Humanitarian Team for Intan Jaya shares its findings concerning the killing of Pastor Zanambani
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- Published on Friday, 30 October 2020 11:35
The Independent Humanitarian Team for Intan Jaya is a team consisting of a number of religious leaders, academics, and humanitarian activists in Papua. This team was formed to respond to the murder of Pastor Yeremia Zanambani, who was killed on September 19, 2020, in Hitadipa, Intan Jaya. After submitting its report to Minister Mahfud, the team has publicly shared details of their investigation. The following are the findings as described in the document "Findings of the Humanitarian Team for Intan Jaya Papua" released by the team on 29 October 2020. The document provides thorough information and suggests that Rev Zanambani was killed by one or more members of the army.
Another church worker killed in Intan Jaya – Security force members accuse victim of being TPN PB member
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- Published on Wednesday, 28 October 2020 09:07
Human rights organisations have documented the extra-judicial killing of a church worker in the regency of Intan Jaya. Mr Rufinus Tigau, 28, was shot dead by members of the Nemangkawi Joint Security Force Unit in the village of Jalae, Sugapa District on 26 October 2020. During the operation, twelve-year-old Meinus Bagubau sustained a bullet wound to the hip. Security force representatives claim that Rufinus Tigau was associated with the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN PB). A representative of the Catholic Diocese in Timika confirmed that Rufinus Tigau was officially appointed as a catechist in the Catholic Jalae congregation.
Verdict in treason trial against 23 Papuan political detainees in Fakfak
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- Published on Wednesday, 28 October 2020 08:22
On 1 December 2019, members of the Police Mobile Brigade Special Unit (Brimob) and 1803 Fakfak District Military Command arrested 54 indigenous Papuans (see photo, source: independent human rights defenders) in multiple villages located in the districts Kayauni and Kramonmongga, Fakfak Regency. The Fakfak police pressed charges against 23 of them. The trials against the 23 defendants began on 18 June 2020. On 22 and 23 October 2020, judges of the Fakfak District court found the 23 defendants guilty in the sense of the indictment. The sentences varied between eleven and 24 months, to be reduced by the period of detention (see table below).
Pacific Conference of Churches calls for "40 Days of Hunger for Justice and Peace" in West Papua
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- Published on Wednesday, 28 October 2020 12:02
The Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC), based in Fiji, has called for a time of fasting for 40 days and prayer for West Papua. It calls for members to skip at least 1 meal a day in the period from 28 October to 6 December 2020. Through this action, the PCC is supporting the demands of the West Papuan Council of Churches, which calls on Indonesia to enter dialogue towards a peaceful resolution of the situation and an end to militarisation. Rev James Bhagwan, General Secretary of the PCC has openly shared the following letter.
Allegations of enforced disappearance in Nduga Regency – Two indigenous leaders missing after military operation
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- Published on Monday, 26 October 2020 11:17
The Foundation for Justice and Integrity of the Papuan People (YKKMP) has documented a further case of enforced disappearance in the village of Kiyabikma, Mbulmu Yalma District of Nduga Regency. Tepania Wasiangge, 44, and Anle Gwijangge, 28, both village leaders in Kiyabikma, were arrested on 28 September 2020 in Gurukwarak Hamlet, as military members ambushed a house that they suspected was a hide-out for members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN PB). Multiple witnesses saw that the military members arrested and gagged both men, handcuffed them and repeatedly hit them with a wooden stick. Subsequently, the soldiers brought them to the forest, where the military members had established a temporary camp at the Bigam Mountain near the Gunmo River.
Police fail to respect freedom of peaceful assembly in West Papua – 13 protesters arrested, one injured by bullet during demonstration against Otsus II
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- Published on Monday, 26 October 2020 11:08
The controversial discussion about the continuation of special autonomy funding in West Papua remains unabated. On 27 October 2020, hundreds of protesters again gathered in Jayapura to peacefully voice their opposition to the government’s plan to prolong the special autonomy funding for the Indonesian provinces of Papua and Papua Barat. The protesters gathered at Expo Waena and near the Cenderawasih University campus in Perumnas III Waena residential area.
Update on killing of Rev Zanambani in Intan Jaya – Fact finding team submits report to Minister Mahfud MD
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- Published on Thursday, 22 October 2020 09:09
The joint fact-finding team (Tim Gabungan Pencari Fakta or TGPF) which was endorsed by the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Human Rights, Mahfud MD, to investigate the killings of Rev Yeremia Zanambani, another civilian and two military members in the regency of Intan Jaya, has submitted its report on 21 October 2020. According to the report, there were indications that military members or another third party was involved in the killing of Rev Zanambani. The other three victims were killed by members of “armed criminal groups”, said Mahfud MD. The military spokesperson, Colonel Suriastawa, said in an interview on 22 October that the military will not cover-up this case. He announced that the perpetrators will be brought to justice through the existing internal military procedures.
Military members show up in church during ordination of new priests
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- Published on Monday, 19 October 2020 12:12
On 18 October 2020 a dozen military members suddenly entered the St Michael Church, causing fear among those present. This took place in the village of Waris, Keerom Regency. Catholics in the surrounding area had come to the church to witness the ordination of four new catholic priests. The congregational priest was able to calm down the congregation as fully armed military members with assault rifles (see photo) entered the church premises without warning. The motive for the military action remains unclear. After examining the interior and the front yard of the church, the military members left again without providing a clear reason for the operation. Local observers understood the visit as an attempt to intimidate the residents in Waris.
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