaga Military Sub-District Command (KORAMIL) to conduct the morning prayer. The young GIDI members wanted to make a visit with peaceful intent, and wanted to convey that the Idulfitri prayer should take place inside the local small mosque, without the utilization of loudspeakers (Toa), due to the short distance of 300 meters between the mosque and the worship location. The young church members’ request was in line with a previous letter from July 15, 2015, with the number 90/SP/GIDI-WT/VII/2015 by the executive board of the GIDI church in Tolikara region stating that “1) The Lebaran opening prayer on July 17, 2015 is welcomed to take place in Karubaga, Tolikara regency; 2) it would be better if the prayer would not be carried out at an open field, but inside the mosque and its surrounding yard”.

The Agreement to not using loudspeakers accompanying or initiating prayer of Muslim Community in Karubaga had already been agreed since 2010. On the 30th of July 2015 prior to the Seminar and Youth Worship occurring, the Regent had repeatedly instructed the Chief of Tolikara Regional Police via telephone, and also directly informed Muslim Cleric (Ustad) about the agreement. Despite this, the persons in charge used loudspeakers during the Idulfitri prayer at the Karubaga Military District Command, which caused the protest of the youth seminar participants and finally let to the Tolikara incident.

As all the seminar participants went to express their aspirations and protest in front of the military district command office, one youth was suddenly shot down by gunfire from the Koramil office.

Subsequently the security forces released shots, causing injuries to 11 of GIDI Youth. 1 youth died, named Endi Wanimbo (15 years old). As the result of the shootings, the mass of people released their anger over the incident and burned several small stores (kiosks) in the market area to the ground. The fire expanded and finally caused the burning of the mosque.

Names of Shooting Victims

All of the 11 victims received medical treatment in the public hospitals RSUD Wamena and RSUD Dok 2 Jayapura.

1. Endi Wanimbo (15 years) died after bullet pierced his lower back and exited the stomach
2. Amatin Sibolim, bullet wound in the leg
3. Enembe Mus Jikwa, bullet wound in the right thigh
4. Geradadus Kogoya, bullet wound in the right calf
5. Yulianus Lambe, bullet wound in the left thigh
6. Dasiduli Jikwa, bullet wound in the buttocks
7. Atlelu Wenda, bulllet wound in the left thigh
8. Ares Kogoya, bullet wound in the left knee
9. Alesi, bullet wound in the left thigh
10. Ciliben, bullet wound in the left thigh
11. Edison Pagawak, bullet wound in the left leg

    

List of Citizens that were material/property Fire Victims in Karubaga, Tolikara, July 17 2015

 Post Incident Mediation and Legal Process
Together with the legal process undertaken by Police Regency ,POLDA against GIDI leadership, the GIDI take the initiative to negotiate with the Muslims, in this case the national Islamic Ulama’s Council, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), and encourage these cases to be solved through indigenous Papuan methods. On 27-28 July 2015 meeting between the two sides, which were mediated by the Rev. Benny Giay, representing Papuan ecumenical church leaders, and Toni Wanggai of NU Papua province. The leader of GIDI in Papua then communicated with Ustad Ali of Tolikara, and on July 29 reached an agreement which put forward the peaceful settlement and legal proceedings be lifted. Despite this agreement, the peace and reconciliation effort was ignored by the state, and the legal process is still running. Until the publication of this report, state prosecutions are still underway, and are currently at the stage of witness testimony.

Photo Evidence is presented within the report.

 *Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Desk (Keadilan, Perdamaian dan Keutuhan Ciptaan (KPKC) Bidang), Evangelical Christian Church in Papua (Gereja Kristen Injili di Tanah Papua (GKI))