At least 10 West Papuan people killed by the Indonesian military and police in 2017

January 24, 2018

The umbrella human rights organisation, the International Coalition for Papua (ICP), which presents evidence to the United Nations, has documented the extra-judicial killings of at least 10 West Papuan people by the Indonesian military and police in 2017 alone. The ICP “demands Indonesian authorities to immediately conduct independent, impartial and effective investigations into these cases. All perpetrators should be brought to justice at  civilian courts through fair and transparent trials, as stipulated in international human rights treaties”.

Several of those killed were tortured to death by the Indonesian authorities. However, it is believed that a considerable number of other West Papuans were also killed by the Indonesian Security Forces and military backed militia in 2017. Some of those known to have been killed are listed below.

ICP has compiled the following list of those whom they found were executed or the victims of extrajudicial killings in 2017.

  1. Melkias Dogomo, passed away on 7 January 2017 after being severely tortured during detention at the Moanemai Sub-district police station.
  2. Otis Pekei, tortured to death on 10 January 2017, after police officers had arbitrarily detained him during a widespread security force operation in Moanemai Sub-district.
  3. Edison Hesegem, passed away on 11 January 2017 after police officers severely tortured him during detention at KP3 police station in relation to an allegedly attempted burglary.
  4. Maikel Marani, arbitrarily executed by members of a police special unit under command of Yapen district police on 27 March 2017 during a security force operation in Kontinuai Village of Yapen Regency.
  5. Ulis Turot, shot dead by mobile police brigade officers on 20 April 2017 in Ayawasi Village of Maybrat Regency after a quarrel over cigarettes with a shop owner.
  6. Robi Murib, shot dead on 7 July 2017 during a military patrol in Puncak Regency, because he wore a revolver in his belt
  7. Yulianus Pigai, shot dead on 1 August 2017 after mobile police brigade members had opened fire at a group of villagers in Oneibo Village of Deiyai Regency, who protested against a company because its workers had refused to provide first aid to villager.
  8. Theodorus Kamtar, shot dead on 9 August 2017 by member of the military intelligence as a brawl at Poumako harbor of Mimika Regency between Papuan local fishermen and migrant fishers occurred.
  9. Ishak Yaguar, died on 19 November 2017 in Merauke Regency, after members of the military from Yalet Military Post had tortured him because of his involvement in a peaceful protest against corrupt village authorities.
  10. Nikolausi Bernolpus, shot dead by a police officer in Mappi Regency on 25 December 2017 as a dispute between him and a local police officers escalated.

The ICP report does not account for all killings and was not published in time to include the killing of Anekanus Kemaringi, a 22 year old youth who was tortured to death by the Indonesian military on New Years Day 2018. Nor does it account for the death of Mekky Hisage, a KNPB activist who died on 15th December from his injuries sustained from Indonesian police torture in September, or the death of Alex Sambom, another KNPB activist who was found stripped naked and killed on 15th October by suspected members of the Indonesian police in Jayapura. Oktovianus Beteop, a 23 year old West Papuan student died from his injuries in prison in Merauke on 30th October after being tortured by the Indonesian military on 2nd May. On 1st August, West Papuan man Marius Pigai was shot dead by the Indonesian military and police in Deiyai and up to 16 others, including children were also shot. Between May 23rd and May 24th, 5 West Papuan people were killed by Indonesian militia backed by the Indonesian military and police in Jayapura.

There is therefore considerable evidence that between 10 and 20 West Papuan people were killed by the Indonesian military, police and military in 2017, however in West Papua people beleive the real number to be much higher.

Such shocking statistics illustrate the ever increasing urgency for a Human Rights Fact-Finding Mission to be sent to West Papua to help document and expose what is really happening in West Papua.