Photos show Indonesian military posing with dead Papuan

Wendiman Wenda/Photo knpb

Indonesia's military conduct in Papua is again under the spotlight after the release of photographs that appear to show Indonesian soldiers posing over the body of a Papuan man who had been shot dead.

Pro-independence activists from Indonesia's Papuan provinces have released the photos to media organisations including the ABC.

The dead man shown with chest wounds, in what is commonly known as a 'trophy shot', is identified in the pictures as a Papuan farmer.

So far the ABC hasn't been able to verify the photographs or establish the time and location where they were taken.

Correspondent: George Roberts

Presenter: Tim Palmer, ABC AM

TAPOL Urgent Action: Fears for West Papuan activists

Photo Ilustrasi Penangkapan Activits Papua

Papuan political activists and human rights defenders are living in increasing fear as a result of an intensifying crackdown by Indonesian police, military and intelligence officers against activists, particularly members of the non-violent West Papua National Committee, KNPB. There are concerns that further acts of terror, intimidation, arrests, torture and extrajudicial killings against activists are imminent.

According to reports received by TAPOL, in the early hours of Tuesday 16 October Indonesian intelligence officers raided student dormitories at the University of Cenderawasih (UNCEN) in Waena, Jayapura in an unsuccessful attempt to arrest Fanny Kogoya, a member of the TIKI network of women human rights defenders, and other activists.

Last week, on 9 October, Simson Yohame, another activist was unlawfully detained and forced by intelligence officers to reveal the whereabouts of Fanny Kogoya and Viktor Yeimo, leader of the KNPB.

These incidents followed the arrests in late September of eight people in the highland town of Wamena after police targeted homes and offices of KNPB members.

The targeting of KNPB activists appears to have intensified after the killing of the KNPB leader Mako Tabuni, on 14 June 2012. Officers of Indonesia’s counter-terrorism unit, Special Detachment 88 (Densus 88), funded and trained by Australia, the US and the UK, are thought to have been involved in the killing of Mako Tabuni and the arrest of the KNPB members in Wamena.

Please call or write to the authorities urging them to:

End the campaign of terror, intimidation and violence against human rights defenders and political activists, particularly members of KNPB

Guarantee the safety of Fanny Kogoya, Viktor Yeimo, and others who have been targeted.

End the deployment of Densus 88 to Papua, investigate all allegations of human rights violations by Densus 88 officers and other security forces personnel and bring those responsible to justice.

Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

President of Republic of Indonesia

Istana Negara

Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara

Jakarta Pusat 10010

Indonesia

Tel: +62 21 386 3777

Fax: +62 21 344 2223

E-mail: presiden

Inspector General Tito Karnavian
Papua Police Chief (Kapolda)

Jl. Samratulangi No. 8 Jayapura,
Papua,
Indonesia

Tel: +62 811 161 777
Fax: +62 967 531717

Indonesian lawmakers assert legal grounds for TNI offensive in Papua

"The Jakarta Post reports that the House Commission overseeing defence has also pushed the government and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to endorse any efforts by the Indonesian Military, or TNI, to deal with Papuan separatists."

("The Jakarta Post reports Committe Pertahanan juga telah mendorong pemerintah dan Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono untuk mendukung setiap upaya oleh Tentara Nasional Indonesia, atau TNI, untuk Membasmi separatis Papua)"

Indonesia’s House of Representatives has urged the government to take concrete actions to stem the burgeoning support for the separatist movement in Papua.

The Jakarta Post reports that the House Commission overseeing defence has also pushed the government and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to endorse any efforts by the Indonesian Military, or TNI, to deal with Papuan separatists.

The deputy chairman of the first Commission says the TNI has a legal mandate to conduct military operations against separatists.

Tubagus Hasanuddin says the House wouldn’t hesitate to give support for any TNI offensive against the separatist movement in Papua in order to keep the region integrated with Indonesia.

Meanwhile, the government denies that tension is escalating in Papua.

The Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi claims the government can maintain peace in Papua while conducting a constructive dialogue with the Papuan community.

News Content © Radio New Zealand International

Indonesia Military Claims respects human rights in Papua

Indonesia Military in Papua

The Indonesian military (TNI) has always respected and implemented human rights principles in carrying out its main duties in Papua.

 “TNI is not careless, and we keep being procedural in carrying out our duties anywhere including in Papua,” said army commander`s operations assistant Major General Dedi Kusnadi Thamim on Sunday (15/07) in Jinan, China.

Met after attending the closing of a joint exercise between the Indonesian army`s special force Kopassus and China`s People`s Liberation Army special force he said TNI has always respected human rights principles in Papua.

“We will never act cruelly on civilians. But we also will never stay idle if an armed group attacks us. We cannot stay idle towards them. Can we just stay idle if they shoot us?,” he said.

According to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) 22 violent cases has so far been recorded to have happened in the eastern region leaving several deaths.

“The government must seriously settle the problem to provide a sense of peace for the people. The big number of violent cases that has happened has made the performance and professionalism of security forces being scrutinized,” Komnas commissioner Ridha Saleh said in Jakarta.

Without peace, he said, it would be impossible for the government to carry out development programs in Papua and therefore Komnas HAM has asked the government to show its seriousness to immediately hold a dialog involving all parties concerned in the central administration and Papua.

“The government must really be present to give a sense of peace before they carry out the agenda for change in Papua. If the government cannot protect or maintain security it will be impossible for it to be able to carry out development efforts in Papua,” he said.

Ridha expressed concern over violent and shooting incidents that have happened in Papua and in view of that Komnas HAM had urged the security forces to investigate the cases thoroughly.

A Komnas HAM representative in Papua, Frits Ramandey meanwhile has said that the death of Sawiyatami village head Yohanes Janufrom or Yanafrom (30) on July 1 could be categorized as a human rights violation.

“It is categorized as a human rights violation because a life has been taken. Whether he has been shot by an OPM (separatist group) member or a TNI member the case must be investigated to find its truth,” he said.

Source: ANTARA News