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Statement on violence, abductions and killings in West Papua

National Soldiarty for Papua (SNUP) - September-November 2004

[The following Press Release by the Jakarta-based NGO, SNUP (National Solidarity for Papua), was issued on 22 November last year. It provides a much Clearer picture of events in Puncak Jaya, West Papua from September to November 2004 than previously obtained, and is therefore being translated in its entirety - February 15, 2005.]

National Solidarity for Papua (SNUP) expresses its profound concern regarding abductions, violence and killings that have occurred in Ilu Village, Gurage Kampung, Puncak Jaya, involving the TNI (Indonesian army)/SATGAS TNI (Special Unit, TNI) and civilians. SNUP believes that these incidents would not have occurred had all parties, in particular the local security forces, performed their duties correctly, bearing in mind that a network of security units is based in Puncak Jaya such as KODIM (district military command), KOREM (resort military command) and KOLAOPS (operational command), which should have been able to provide comprehensive security.

SNUP has obtained the following information from reliable sources on the ground:

1. An issue regarding traditional rights is turned into a matter of separatism This incident began with the construction of an airstrip in Tinggi Nabut District, Guragi Kampung. The airstrip was being constructed on land which was traditional land belonging to the Tabuni tribe as well as land belonging to several local margas. In addition, construction of the Wamena-Mulia highway was underway, which had been sub-contracted to PT Modern. According to our information, trees were being felled in a protected forest located on traditional land of the Tabuni tribe. The owners of the land regarded this as a violation of their rights and were intending to deal with the matter by obtaining clarification from the relevant authorities. Goliath Tabuni, a member of the Tabuni tribe, wanted to sort the matter out, in particular the unlawful felling of trees in their village which had been designated as protected forest.

All this was then distorted on the ground into a report that Goliath Tabuni intended to disrupt the celebration of the 17 August 2004 anniversary.

A number of Kopassus troops were sent to Guragi (written above as Gurage) and an attack by an unknown armed group occurred. From that time on, it was alleged that Goliath Tabuni was a member of TPN/OPM (the armed wing of the OPM) who was out to stir up trouble in the area. One member of Kopassus was slightly injured during an armed clash.

2. Emergence of a new TPN/OPM group bearing the characteristics of a militia group A new armed group then emerged referring to itself as a OPM/TPN group: the Marunggen Wonda Group acting as the courier of the bupati (district chief) of Puncak Jaya, to warn Goliath, as well as a Marunggen Telenggen Group.

3. The murder and intimidation of religious leaders On 14 September 2004, the Rev. Eliza Tabuni and his son, Melkias Tabuni, members of the Irian Jaya Gospel Church, in Guragi, were on their way to a place of worship when they were assaulted by an armed forces unit. They were questioned violently regarding the whereabouts of Goliath Tabuni. Rev.

Eliza was tied up and because he said that he knew nothing, he was shot dead; his son managed to flee although he had sustained a serious wound in the back of his neck.

On 16 October, at 21.00 hours, Rev. Yason Koyoga was taken from his home by two members of Kopassus, who had been sent on the instruction of Enok Ibo, the district secretary (sekwilda) of Puncak Jaya, and was subjected to questioning for three hours, from 21.15 till 24.00 hours. The Kopassus soldiers threatened to tie up the victim's hands, while showing him the rope that had been used to tie up the hands of the Rev. Eliza Tabuni, when he was shot.

4. Abduction and killing of civilians On 12 October 2004, six non-Papuan civilians, who were said to be employees of PT Modern and were working on the road construction, were assaulted in the village of Ilu Mulia. However, the company later said that none of their employees were missing. At the same time, there was a report stating that there had been an attack in the vicinity of the village of Ilu when six hartop taxis happened to be passing by, and were transporting supplies from Wamena to Mulia.

Their vehicles were burnt by the (attack) group. The whereabouts of the seven drivers are still not known, nor is it known whether they were shot or abducted. During the attack, some members of the security forces were wounded and two are thought to have died. The security forces accused the TPN/OPM, led by Goliath Tabuni, as being responsible and as a result, they sent about a hundred TBOs (auxiliary personnel) to Puncak Jaya.

5. Sweeping and destruction of villages and public facilities There were a series of heavy-handed sweepings around Mulia in the search for Goliath Tabuni. A series of violent actions have since been underway against public buildings such as schools and churches. The security forces have accused the TPN/OPM of being responsible, whereas reliable local sources said they have not yet been able to identify those who were involved in these actions. As a result of these actions, a large number of local inhabitants from Mulia and nearby have fled into the forest.

On 17 October at 13.00 hours, troops launched operations by land and from the air against the civilian population. TNI helicopters opened fire and dropped bombs on the kampung inhabitants just as they were having a meal together. But the bombs and bullets did not go off. These operations resulted in congregants from 27 churches fleeing into the forest for their safety. Some had been in to the forest since 17 August 2004.

On 12 November, an unknown group attacked a humanitarian team which was distributing food aid and medicines in the vicinity of Mulia and the district of Ilu at 16.00 hours. As a result two local government officials, Yuni Wonda, 31, head of finances of Puncak Jaya, and Rahel Elaby, 28, head of the district of Mulia, were seriously wounded, while a driver from the police force, Yance Kirimay, died. Eight others sustained minor injuries. During these events, a motorbike used by one of the group was set alight and destroyed by the security forces, then thrown down a ravine.

An additional 300 troops were brought into Mulia, Puncak Jaya to restore order, as a result of which many local inhabitants fled into the forest.

According to SNUP's contact in the locality, around 2,000 inhabitants fled their villages and are now in desperate need of relief aid; however, access to the area is exceedingly difficult. According to a volunteer of an organisation called FNKHP, five of those who fled have died from hunger or disease, while one person was reportedly abducted and has disappeared. In view of the above, National Solidarity for Papua calls for the following:

1. Komnas HAM, the National Human Rights Commission, should send an investigation team to look into the series of violent actions that have resulted in the loss of a number of lives and the destruction of public facilities such as schools and churches.

2. The newly-established Papuan Komnas HAM should treat the Mulia case as its top priority.

3. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should set up an independent investigation team to investigate these events, in particular the emergence of a group calling itself TPN/OPM, although it bears all the hallmarks of a militia group having links to the TNI.

4. Investigations should be conducted into the sadistic torture and shooting to death by members of the security forces of the Rev. Eliza Tabuni, the torture and shooting of Melkias Tabuni, a member of the Irian Jaya Gospel Church, as a result of which he sustained serious injuries. These actions are very wrong and have been traumatic for their congregants. The TNI must be held responsible for these actions that do not accord with the legal procedures in force.

5. We call upon the police to find out who it is who is the brains behind the Mulia incidents.

6. Commission I of Parliament should carry out an inquiry into the existence of KODIM, KOREM, and other commands in Puncak Jaya. In the opinion of SNUP, the presence of these agencies is not guaranteeing security for the community; on the contrary, it has resulted in a heightened level of violence, intensifying the hostility between the government and their own people.

7. The region should be opened up to humanitarian agencies that are capable of assisting the evacuees who have fled their homes and are now suffering from shortages of the things they need.

Jakarta, 22 November, 2004

Solidaritas Nasional Untuk Papua
Bonar Tigor Naipospos, Ori Rachman, Parulian Sihombing, Mulyadi Goce, Emmy Sahertian, Ferdinand Tetro Nasira, John Poly Menanti.