West Papua: The Police shooting season over the New Year period makes

Human Rights Report 5 January 2008







Reports of police violence in Timika, Wamena and Sorong are marked
resurgence in Human Rights abuse by the Indonesian security forces in
West Papua in the later part of 2008. Also reports of mysterious
deaths in Manokwari, before the massive earthquake, suggest ‘black
killings’ have occurred there over the Christmas/New Year period.



The reports of killings and ‘accidental’ deaths together with renewed
activity by the notorious Red & White (Merah Putih) Militia in
Wamena, the arrest of two West Papuan rights activists[1], Buchtar
Tabuni and Seblom Sambon in December 08 and the suppression of the
indigenous Papuan Kingmi Church[2] are signs of the relentless
pattern of Indonesian repressive control and arbitrary violence in
West Papua.



In Wamena a youth was reportedly ‘accidentally’ shot dead by Police
in a dispute in a market involving another Papuan man, who had been
accused of stealing. Later in the same day it is reported that the
man accused of stealing, was then murdered in the street by a group
of un-identified non-Papuans. In a separate incident the unmarked
body of another Papuan man had been found in the river at Wamena on
the previous day. Further information is detailed below for each case.



In Teminbuan, South Sorong Indonesian Police fired on a group of
Papuans who were celebrating the New Year with firecrackers and
sparklers. This caused one local man to die a horrific death. Local
people responded to his murder by attacking and killing an Indonesian
intelligence officer. Police then attacked again and fired at local
people killing an 8 year-old boy and injuring others and then
reportedly destroying houses and property.



While in Timika the special Para-military police, Brimob, are
reported to have shot a local man at a gold mining camp on 30
December 2008. The dead body of another local man was taken to the
Timika hospital on 1 January 2008 but was not identified.



In Manokwari, the site of recent massive earthquake, there are
reports of two mysterious deaths during the Christmas period. The
body of a Papuan man with serious wounds to his head was found on 25
December next to his undamaged motorcycle. The body of 75 year-old
priest, was found in a ditch also with head injuries on 1 January
2009. Both deaths were suspected to be ‘black killings‘ used by
Indonesian security forces.



Details of agitation by the notorious Red & White Militia in the
highlands of West Papua were reported in December 2008. Local
Militia leaders are reported to have traveled to Jakarta to attend a
meeting at Indonesian Military headquarters in December and then went
onto hold meetings in Golkar offices in Wamena. The Militia leaders
are said to be planning a public launch of the Militia in Mulima,
which is the site for staging traditional tribal warfare in the old
days. Mulima is an area where some of the grossest human rights
abuse in West Papua occurred during the Soeharto era.



Paula Makabory representing the Institute for Papuan Advocacy & Human
Rights said today, “The recent shootings and reemergence of the Red &
White Militia has heightened our concerns that Indonesian politicians
and security forces are seeking to further destabilization the
situation and promote conflict in West Papua. “



“This Christmas in West Papua has been a shooting season for
Indonesian police. The security forces are trying to encourage
conflict: Even a small child of 8 years has been a political
target.” Paula Makabory went onto say.



“By shooting people in West Papua the security forces encourage
community based conflict and maintain the community opposition and
distrust of Indonesia. The cycle of conflict with Indonesian
authority, leading to state control and the poverty, disease epidemic
and dispossession of the indigenous people is ongoing. Powerful
people in Indonesia get political benefits from the conflict, the
resource exploitation continues and the West Papuan people gain very
little from Indonesian politics.”



“After the assassination of Opinus Tabuni[3][4] occurred in Wamena
(10 August 2008) at the Dewan Adat Papua sponsored Indigenous Peoples
Day celebration there was notably less police opposition to resultant
demonstrations that occurred in Wamena and Jayapura. Though during
this time a member of the Papuan Customary Council (Dewan Adat Papua)
Yosias Syet was murdered by unidentified person on 17 October 2008
near village of Waibron close to Jayapura[5].”



“Pro-West Papuan Independence supporters then went onto undertake a
series of demonstration in Jayapura around the assassination of Theys
Eluay, the West Papua Pro-Independence leader who was killed by
members of Kopassus Indonesia’s elite military force in 2001.
Further demonstrations were held supporting the formation of the
International Parliamentarian for West Papua in London which appear
been the reason for the arrest of Buchtar Tabuni and Seblom Sambon.”



“Papuans in many centers then went onto raise the Nationalist
‘Morning Star’ flag on 1 December 2008 against a police ban and the
real threat of arrest and imprisonment.”



For further information contact:

Paula Makabory, Institute for Papuan Advocacy & Human Rights, Tel +61
(0) 402547517

Matthew Jamieson, Institute for Papuan Advocacy & Human Rights, Tel
+61 (0) 418291998


Human Rights Report Additional Information 5 January 2008



Institute for Papuan Advocacy & Human Rights



1.0 DEATHS IN WAMENA, WEST PAPUA 28 DECEMBER 2008


After a dispute over a Papuan man accused of stealing in a local
market in Wamena Police shot and kill a 13 year old boy while
shooting above heads of a local crowd (28 December 2008). The man
who was accused of stealing is then stabbed by a group of non Papuan
on his way home.



