Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Regional Police has been urged to take over the investigation into a shooting allegedly involving officers from the Bokondini Police Sector in Tolikara Regency, Papua Highlands.
The shooting, which killed Elki Wunungga, occurred in Mairini Village, Bokondini District, Tolikara Regency, on April 14, 2026.
Lawyers representing the victim’s family from the Papua Human Rights Lawyers Association said they were requesting the case be transferred to the Papua Police due to what they described as slow law enforcement proceedings by the Tolikara Police and concerns that the investigation had not been conducted transparently or impartially.
In a written press statement released on Thursday, the legal team said they had identified several irregularities in the handling of the case, including the victim’s name being recorded incorrectly in the police report as Elki Wanimbo instead of Elki Wunungga.
“The police report was filed under a Type A model without any transparency toward the victim’s family. The only notification letter on the progress of the investigation provided was a single-page document dated April 20, 2026,” the lawyers stated.
They also noted that nearly 28 days after the incident, there had been no clear or comprehensive progress in the investigation. Despite formally appointing legal counsel, the victim’s family said they had never been officially informed about developments in the case.
According to the legal team, neither the victim’s relatives nor eyewitnesses present at the scene had been comprehensively questioned, while police officers who were at the location had already been examined.
They said the initial handling of the case through a Type A police report, combined with alleged lack of transparency, highlighted the need for an independent, professional, objective, and accountable investigation in order to maintain public trust in law enforcement.
The legal team urged the Papua Police to conduct a professional, independent, and transparent investigation, while also calling on the Internal Affairs Division of the Papua Police to take firm action over alleged ethical violations by police officers.
They further requested the involvement of the National Commission on Human Rights to investigate possible human rights violations, and asked the Witness and Victim Protection Agency to provide protection for witnesses and the victim’s family.
In addition to pursuing criminal proceedings with the Papua Police, the lawyers said they had submitted a formal complaint to the Papua representative office of the National Commission on Human Rights regarding alleged human rights violations.
They also filed a complaint with the Professional and Security Division of the Papua Police concerning alleged violations of the police code of ethics and submitted a request for witness and victim protection to the Witness and Victim Protection Agency.
“The legal team will continue to monitor this legal process until there is legal certainty and justice for the late Elki Wunungga and his family,” the statement said.
Based on the facts gathered so far, the lawyers alleged there were strong indications of excessive use of force by police officers resulting in the death of a civilian.
Elki Wunungga was allegedly shot by a police officer from the Bokondini Police Sector while officers were attempting to calm a clash between groups of residents at a house where a mourning gathering was taking place.
The victim was initially taken to the Bokondini Community Health Center for treatment. However, due to limited medical equipment, the family later transferred him to Wamena Regional Hospital in Jayawijaya Regency.
At the hospital, medical personnel removed a 3.8-millimeter bullet projectile from the left side of the victim’s rib cage on April 16, 2026.
A team from the Papua Foundation for Justice and Human Integrity that visited the scene reported finding three 3.8-millimeter bullets, three 3.8-millimeter shell casings, one 5.56-millimeter shell casing, and one 7.6-millimeter shell casing. (*)
Sentani, Jubi – Young activist from Jayapura Regency, Manase Bernard Taime, has questioned the performance of the Special Group Faction of the Jayapura Regency Legislative Council (DPR) in overseeing the management of Papua’s Special Autonomy Fund.
Taime made the statement while speaking in Sentani, the capital of Jayapura Regency, Papua, on Wednesday (13/5/2026).
The Special Group Faction consists of eight appointed members of the Jayapura Regency DPRK. The appointment mechanism is part of Papua’s Special Autonomy framework, aimed at ensuring the representation of Indigenous Papuans in regional legislatures across Papua while also safeguarding the implementation of Special Autonomy policies.
However, Taime said the faction’s role in monitoring the management of the Papua Special Autonomy Fund, commonly known as Dana Otsus Papua, has not been visible.
“There has been no clear advocacy for Indigenous communities, particularly regarding programs and budgets sourced from the Special Autonomy Fund,” Taime said.
According to him, Papua’s Special Autonomy Law clearly regulates the duties and functions of appointed DPRK members, especially in relation to overseeing the management of the Special Autonomy Fund. Taime stressed that appointed legislators must ensure proper oversight of the fund, 80 percent of which is specifically allocated for Indigenous Papuans.
