Amnesty International calls for an independent and impartial investigation into reports that police used unnecessary and excessive force to disperse a peaceful demonstration in Papua province commemorating International Day of the World’s Indigenous People on 9 August 2012.
If the investigation finds that the security forces committed human
rights violations, then those responsible, including persons with
command responsibility, should be prosecuted in proceedings which meet
international standards of fairness, and victims provided with
reparations.
At least seven people were arbitrarily arrested during and after the
demonstration and are being held at the Yapen District police station.
They should be released immediately and unconditionally if they have
been arrested solely for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom
of expression.
Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) and military from the 1709 District
Military Command (Kodim) led by the Yapen District Police Chief blocked
hundreds of peaceful protesters as they marched on the morning of 9
August 2012 in Serui, Yapen Island.
According to local sources, the Indonesian security forces then fired
their guns into the air to disperse the protesters, causing many to flee
in fear. At least six protesters were arbitrarily arrested during the
demonstration and some were reportedly beaten by security forces during
their arrest. The police then travelled to Mantembu village to arrest
one of the demonstration organisers, a local political activist. When
they could not find him they arrested his wife, who is reportedly eight
months pregnant.
The actions of the security forces fly in the face of statements made by
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in February 2012 that he wanted an
end to repressive actions by the military and police in Papua.
The rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are guaranteed
in Articles 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Indonesia is a state party. Moreover,
these rights are protected under Indonesia’s Constitution. However,
Amnesty International has documented dozens of other cases of arbitrary
arrest and detention in past years of peaceful political activists in
Papua.
Amnesty International continues to receive credible reports of human
rights violations committed by the security forces in the provinces of
Papua and West Papua, including torture and other ill-treatment,
unnecessary and excessive use of force and firearms by the security
forces and possible unlawful killings. Investigations into reports of
human rights violations by the security forces are rare and only a few
perpetrators have been brought to justice.
During a 2008 gathering to commemorate International Day of the World’s
Indigenous People in Papua, peaceful demonstrator Opinus Tabuni was
discovered dead with a bullet wound clearly visible in his chest, after
police opened fire at the crowd. Despite a police investigation, to date
no one has been held to account for his death.