Indonesian Police and Army from a joint taskforce opened fire on a car of West Papua independence activists in Abepura, West Papua, on August 18, after arresting three other activists from the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) for distributing pamphlet in support of demonstrations planned for August 20.
The shooting occurred when KNPB (Komite Nasional Papua Barat) members attended the Jayapura police headquarters to check on the welfare of detainee Octovianus Mayor. Mayor was arrested by members of the joint TNI/POLRI taskforce at 10:00 am local time at Expo Waena, for distributing pamphlets for a planned announcement on August 20 of resolutions from the Oxford ILWP "Road to Freedom" conference, at the grave of the late Theys Hiyo Eluay in Sentani. Mayor is the Secretary General of the Timika Region KNPB.
Colleagues of Mayor went by car to Abepura police station upon hearing of his arrest to ensure his safety. Demi Asso, Soni Kosa and several friends asked police guarding a post at Abepura of the whereabouts of their friend, whose location was given by police at District Police Jayapura. After they left the police station and drove towards PolRes Jayapura. According to witnesses, police followed the activists from the police station, and began to shoot at their car, a black Avansa.
Police quickly pursued the KNPB activists vehicle, which was fired on by police officer Bripka Numberi at 12.000 midday, at Abepura circle, Jayapura, Papua.
Bripka Numberi allegedly fired indiscriminately in pursuit of the vehicle, shooting 10 rounds into the rear of the car, 4 rounds through the windscreen, 6 rounds into the rear bumper and 1 round in the wheel, causing the Avansa to stop. The vehicles occupants panicked and ran, according to a a KNPB witness report and chronology obtained by West Papua Media. The police continued to open fire on the unarmed group, shooting Demi Asso, Soni Kosay in the feet. The three other unidentified activists did not sustain bullet wounds, and police arrested all immediately. At around 13:00 the two shot KNPB activists and three others were taken to the Jayapura Police for further processing.
KNPB have appealed for support from international human rights observers, lawyers and NGOs to press for a credible investigation into the circumstances of this arrest and the excessive force used by Police to capture unarmed activists.
Nick Chesterfield, local sources