Commemoration of “Papuan Independence Day” - Police responds with mass arrests and ill-treatment

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Published on Sunday, 02 December 2018 09:24

The national police forcefully dispersed peaceful assemblies in commemoration of the 1st December and arrested 547 protesters in multiple cities of Indonesia. Many indigenous Papuans consider the date as the ‘Papuan Independence Day’. This year marks the 57th anniversary of the first official Morning Star flag raising under the Dutch colonial government. Human rights defenders reported that police officers applied excessive use of force against protesters and bystanders during the arrests in Jayapura. In Surabaya, members of nationalist mass organisations joining a counter rally threw stones at the Papuan protesters, injuring 16 people.

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Failed crowd control operation in Merauke – Three residents ill-treated, 27 arrested

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Published on Saturday, 24 November 2018 19:56

A failed crowd control operation in the City of Merauke has resulted in the arrest of 27 community members. According to local human rights defenders, members of the Merauke District Police (Polres Merauke) severely beat Bonivasius Buyopu, Anselmus Erro and Melkior Jebe. Melkior Jebe was additionally injured by a bullet as the police dispersed the crowd with fire arms. The incident was confirmed by the independent media outlet Tabloid Jubi. Three police officers were injured during the incident, which occurred in the Karang Indah district of Merauke Town, Papua Province on the 24 November 2018. Prior to the incident, a group of local residents armed with machetes, sticks and axes had searched the alleged perpetrator of an attempted child abduction. As eight police officers came to the Karang Indah district around 6.00 pm to investigate the case, an argument between the residents and the police officers ended in a clash between both sides.

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Dispersal of peaceful assembly in Jayapura – Police arrests 107 KNPB supporters and ill-treats four activists

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Published on Sunday, 18 November 2018 20:01

Members of the Jayapura municipality police dispersed a peaceful assembly organised by the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) at the Pegunungan Bintang Student Dormitory in Perumnas III residential area in Waena, where the organisation celebrated the 10th Anniversary. According to online media outlet Suara Papua, 150 officers of the crowd control unit DALMAS backed up by military members forcefully dispersed the peaceful assembly on 19 November 2018, at 10.15 am. The police arrested 107 KNPB activists and temporarily detained them at the Jayapura Municipality Police Station (Mapolresta Jayapura). Among the arrested activists were the secretary of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Markus Haluk (see intro image), the KNPB chairman Agus Kossay, and the KNPB secretary Vero Hubi.

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Security force operation in Lanny Jaya Regency

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Published on Sunday, 11 November 2018 21:20

Local human rights defenders reported that the police has launched an operation in the highland regency of Lanny Jaya in order to arrest the local armed resistance (TPN PB) leaders Enden Wanimbo and Purom Wenda. According to the information, joint security forces were deployed in Popome Village of Balingga District on 7 November 2018. The operation was confirmed by various local news outlets and is related to the killing of a motorcycle taxi driver on 2 November 2018 by members of the armed resistance (TPN PB). Exchange of fire between security forces and the TPN PB on 3 November 2018 lead to the death of two TPN PB fighters. Local sources reported that many villagers in the Balingga District feared repressive acts by security forces and fled to Tiom, the main town and administrative center of Lanny Jaya Regency.

Case update: Law enforcement process and detention conditions of arrested Polish citizen

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Published on Thursday, 25 October 2018 19:12

According to information from the local news outlet Tabloid Jubi, the Papuan Regional Police (Polda Papua) has completed the investigation against the Polish citizen Jakup Febian Skrzypski (see intro image) and submitted the case files to the public prosecutor's office in Wamena. According to Polda Papua spokesman Commissioner Kamal, the public prosecution has assessed the case files as complete and will soon initiate the trial against the Polish citizen. Jakup Skrzypski has been charged with the treason article 106 of the Indonesian Penal Code (KUHP), which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment. Skrzypski was arrested in Jayawijaya Regecency on 26 August 2018 – the police suspects him being involved in weapon trade with the armed separatist movement TPN – OPM.

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Military member kills Papuan stundent in Waroki Village, Nabire Regency

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Published on Tuesday, 23 October 2018 22:41

The Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Desk of the Papuan Tabernacle Church (KINGMI Papua) has documented the extra-judicial killing of a Papuan theology student in Waroki Villlage, Nabire Barat District of Nabire regency. On 21 October 2018 at 08.00 pm, Daud Oyomi (27) left his house with the motorcycle to buy water. Four military members in civil clothing were standing at junction. As Daud Oyomi passed the four military members, one of the soldiers suddenly draw his gun and fired a shot at Daud. The bullet hit Daud in the chest (see image below), causing his instant death on the spot. The reason for the assault remains unclear.

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