Police officers disperse residents with water cannon in Jayapura - one person dead
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- Published on Monday, 25 May 2020 06:27
A Papuan man identified as Justinus Silas Dimara (35 years old) died as members of the police forcefully dispersed a group of local residents in Hamadi, Jayapura city, on 25 May 2020 (see intro image, source: Jubi). Previously, the Governor of Papua and the Jayapura Municipal Government announced a lockdown due to the growing number of COVID-19 infections, calling upon the residents in Jayapura to stay at home between 2.00 pm and 6.00 am. However, the group of local residents gathered in front of a closed restaurant to drink alcoholic beverages as the police arrived around 5.30 pm. The police officers claim that the group refused to follow the instructions to return to their homes, hence they dispersed the group using the water cannon of the police vehicle.
CC TV records police officers torturing suspect in Mimika Regency
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- Published on Sunday, 24 May 2020 11:23
As they were investigating a case of illegal alcohol sale, police officers tortured Ayub Jr Hutagaol in the district of Wania, Mimika regency. The torture occurred inside Mr Hutagaol’s shop and was caught on CC TV. The recordings quickly went viral after local residents shared the video on social media. A team of lawyers representing Ayub Huatagaol officially filed the case to the Mimika District Police. District Police Chief, Era Adhinata, announced in an interview with media outlet Jubi that he will process the perpetrators through a police internal investigation for violation of the police ethic code and a law enforcement procedure.
Allegations of enforced disappearance in Intan Jaya - Two indigenous Papuans reported missing
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- Published on Sunday, 24 May 2020 11:15
According to the local media outlet Suara Papua, two indigenous Papuans from the village of Janamba in the Hitadipa district of Intan Jaya regency have been missing since 21 April 2020. Witnesses claim that they saw military members arresting Apianus Zanambani (22 years), Luter Zanambani (23 years) and a third man, whose name wasn't mentioned, near the Sugapa National Senior High School 1 (SMA Negeri 1) during a military raid in the town of Sugapa, Intan Jaya. The third man arrested was later released, however there is no information about the whereabouts of Apianus and Luter Zanambani. Another informant stated that military members allegedly brought both men to the Mamba Village, Sugapa District.
Papuan student arrested for Facebook post – Police press charges
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- Published on Sunday, 24 May 2020 11:12
Members of the Papuan Regional Police Criminal Investigation Unit (Reskrim Polda Papua) have arrested a 25-year-old Papuan student with the initials GM in his house in North Jayapura on 1 May 2020 for posting an image of the Indonesia's President Joko Widodo wearing a hat with the Morning Star symbol on his Facebook account and YouTube channel. GM is a student enrolled in a university in Yogyakarta. The police charged the student with article 28 (2) in conjunction with article 45A (2) of Law No. 19 /2016 about the amendment of Law No. 11/2008 on Electronic Information and Transaction on hate speech.
Freeport operating with reduced workforce due to increase of COVID-19 cases
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- Published on Monday, 18 May 2020 15:08
COVID-19 infections in the Mimika Regency, where Freeport operates the Grasberg mine, reached 150 cases as of 17 May, including 102 cases in Tambagapura, the living quarters built to house Freeport workers and their families. This has led Freeport to cut his workforce and operate the mine with only an essential team. The ICP reported on 7 May that despite 85 Freeport employees testing positive for COVID-19, the Grasberg Mine kept operating at full capacity as before.
Korindo palm oil plantation calls police to settle land dispute – One indigenous Papuan dead as a result of torture
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- Published on Sunday, 17 May 2020 06:41
The ‘Office for Justice and Peace of the Archdiocese of Merauke’ (SKP Keuskupan Agung Merauke) has documented the killing of an indigenous Papuan from the Asiki district in the regency of Boven Digoel. Witnesses saw how a police officer severely tortured Marius Betera in front of the office building of palm oil company PT. Tunas Sawa Erma POP Block A (PT. TSE POP A) after he complained about the clearing of his garden by one of the company’s excavators. The victim died at the company’s clinic approximately three hours after the incident as a result of the injuries he sustained during the beating. Local human rights organisations demand that the alleged perpetrator should be held responsible in a police-internal code of conduct trial and a criminal trial in a public court. PT. TSE POP A is a subsidiary of the Korindo Group, which operates multiple palm oil and timber companies in West Papua.
UPDATE The Jakarta Six: Cancellation of Release
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- Published on Wednesday, 13 May 2020 04:02
(London, 12 May 2020) TAPOL condemns the political decision to cancel the early release of five political prisoners that were arrested in Jakarta for demonstrating in favour of the self-determination of West Papua.
On 24 April 2020, the Central Court of Jakarta sentenced Paulus Suryanta Ginting, Ambrosius Mulait, Dano Tabuni, Charles Kossay, and Ariana Elopere to nine months’ imprisonment; while Isay Wenda was sentenced to eight months. Isay Wenda was released on 29th April 2020 having served his full sentence.
Police investigator in Sorong Selatan prevents lawyers from meeting with defendants
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- Published on Monday, 11 May 2020 03:29
The Manokwari Institute for Research Study and Development of Legal Aid (LP3BH Manokwari) reported another case of obstruction against three lawyers in the regency of Sorong Selatan. According to LP3BH Director, Yan Christian Warinussy, the lawyers of the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Kaki Abu wanted to visit the four suspects who were arrested in multiple locations during a police raid in the regency of Maybrat between 15 and 23 April 2020. The police suspect them of being involved in the killing of a police officer in the regency of Bintuni.
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