Jayapura, Jubi – Emanuel Gobay, the Director of the Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua), called for law enforcement against officers involved in police brutality against the people who rallied during the World Human Rights Day in Manokwari.
“The West Papua Police Chief must immediately order the arrest and legal processing of the perpetrators of violence, as it constitutes alleged criminal acts of assault as regulated in Article 351 of the Indonesian Penal Code,” Gobay stated in a written release on Tuesday, December 12, 2023.
The rally in Manokwari commemorating World Human Rights Day ended in clashes, resulting in five individuals being struck by police, two people arrested, and two police officers hit by objects thrown by the crowd.
Gobay expressed disappointment that while Human Rights Day celebrations in various countries are typically marked by peaceful activities, such as free speeches, citywide marches, human rights-themed stages, and gratitude ceremonies, the police in Manokwari created barricades using shields and wore full riot gear to tightly control the event.
He highlighted that riot control measures should only be implemented when the situation escalates from yellow to red alert levels, as specified in Article 4 of the Indonesian National Police Chief Regulation No. 2/2019 on Riot Control.
Gobay emphasized that every police officer, in their duty or daily life, is obliged to uphold and respect human rights. He criticized the police for their actions, stating that they should have been part of the Human Rights Day observance rather than dispersing it.
“We demand that the National Police Chief promptly instruct the West Papua Police Chief to investigate and legally process the officers in charge of the Riot Control Unit, and immediately order the Internal Affairs Division to investigate the Manokwari Police Chief for suspected abuse of authority,” said Gobay. (*)
Jayapura, Jubi – Thomas Ch Syufi, the Executive Director of the Papuan Observatory for Human Rights (POHR), has condemned the dispersal of the World Human Rights Day rally in Papua on December 10 as a threat to democracy and freedom of expression.
“The restriction and suppression of expression in Papua by the police represent a serious threat to democracy, almost indicating a democracy emergency in Papua,” Syufi told Jubi on Tuesday, December 12, 2023.
The rally organized by students ended with clashes. Five people were hit by the police, two were arrested, and two police officers were hit by objects thrown by the people.
Syufi highlighted that freedom of expression is governed by Law No. 9/1998 on Freedom of Speech, which should serve as a guideline for law enforcement authorities, especially the police, in dealing with issues regarding freedom of expression.
Syufi emphasized that police repression of freedom of expression is diminishing the growth of human rights principles. He pointed out that the expression of opinions is part of the universal principles of human rights explicitly stated in Article 28 of the 1945 Constitution, Article 25 of Human Rights Law No. 39/1999, Article 19 of Law No. 12/2005 concerning the Ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as the Freedom of Speech Law.
“I believe this is an act that is not commendable and a form of power arrogance displayed by the police towards freedom of expression,” he remarked.
Syufi suggested that the police should instead assist and support students by overseeing peaceful actions from start to finish. He argued that students are merely voicing concerns about human rights violations in Papua. (*)
Jayapura, Jubi – Frits Ramandey, the Head of the Papua Office of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM Papua), revealed that his office received 65 complaints concerning alleged human rights abuses in Papua from January to December 2023. This announcement came during the 75th World Human Rights Day commemoration in Jayapura, Papua Province, on Sunday, December 10, 2023.
Ramandey stated that out of the 65 complaints, 43 were related to alleged violations of civil and political Rights, predominantly involving armed violence.
“Meanwhile, the remaining 23 complaints were related to suspected violations of economic, social, and cultural Rights,” he added.
He further disclosed that as a consequence of the reported violence, 40 people died, 41 were injured, one was held captive, and one person went missing. These victims consisted of civilians (59), health workers (5), members of the West Papua National Liberation Army or TPNPB (10), Indonesian Military (TNI) soldiers (5), and police personnel (3).
“We are deeply concerned about the continuous string of violence. Our condolences go out to the victims,” he expressed.
Ramandey emphasized that the ongoing and repeated violence indicated flaws in handling the situation in Papua. He highlighted the significance of the Humanitarian Pause appeal made by several national figures in Jakarta on November 9, 2023, aimed at easing armed conflicts and improving the situation in Papua. Efforts to ease armed conflicts are essential for managing refugees and initiating peaceful dialogues in Papua to halt violence.
“Otherwise, the cycle of violence will only escalate,” he warned.
Komnas HAM Papua urged the TNI and police as well as the TPNPB to cease armed violence and seek legal and humanitarian approaches to resolve issues in Papua. They also called upon the provincial and municipal governments in Papua to prioritize human rights issues and create a violence-free living environment.
Additionally, Komnas HAM Papua stressed the importance of considering the rights of indigenous communities in the development of the newly formed province resulting from the division of Papua Province, in line with human rights values and principles. (*)
Jayapura, Jubi – Frits Ramandey, the Head of the Papua Office of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM Papua), highlighted the consistent stifling of citizens’ freedoms by the state through police authorities in Papua. Speaking during the 75th World Human Rights Day commemoration in Jayapura on Sunday, December 10, 2023, Ramandey stressed that the values of freedom, equality, and justice for all in Papua are yet to be fully realized.
He emphasized that the freedom of expression and public opinion in Papua has consistently been and suppressed by the police, creating limited space for citizens to voice their aspirations.
“Human rights values must be respected, protected, and fulfilled by the state,” he stated.
Additionally, a report titled “Dong Penjarakan Tong Pu Suara dan Pikiran” (They Suppressed My Thoughts) by Pusaka Bentala Rakyat in 2022 documented 26 alleged cases of freedom of expression violations in Papua. These incidents led to three fatalities and 72 injuries, with 361 individuals arbitrarily detained. Among those arrested, 26 faced legal proceedings, and 18 were charged with subversion, facing potential life imprisonment.
Also speaking in the same event, Onan Kobogau, the Chair of the Student Executive Board of Timika University, reported that the Mimika Police forcefully disbanded the commemoration of World Human Rights Day in Timika, detaining 41 individuals. Kobogau and four others sustained injuries from police using firearm butts.
Jubi tried to obtain a response from the Mimika Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. I Gede Putra regarding the disbandment of the World Human Rights Day commemoration in Timika but to no avail as of Sunday. (*)
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