Solidarity Organization for Victims of Human Rights Abuses in Papua
(Bersatu Untuk Kebenaran (BUK), IKOHIK2N- Papua, KontraS Papua, Foker LSM, SKP KC Fransiskan Papua, KPKC Sinode GKI, ElsHAM Papua, PMKRI, AMPTPI, Pront Pepera, Garda-Papua, Parjal, KNPB)
Press Release
“Papua Not Forgotten”
The incidents of Bloody Abepura, 7 December 2000, began with the attack on the Abepura Police Station by an unidentified group, along with the burning of some shops located in the Abepura traffic circle, at approximately 02:00 (Eastern Indonesian Time). Those who attacked the police station
used weapons and other accessories which are specific to the people of the Papuan central highlands. These attributes of the attackers were used to legitimize the subsequent brutal and inhumane actions by the security forces (police and military) against the civilian population. The outcome of the attack on the police station was that one police officer was killed and two others wounded.
With the excuse of pursuing the people behind the attack on the Abepura police station, Brimob (Mobile Brigade-Police Special Forces) units conducted brutal sweepings at many student dormitories (Ninmin, Ikatan Mamahasiswa Ilaga, and Yapen Waropen) as well as in neighborhoods of Papuans from the central highlands; Kampung Butong Skyland, Jalan Baru Kotaraja and Abepantai, among others. Without following legal procedures (such as, for example, conducting an investigation and then searching for primary suspects), the Brimob forces immediately began conducting sweepings, arbitrary arrests, torture, extrajudicial killings, imprisonment without due process, and death while in police custody. As many as 105 civilians suffered direct violence from the police forces. Three people died during the police operation (Elkus Suhuniap was shot dead during a sweeping and both Jonny Karunggu and Ory Ndoronggi died in their cells at Jayapura city police station) and seven more people died later as a result of the torture they experienced at the hands of the police.
The Abepura case falls into the category of serious human rights violations, based on the results of an investigation by the Commission of Inquiry into Rights Abuses in Papua (formed by the National Human Rights Commission). Following the mandate of Law Number 26, 2000, concerning the establishment of a permanent human rights court, the Abepura case was tried in the Human Rights Court of Makassar on 8-9 November 2005. The trial process was very much delayed and secretive, giving rise to the impression that the trial was only for show, wherein the judge, the public prosecutor and the perpetrators were all collaborating together.
The two principal suspects who were brought to trial were Police Commissioner Daud Sihombing and the head of Brimob Papua; Johny Wainal Usman. The court’s decision to unconditionally free both men gave them impunity and restored their good names, in addition to the promotions both subsequently received from the government. The court’s decision also labeled the victims as separatists and refused to offer reparations.
The state of Indonesia remains senseless towards the many cases of human rights violations in the land of Papua. These include, among many others; Bloody Biak 1998; Bloody Abepura 7 December 2000; Wasior 13 June 2001; Bloody Wamena 6 October 2000 and 4 April 2003; the murder of Theys H. Eluay and the disappearance of Aristoteles Masoka on 10 November 2001; Abepura 16 March 2006, and the shooting death of Opinus Tabuni on 9 August 2008. From so many cases of serious human rights violations, only Abepura 2000 has ever even been tried in the human rights court of Makassar. Meanwhile, the fate of the cases of Wasior and Wamena remains in limbo as the legal process has completely stalled, caught in a tug of war between the Attorney General’s office and the National Human Rights Commission in Jakarta. This, despite the fact that the Wasior and Wamena cases also fall into the category of serious human rights violations, according to an investigation by the National Human Rights Commission.
The situation in Papua these days is characterized by a repressive military and continuing patterns of violence by the security forces (police and military) towards civilians. This situation is worsened further by the ongoing restriction of space for democratic expression, exemplified by the police actions of conducting sweepings, arbitrary arrests, torture, murder, imprisonment without due process and death while in custody. Within prison, there is no access to healthcare and prisoners of Papuan descent are still tortured while in custody. Examples include: Filep Karma, Ferdinan Pakage, Seby Sambom, Ardi Sugumold and Maikel Heselo.
On 3 December 2010, 22:00, political prisoners Filep Karma and Buchtar Tabuni Cs, were forcibly transferred from Abepura prison to Papuan Police headquarters because they were accused of instigating a protest at Abepura prison. Neither the warden of Abepura prison, the Department of Justice and Human Rights, nor the Papuan Police, released any written statement to the public giving a reason for the transfer, even though the transfer has now closed off access to the two prisoners. Since the transfer, it is now very difficult for the families and friends of the two men to visit them. The Department of Justice and Human Rights and the Warden of Abepura prison have no good intention of resolving this issue, so they have given it over to the authority of the Police. The result is that Filep Karma and Buchtar Tabuni Cs are the ones who suffer. Who takes responsibility for the health of Filep Karma? Because he is still supposed to be receiving therapy and he is still healing from his recent prostate operation. Despite his condition, Mr. Karma has been on a hunger strike since 4 December 2010.
Thus, we who are gathered together as the Solidarity Organization of Victims of Human Rights Abuses in Papua (SKPHP), demand the following:
1.The Government of Indonesia must fulfill the rights of victims (of state violence).
2.The President of the Republic of Indonesia must immediately resolve the cases of serious human rights violations of Wamena and Wasior.
3.The Governor of Papua, the Papuan Legislature, and the Papuan People’s Council must push for a formal evaluation of the security policies in Papua.
4.The Warden of Abepura Prison, the Department of Justice and Human Rights, and the Papuan Police must immediately return the prisoners Filep Karma and Buchtar Tabuni Cs to the Abepura Prison (from the Narcotics Prison in Doyo Lama, to where they have been recently moved).
5.The Chief of Police of Papua must immediately follow through with the legal processes regarding the cases of the disappearance of Aristoteles Masoka and the shooting of Opinus Tabuni.
6.The Government must immediately create a human rights court in Papua, as is mandated by the Papuan Special Autonomy laws.
Jayapura, 7 December 2010
With Respect