In an unrelated incident the body of un-indentified & decomposing
Papuan man is found in the river on 27 December 2008.



VICTIMS:



Melinus Kogoya (13yo) from Gamelia District, Jayawijaya - Lani tribe
and resident of Wamena. He was hit by a gun bullet from the local
police;
Anus Paragaye (23yo) from Asologaima District, Jayawijaya (Hubula
Palika tribe) and resident of Wamena. He was stabbed by unknown
assailants;
An unidentified dead body was found at Uwe River, he was predicted to
be around 26/27 years old.


Cases



Melinus Kogoya (13yo) died immediately after a police bullet hit him,
at local Jibama market, at around 5pm, on Sunday, 28 December 2008,
in Wamena.



He was among others who were at the local market when the local
police shot their gun into the crowd.



Melinus Kogoya was at the local market among others who were watching
the local Police have a fight against Anus Paragaye (local /23yo).



A non-Papuan shopkeeper at the Jibama market alleged Anus Paragaye
and his friend had stolen property. A non-Papuan at the market had
previously asked the police to arrest Anus Paragaye.



Anus Paragaye had tried to defend himself against the police because
he was innocent of the claim of theft. This dispute attracted the
attention of the locals and who demanded that Anus Paragaye to be
released.



The Cenderawasih Pos (CEPOS) 29/12/08 reported that when the police
arrested Anus Paragaye as he struggled and fought against the police.
The CEPOS reported that the attending crowd threw stones at the
police post. The police then started to fire their guns in the air
to stop the crowd. Malinus Kogoya appears to have died in this
shooting. The head of police precinct, Wamena, AKBP Drs. Abd Azis Dj,
SH, is reported to have said Malinus Kogoya was killed with a stray
bullet.



According to local witnesses that police pointed their guns at the
local people. Malianus Kogoya was taken to the hospital for autopsy
and the result showed that a the bullet caused his death. Malinus
Kogoya dead body was handed back to his family to be burial.



Anus Paragaye (23yo) was stabbed by unknown persons on his way back
home from Pike to Hom-Hom, at around 5.45pm, on 28 December 2008. He
was stabbed on the Trans Irian road in front of the Yali Hom-Hom
Dormitory in Wamena. During the incident Anus Paragaye was stopped by
10 non-Papuan people and was stabbed by a sharp weapon in the
stomach. The local people (who did not want his named for security
reasons) saw the incident at the crime scene & tried to get Anus
Paragaye to the local hospital. But Anus Paragaye lost lots of his
blood from critical wound and died in the hospital at around 22.30 at
the same day.



Unidentified dead body (predicted to be 26/27yo) was also found at
Uwe/ Wouma River on Saturday, 27 December 2008 at 6pm. According to
the local newspaper, CEPOS, that this man had been died for 3-4 days
before he was found. CEPOS reported that it was assumed the man
suffer from chronic epilepsy disease because there is no violent mark
on the body.



2.0 Deaths on New Year Eve 31 December 2008, in Teminabuan, South
Sorong, West Papua


1. Ishak Lemauk (29 yo) was shot dead by the local police;

2. Supriyono (40yo) was killed by the locals;

3. Michael Kocu (8yo) was shot dead by the police.



It is customary in West Papua that people celebrate the New Year by
letting off firecrackers at midnight. Many of the people in the
Papuan town of Teminabuan, South Sorong, including children, were
playing with sparklers and firecrackers during the celebration of the
New Year 2009.



During the celebration people in Teminabuan had lit the firecrackers
and sparklers for New Year, when a police truck carrying a detachment
of the local police came. Reportedly these police then fired their
guns on the people who were celebrating the New Year.



One man Ishak Lemauk was hit in the the stomach which caused an open
wound and his belly come out from his stomach and he died
horrifically at the scene.



After 40 minutes, other local people heard the news of the death of
Ishak Lemauk and went to the scene and confronted the police. The
local people chased and killed an Indonesian police intelligence
officer, Supriono (40yo).



The local Police then acting against the local people and shot and
killed a small boy, Michael Kocu (8yo). The local people were then
chased with the shots of machine guns and some of their houses and
properties were destroyed. Beside the 3 deaths, Human Rights
workers report that there are more wounded victims that require
further attention.



All dead victims were buried on 02 January 2009, at 9am Papua local
time. The events have caused serious trauma in Teminabuan.



3.0 Timika: Brimob Shot Local Man Timika 30 December 2008.

Local sources report that the special police unit Brimob shot Teau
Dang, a Damal Beaga man, on 30 December 2008 at a gold panning camp
at Mile 50 in the Freeport Rio Mining Concession. These local
reports say that Brimob had demanded that a group of gold panners
vacate the campsite at about 6 pm on that day. After being told to
leave one man Teau Dang returned to the camp to pick up a ‘nokem’
traditional bag, containing gold and other belongings. The Brimob
officers were said to be upset by Teau Dang’s action and had shot
Dang seriously wounding his shoulder. Dang colleagues heard the shot
and returned to the campsite and found him lying on the ground. They
then took him to hospital. Information about Dangs current condition
is was not available.

