Police officers fail to protect truck driver during mob attack in Dogiyai Regency
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- Published on Thursday, 27 February 2020 23:53
Police officers have failed to protect a truck driver named Yus Yunus during a mob attack in the regency of Dogiyai on 23 February 2020. The incident was allegedly triggered by a traffic accident on the Trans-Papua road in the village of Ekimani, Kamu Utara District and resulted in the death of a local resident named Demianus Mote. Police officers of the Kamu Sub-district Police were present at the site of crime but failed to protect Yus Yunus from the angry mob. He died as a result of the injuries he sustained during the attack. A video recorded during the incident shows that Yus Yunus sought protection behind fully armed mobile brigade police officers, as multiple attackers repeatedly hit his head with sticks and stones.
Fifth Update on trials and detentions after anti-racism riots in West Papua
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- Published on Thursday, 27 February 2020 02:30
This article provides an overview on trials related to Papua-wide anti-racism protests between late August and late September 2019 as well as the subsequent wave of criminalisation against human rights defenders and political activists. The International Coalition for Papua summarised earlier stages of the legal proceedings and detentions in previous articles (first update, second update, third update, fourth update). The following article covers recent developments in relation to the riots throughout February 2020.
Unrest throughout August and September 2019 results in 59 fatalities
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- Published on Tuesday, 25 February 2020 03:10
The unrest due to Papua-wide anti-racism riots between late August and late September marks one of the most significant events throughout 2019. The ICP has put together a list of victims who died during the series of violent incidents. Outbreaks of ethnic violence between Papuans and non-Papuans as well as violent security force crackdowns on demonstrations resulted in a total number of 59 civilian fatalities within a period of less than one month. While the situation in West Papua has temporarily calmed down, the potential risk of further outbreaks of violence continues to exist as the root causes of the conflict remain unaddressed. The Indonesian Government has not taken meaningful steps to counter the marginalisation of indigenous Papuans, tackle racist notions among Indonesian security forces and civil society or enter into dialogue with the independence movement to settle the political conflict in West Papua.
Joint security forces kill indigenous community leader and minor during raid in Intan Jaya
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- Published on Monday, 24 February 2020 21:41
A military operation has been ongoing in the regency of Intan Jaya since late December 2019. Human rights defenders reported that a recent raid in the Yoparu Village of Sugapa District resulted in the deaths of indigenous leader, Kayus Sani, and an eleven-years-old primary school student named Melki Tipagau (see intro image). Melki Tipagau’s mother, Malopina Sani (31 years), and another minor named Martina Sani (12 years) sustained bullet injuries during the incident. The bodies of Melki Tipagau and Kayus Sani were buried on 19 February 2020 in the village of Bulapa, Sugapa District. The tragic event occurred only three weeks after military members had reportedly killed one civilian and injured an eight-year-old boy during a previous clash in the Sugapa district on 26 January 2019. Kayus Sani had already sustained a bullet injury on the calf during the incident.
Wamena after the September-Riots – Freedom of assembly still subjected to limitations
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- Published on Wednesday, 19 February 2020 00:22
Almost five months have passed since unrest in the highland town of Wamena on 23 September 2019 claimed the lives of 41 victims. Meanwhile, the situation in Wamena has calmed down, but the local police still put heavy limitations on the freedom of assembly under the pretext of re-establishing law and order in Wamena. A group of market women in Wamena had registered a demonstration for 10 February 2020. The local police and members of the 1702/Jayawijaya military command prevented the protesters from conducting the peaceful rally, in which the market women demanded the local government to consider them in a program for subsidizing air fares.
Komnas HAM categorises Paniai incident as serious human rights violation – Case submitted to Attorney General
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- Published on Sunday, 16 February 2020 00:42
The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has officially categorized the infamous ‘Paniai Case’ of December 2014 as serious human rights violation. During a plenary session on 3 February 2020, Komnas HAM discussed the findings of five years investigation with the result that the case meets the criteria of a systematic, widespread attack against the civilian population during the incident. According to Komnas HAM chairperson, Ahmad Taufan Damanik, Komnas HAM submitted the results of the investigation to the Attorney General on 11 February 2020.
Fourth Update on trials and detentions after Anti-Racism Riots in West Papua
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- Published on Sunday, 09 February 2020 22:11
This article provides an overview on trials related to Papua-wide anti-racism protests between late August and late September 2019 as well as the subsequent wave of criminalisation against human rights defenders and political activists. The International Coalition for Papua summarised earlier stages of the legal proceedings and detentions in previous articles (first update, second update; third update). The following article covers recent developments in relation to the anti-racism riots between mid-January 2020 and early February.
Trial update on killing of Govt contractors in Nduga Regency – Lawyers request forensic examination of defendant’s teeth
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- Published on Sunday, 09 February 2020 21:48
A trial against a first suspect in the killing of road workers in the Regency of Nduga has been ongoing at the Central Jakarta District Court since 6 January 2020. The Government contractors were killed by members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN PB) in early December 2018. The defendant, Mispo Gwijangge is an indigenous farmer from the regency of Nduga. He has been charged with article 340 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) in conjunction with article 55 (1) KUHP on involvement in premeditated murder. His lawyers again raised concerns about multiple shortcomings in the police investigation during trial. Mispo Gwijangge, who hardly understands the Indonesian language, was arbitrarily arrested and subsequently interrogated without the presence of lawyers or translators. He denies any involvement in the killings.
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