Three Papuans tortured and killed by security forces in Intan Jaya
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- Published on Wednesday, 17 February 2021 17:36
After a shooting in the Sugapa District on 15 February resulted in the death of a military (TNI) member, the TNI conducted multiple raids around the village of Mamba chasing after members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN PB) who were named as the perpetrators of the shooting.
During the search a young man named Janius Bagau, 26, was shot in the left arm during a raid in the Village of Amaesiga (see foto on top, source: JPIC Kingmi Papua). He was evacuated to the Bilogai Health Center in Yokatapa Village, Sugapa District. Two of Janius Bagau's brothers named Yustinus Bagau, 20, and Sony Bagau,16, accompanied him to the medical facility.
Later in the evening, TNI members came to the health centre and reportedly interrogated the three young men. The soldiers beat Janius, Yustinus and Sony Bagau inside the health centre until the three men died due to the injuries they sustained during the torture. Their bodies were buried the following day in Tambabuga, Bilogai village. After the incident, dozens of villagers from the affected areas fled to Bilogai in fear of further repressive acts by security force members (see photo below, source: Suara Papua).
IDPs from Nduga need urgent medical care – Many children suffer scabies
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- Published on Thursday, 11 February 2021 07:28
The Foundation for Justice and the Integrity of the Papuan People (YKKMP) has documented multiple health ailments among internally displaced children from the Nduga Regency. According to YKKMP Director Theo Hesegem, the Nduga IDPs in Wamena, particularly women and children, need immediate medical attention. YKKMP had facilitated the medical treatment for six internally displaced children and one woman. They suffer scabies (see images, source: YKKMP) and cannot access free health care in the Jayawijaya Regency. The treatment was paid using donations collected by the YKKMP.
About 8,000 IDPs from Nduga have sought shelter in the Jayawijaya Regency. According to solidarity groups, 400 IDPs have died since January 2019 in Jayawijaya due to diseases and other strains they face. A humanitarian aid team from the Cenderawasih University that visited the Nduga IDPs in Wamena in late November 2020, already observed that skin diseases were among the most common health challenges for many IDPs.
Merauke Police accused of hampering access to medical treatment during detention
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- Published on Thursday, 11 February 2021 07:10
The Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua) has expressed concerns over the health condition of political activist Kristian Yandum. Kristian Yandum was arrested along with 13 other members of the West Papua National Commission (KNPB) on 13 December 2020 at the KNPB Almasuh branch office in Kaiburse Village, Merauke Regency. The drop in his health condition may be related to the torture he and the other activists experienced during arrest and police detention.
More than 600 IDPs seek shelter in Catholic church facilities in Intan Jaya
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- Published on Wednesday, 10 February 2021 08:07
The Papuan media outlet 'Suara Papua' has again reported the displacement of several hundred indigenous Papuans including women and children in the Intan Jaya Regency (see images, source: Suara Papua). The internally displaced persons (IDPs) originate from the villages Bilogai, Kumbalagupa dan Puyagiya in the Intan Jaya Regency. They have fled their homes after the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN PB) killed a trader in Bilogai on 8 February 2021. Six-hundred-fifty IDPs are currently seeking shelter at the Pastor’s house and the nunnery in Bilogai. The Catholic workers used their food stock to supply the IDPs with food. Later the congregation received further food aid from a private company and the local military.
Update on trial against KNPB leader – Adam Sorry sentenced to six years imprisonment
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- Published on Tuesday, 09 February 2021 07:55
The chairman of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) branch office in the Maybrat Regency, Adam Sorry (see image, source: Suara Papua), was sentenced to six years in prison. A panel of judges at the Sorong District Court found him guilty for the alleged involvement of a homicide case in the Sori Village, Maybrat Regency. Before the verdict, the public prosecutor had sought a sentence of eleven years imprisonment for Sorry. Adam Sorry's lawyer plans to appeal against the ruling. He represents the view that law enforcement institutions attempt to criminalise Adam Sorry because of his political views and membership to the KNPB.
Land rights conflicts in Boven Digoel – Military members intimidate indigenous land rights holders
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- Published on Sunday, 07 February 2021 07:09
Human rights defenders documented another case of intimidation in the Boven Digoel Regency. On 4 February 2021, around 11.30 am, indigenous woman Kornelia Ninggan and several of her relatives collected firewood at the side of Baru Statistik Road, near Tanahmerah, the largest town in Boven Digoel. A car stopped, two military members in plainclothes (see image, source: screenshot taken from video recording) approached Kornelia and reprimanded her for chopping timber in this area. Kornelia and her relatives belong to the clan owning the land rights in the site, so she began an argument with the military members. Relatives recorded parts of the discussion with their cell phone cameras.
Kornelia and her relatives understood this as an act of intimidation. They also mention in the video that the military members allegedly threatened them. They urged the military members to leave and said they would share the video with the superiors if the military members would intimidate them again.
Update on trials in relation to Maybrat Police Raid – All three defendants acquitted
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- Published on Thursday, 04 February 2021 04:47
A panel of judges at the Sorong District Court acquitted the three defendants Marten Muuk, Simon Sasior, dan Yakobus Asem on 3 February 2021. The trial against the three indigenous villagers was already launched on 15 September 2020. Marten Muuk dan Simon Sasior were charged with Article 110 (2) of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) on criminal conspiracy against the state. Yakobus Asem was tried separately. The public prosecutor charged him with Article 106 KUHP on treason. The judges ruled that the evidence presented at court could neither be linked to the defendants nor to the murder of police officer Mesak Viktor Pulung. The verdict elaborates that the defendants’ names, dignity and status shall be restituted from all accusations.
Update on law enforcement process against KNPB leader Adam Sorry – Public prosecutor seeks a sentence of 11 years
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- Published on Thursday, 04 February 2021 04:34
On 26 January 2021, the public prosecutor demanded a sentence of eleven years imprisonment for Adam Sorry (see image, source: Suara Papua), the chairman of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) branch office in Maybrat Regency. Sorry is currently standing trial at the Sorong District Court. He was charged with Article 170 (2) & (3) of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) on collective violence resulting in injuries & death as well as Article 338 KUHP on homicide. The latter article carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment. His lawyers claim that the trial is an attempt to criminalize Adam Sorry for his political views and the affiliation with the KNPB, a political movement organisation, promoting the right to self-determination through peaceful activities. Trial will continue on 9 February with the defence plea.
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