Cenderawasih Pos 5/1/08 report a mysterious dead body taken to Timika
Hospital on 1 January 2009. The person name was Pianus, aged 28
years. This man was buried by social department, on 4 January 2009,
as no family members claimed his body.

4.0 DEATHS IN MANOKWARI, WEST PAPUA, AFTER 25 DECEMBER 2008

A man, Anis Asmuruf (16yo) was found dead in a bad physical condition
in Bakaro, District of East Manokwari on 25 December 2008. He was
found by the local people who were on their way home after attended
the local church Christmas service, at around 10am (Papua local
time). The body was sent to the Manokwari General Hospital for an
autopsy.

It was reported by the CEPOS on 27 December 2008 that the victim went
out from his house by his motorcycle on the Christmas Eve, 24
December 2008 and did not return home.

Local people who found the man report that the body was lying on the
ground with some serious wounds in the face, his motor was near him
without any damage.

The dead body of priest Daud Garyono 75 years also seems suspicious
according to the local police after investigating the scene. His
body partly was in a ditch and had some injuries on his forehead. His
vehicle not found around him, police were doing an investigation on
his death to find out the reason on what cause his death. (1 January
2009)





5.0 Red & White Militia in Wamena

During December a group of ‘Red and White’ militia under the
leadership of a local man, Salogo Walilo, traveled to Jakarta meet
with the Indonesian
National Military Commander in Jakarta. The group reportedly were
told to ‘Defend Indonesian until the last drop of blood’ and were
given a very large Indonesian National flag.

The name of those local men who attended this meeting were:
1. Salogo Walilo
2. Kuluwit Huby
3.Herman Doga
4. Yokoye Logo.

The group returned to Wamena and held a meeting in the office of the
Indonesian Political party Golkar (Golongan Karya) in Wamena on 2
January 2009 at 09.00 pm. The meeting was to decide the time for the
public declaration of the ‘Red and White’ Militia’s in the Highlands.

This meeting was attending by the Tribal leaders ‘Kepala suku’ from
the region around Wamena and middle mountains. The names of eleven
of those who attended were:

1. Salogo Walilo ( kordinator Milisi Merah Putih)
2. Dauke Mabel
3. Marius Marian
4. Yakoye Logo
5. Amandus Mabel
7. Kuluwit Huby
8. Nikilik Huby
9. Herman Doga
10. Naligi Kurisi
11. Lukas Itlay
12. others

The place chosen for the launch was the site of traditional site for
tribal war (Markas Menara Perang Suku ( Libarek) Desa Mulima, Kurulu
Kabupatan Jayawijaya). The planned declaration of the Militia was
reported to be February 2009.

The selection of Mulima as a site has major connotations for local
people. During the period 1972 – 1977 that area Mulima was the site
of gross Human Rights violation from the Military Operation in
Jayawijaya. Cases of extra judicial killing, rapes, large numbers of
local people were forced into long periods of refuge in jungle &
while the military burned down their houses. The Human Rights
organisation Els-ham reported that four periods of military
offensives led to massacre of 12,397 Papuans (Team Els-ham Papua in
2003 p 125. Potrat HAM Jayapura: Els-ham, 2003, pp. 125).

Mysterious killings disappearances, rape, torture and sexual
violence, including incidences where women were pierced through the
vagina with bayonets, were reported. Some of these abused women were
sliced through their bodies cutting unborn babies in half. Woman and
married women were also raped and their husband and families were
forced to watch.

Members of the community who were witness to these events are still
traumatized by these events.

Institute for Papuan Advocacy & Human Rights
5 January 2009

[1] Buchtar Tabuni was arrested on 03/12/09 for organizing a
demonstration on 16 October 2008 relating to the formation of the
International Parliamentarians for West Papua. Seblom Sambon was
arrested on 17 December 2008 also apparently over the formation
International Parliamentarians for West Papua.

[2] Indonesian police including Brimob attacked Papuan members of the
GKIP (Kingmi) church (Gereja Kemah Injil Papua) in Nabire West Papua.
12 members were injured including 5 students who were shot with
rubber bullets on the 3 & 4 December 2008.

[3] http://ipahr.wordpress.com/west-papua-indonesian-police-shoot-man-
at-indigenous-peoples-rally/
[4] Papua shooting :In Indonesia's Papua province, a tribal leader
was killed at a rally two months ago. Human rights groups suspect he
was murdered by a gunman working for the military or intelligence
services. Jeff Waters reports. 15/10/2008 http://australianetwork.com/
newshour/archives.htm?site=October2008#videoplayer
[5] http://ipahr.wordpress.com/2008/12/06/killing-of-activist-in-west-
papua/


Matthew Jamieson
Institute for Papuan Advocacy & Human Rights
PO Box 1805, Byron Bay NSW 2481 Australia
matthew@hr.minihub.org
tel +61 (0) 418291998