He explained that the funds are primarily intended for the health, education, and economic sectors. The Special Group Faction, he said, should also supervise the implementation of regional regulations, the approval of the Regional Budget (APBD), regent policies, and projects financed through the Special Autonomy Fund.
“Within the Special Autonomy allocation there are specific programs, grants, and block grants. Are these being monitored or not?” Taime asked.
Taime said the public has complained that the management of the Papua Special Autonomy Fund has failed to significantly improve education, healthcare services, or economic empowerment for Indigenous Papuans. He also criticized the Jayapura Regency Government’s decision to stop distributing Special Autonomy funds to district administrations for further allocation to village governments.
“The eight members of the Special Group Faction must speak up. They must question why the regional government has stopped channeling the Special Autonomy Fund to the districts,” he said.
Taime stated that his group plans to hold a peaceful demonstration to pressure the eight members of the Special Group Faction to actively oversee the management of the Special Autonomy Fund. He said this was necessary to ensure that the funds truly reach Indigenous Papuans in Jayapura Regency.
“The benefits of the Special Autonomy Fund absorption in this region have not yet been felt,” he said.
Namblong District Head Wellem Wouw acknowledged that his administration no longer receives Special Autonomy funds to distribute to village governments, despite the benefits those funds previously provided.
“There should be legislative agendas where council members go directly to districts and communities to examine how the Special Autonomy Fund is being absorbed,” Wouw said.
Wouw also said members of the Special Group Faction should play a more active role in safeguarding public aspirations and monitoring the management of the Special Autonomy Fund. According to him, they need to better identify community problems and needs that could be addressed through the fund.
“Besides education, health, and the economy, there are still other sectors that could benefit from the Special Autonomy Fund to improve community welfare,” he said.
He expressed hope that the eight members of Special Group Faction of the Legislative Council of the Jayapura Regency would improve their oversight of the Papua Special Autonomy Fund, especially since the funds are no longer being distributed to village governments. (*)
Manokwari, Jubi – The central government, the West Papua Provincial Government, and the Teluk Bintuni Regency Government have been urged to immediately repair severely damaged roads and bridges in Teluk Bintuni Regency.
The call was made by Eduard Orocomna, a member of the West Papua People’s Assembly (MRP) representing Teluk Bintuni.
Orocomna said he was concerned about the condition of roads and bridges in the regency, noting that Teluk Bintuni is one of the largest contributors to regional revenue in West Papua through the natural gas sector.
According to him, roads and bridges connecting the capital of Teluk Bintuni Regency to West Moskona District and South Moskona District have been severely damaged for years.
“Even four-wheel-drive vehicles struggle to pass through this route. Public transport vehicles often queue for hours until late at night. Motorcycles can still pass through potholes resembling pig wallows or over decaying wooden bridges, but with the risk of collapsing,” Orocomna said on Friday (15/5/2026).
The member of the Indigenous Working Group of the West Papua MRP also said the road authority in West Papua Province must pay greater attention to infrastructure conditions in the area.
He noted that roads in Teluk Bintuni connect Manokwari with Tambrauw, Sorong, Moskona, Maybrat, and Kumurkek in Southwest Papua.
Besides the heavily damaged roads and bridges between West Moskona and South Moskona districts, Orocomna said road conditions are even worse in Merdey District, Teluk Bintuni Regency.
He also urged the government to involve Indigenous Papuan contractors and local workers in road and bridge improvement projects in remote areas of Teluk Bintuni.
“Every project in these areas seems to exclude local contractors or workers, which often triggers reactions from civil groups in Bintuni,” he said.
Orocomna said he had previously conveyed the issue of involving local communities and contractors to the Teluk Bintuni Public Works and Public Housing Agency (PUPR), but found the agency’s response unsatisfactory.
“We already explained that local communities have companies with complete legal documents, but the agency responded by saying companies with CV status could not participate because these projects are only for PT companies,” he said.
He also criticized the local government for only allocating small-scale projects worth around Rp100 million to local residents.
According to Orocomna, the regional government must involve local communities in development projects as a form of empowerment and to ensure they experience a sense of justice. (*)
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