JAKARTA: Indonesia's military "executed" a church leader in its insurgency-wracked Papua region, the National Human Rights Commission said on Monday, in the latest allegation of a civilian killing by soldiers.
A report by the agency, citing witness testimony, alleged pastor Yeremia Zanambani was tortured and then shot by deputy army chief Alpius Hasim Madi during an interrogation on Sept 19. He later died of his wounds.
"The alleged perpetrator of the torture and extrajudicial killing is a military member," Commissioner Choirul Anam said in a statement.
"Before the victim died, he told two witnesses (about the perpetrator). Other witnesses also saw (Madi) at the crime scene with three to four other military members."
In response, Indonesia's military said it was still probing the septuagenarian Zanambani's death in Papua's central Hitadipa district.
"If later there is evidence that a military member was involved, then he'll be dealt with under existing laws and regulations," Papua military spokesman Reza Nur Patria told AFP.
Amnesty International earlier said it had documented over a dozen unlawful killings by members of the military and police in Papua since February.
Indonesian security forces have long been accused of committing atrocities against Papuan civilians during a decades-long rebel movement aimed at gaining independence for the region next to independent Papua New Guinea.
The Southeast Asian nation took control of mineral-rich Papua, a former Dutch colony, in the 1960s following a vote to stay within the archipelago that was widely viewed as rigged.
On Monday, the commission's report said that the church leader suffered severe wounds from a sharp object before he was forced to kneel down "so it was easier for the perpetrator to execute him."
Zanambani's wife found his blood-soaked body and he died of his injuries several hours later, it said.
Zanambani was being questioned about military guns that had been stolen by rebels, the report said, after two soldiers had been killed in the area recently, allegedly by guerrillas.
As part of its probe, the Commission interviewed the suspect Madi who said Zanambani was on his list of so-called "enemies" in the district, and that the victim had criticised the army over the earlier disappearance of two of his relatives.
Madi did not implicate himself in the killing and has not been charged. - AFP
Two church leaders from Papua have met Indonesia’s security minister in Jakarta to discuss various problems
plaguing the restive province, including continuing violence.
Franciscan Bishop Aloysius Murwito of Agats-Asmat and Sacred Heart Bishop Petrus Canisius Mandagi,
apostolic administrator of Merauke Archdiocese, met Mahfud MD on Nov. 1 for more than one hour at his residence.
The two bishops were accompanied by Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo Harjoatmodjo of Jakarta, chairman of the
Indonesian Bishops' Conference.
“The meeting was held in response to various problems in Papua, especially violence. We bishops are
concerned about the situation,” Bishop Mandagi of Amboina, Maluku, told UCA News.
having on people, including the military and police.
The military and police are often accused of using a heavy-handed approach in dealing with a low-level
insurgency by separatists.
The region is also the poorest in the country, a situation that is also said to be fueling local resentment
towards Jakarta.
Bishop Mandagi said they suggested to Mahfud that more dialogue was needed with locals to try and ease
tensions, including dialogue between Jakarta and the local church.
The government must tread more carefully. Using a military approach exacerbates tensions in the
region, he said.
“Papuans are good people. Everyone including military, police, and church workers who come to Papua
must not look down on them. We all need to settle Papua's problems with dialogue, by respecting Papuans
and without violence,” Bishop Mandagi said.
The bishop also warned against profiteers exploiting local people and against mass migration to the region,
saying it will marginalize and antagonize Papuans.
Security Minister Mahfud said the meeting with the bishops was constructive and that government officials
would go to Papua and hold further talks with the bishops and other religious leaders.
“I hope the government fulfills its promises to decrease violence in Papua. We want Papua to become
a land of love, not a war zone,” Bishop Mandagi said.
Father John Bunai, chairman of a Papuan indigenous priests’ association, said the meeting was held at
the request of Mahfud following the shooting of Rufinus Tigau, a Catholic catechist, on Oct. 26
in Papua’s Intan Jaya district.
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