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Reports on Police Shootings in Paniai gold mining area
Institute for Papuan Advocacy & Human Rights Press Release - May 21, 2012
Indonesian illegal gold panning and an associated gold rush industries, which are backed by military forces and an expanded force of Para military police, puts local Paniai indigenous people in an escalating one-sided conflict in this mountainous and resource rich zone.
This document details a report on the nature of the recent shootings, which was compiled by local Human Rights worker Yones Douw and follows with further comment by Paula Makabory on the political situation in West Papua.
For more information contact:
Paula Makabory
Institute for
Papuan Advocacy & Human Rights
Tel +61 423 451
540
Indonesia: Security forces, Police Mobile Brigade open fire and shot dead a young tribal leader and injured 4 other civilians in Degewo, Paniai District, West Papua
On 15 May 2012, Indonesian Police Mobile Brigade shot dead a young tribal leader Melkianus Kegepe and injured 4 others indigenous people of Wolani tribe, Degeuwo, in a billiard room in Lokasi Emas 45 (the gold panning location), Degewo, Paniai District, West Papua.
Melkianus Kegepe was shot in the side of his chest, with the bullet exiting through the right side. Kegepe died at the crime scene.
The other victims who were brutally shots are Amos Kegepe, who was hit by three bullets, when 2 shots hit his left leg and 1 shot hit his right leg and went through his calf. He suffered of broken leg and was evacuated to Nabire Public hospital. Yulianus Wagepa was shot in the back, with the bullet remaining in his body. Selpius Kegepe was shot three times, the first time to his right arm, the second to his chest and the third penetrated his right hip and exited at the back. Lukas Tobeta was shot in the stomach. On 16 May 2012, at 10.00am (local Papua time), Amos was evacuated to Siriwini Hospital, Nabire, West Papua.
Chronology of the incident:
15 May 2012
At 5.30pm (Papua local time), Selpius Kegepe, Lukas Tobeta, Amos Kegepe and Yulianus Wagepa went down from Lokasi Emas 99 to Lokasi Emas 45 in purpose to play Billiard. Melkianus Kegepe will follow them later.
At 6.00pm, they arrived in the Billiard room in Lokasi Emas 45 and went to meet Mrs. Yona (an Indonesian Sanger woman from Sulawesi), they asked for billiard balls but Yona refused and asked them to pay for the balls first. The victims told her that she let them play and they will pay after that. Mrs. Yona didn't want to give the balls because they hadn't yet paid. While the 4 young men were still arguing with Mrs. Yona, Melkianus Kegepe arrived in the crime scene. Melkianus just stood in the doorway and watched them.
The victims got the balls themselves (they knew where the balls were kept) and started playing. While the four young Wolani men started playing, Mrs. Yona called the Mobile Brigade (BRIMOB) Commander in Lokasi Emas 99 (gold painted location 99) which not far from Lokasi Emas 45 (the crime scene). After making the call, Mrs. Yona went into the Billiard room and turn off the lights. The Victims asked her, "sister, why did you turn off the lights, we will pay you, won't we?" Then they started arguing again when the BRIMOB entering the room at around 7pm. At 7.00pm, BRIMOB troops arrive in the crime scene led by their commander, immediately the commander pulled his pistol out and shot dead Melkianus Kegepe who was standing and watching from the doorway. He died in the crime scene. The BRIMOB troops responded immediately to this shot by their commander by shooting at the other young West Papuan men. Amos Kegepe was shot two times in his left leg and the third one went through his right calf. Selpius Kegepe was shot in three different parts of his body; the first bullet hit his right arm, the second bulled hit and went through his chest and the third bullet penetrated his right hip and went out through his back side. Lukas Tobeta was shot and the bullet pierced his abdomen.
Identity of the Victims:
1. Name: Melkianus
Kegepe (a young tribal leader)
Age: 23 years
old
Sex: Male
Marital Status:
Married
Religion: Christian
(Protestant)
Suffered: A Bullet
shot went through his ribs cage (Dead)
2. Name: Selvius
Kegepe
Age: 22 years
old
Sex: Male
Marital status:
Single
Religion: Christian
(Protestant)
Suffered: 3 bullets
wounds (of 3 bullet shots; in his right arm, chest and hip)
No more information
about his fate after the shooting.
3. Name: Amos
Kegepe
Age: 22 years
old
Sex: Male
Marital status:
Single
Religion: Christian
(Protestant)
Suffered: Bullet
wounds and broken left leg (3 bullet shots; 2 shots in his left leg and
1 shot in his right leg)
4. Name: Lukas
Tekepe
Age: 20 years
old
Sex: Male
Marital Status:
Single Religion: Christian (Protestant)
Suffered: Bullet
wound (a bullet pierced his abdomen)
5. Name: Yulianus
Wagepa
Age: 24 years
old
Sex: Male
Marital Status:
Single
Suffered: Bullet
wound in his back (the bullet still stuck in his body)
Report from the police
After the shooting the police admitted that they shot at the victims because they were drunk and tried to carry away the guns from Brimob police.
Report from the victims and local witnesses
The victims said they were not drunk, and they had not used alcohol. They said they only went there to play billiards, but the owner (Mrs. Yona) didn't want to give them the balls and they started to argument with her, while they are arguing they heard the sound of gun shot and wereg shot quickly after. They said that the Indonesian police (Brimob) protected prostitutes and the Billiards place as well in that location. The protection for those kinds of business was the reason for them as indigenous West Papuans to be shot by Brimob. All victims are from Wolani tribe, who are just becoming known to others because of the gold in their land. They are new to such as the new business and the modern live in that area after Indonesia security forces brought in outsiders to do gold paining and opened all small local businesses illegally against the ownership of the indigenous people in that area. Indonesian security forces have been protecting all migrants and their illegal businesses in that area, especially, those who are doing gold panning and running business illegally in that location.
It was also reported that the same shooting incidents had happened a couple of times in that Regency.
In 2009, SEPANYA ANOKA was shot in his tight by Brimob apparatus in Lokasi Emas Tayaga (the gold paining location).
In January 2012, MATIUS TENOYE was shot to dead by the Brimob apparatus from Bayabiru on the Bridge of Degewo River. His dead body was carried away by the strong currents of the river, and not found till now.
Background information on illegal Mining and security forces involvement in Degeuwo
Small-scale gold mining activities in Degeuwo are carried out illegally by non-Papuans, as they are not in possession of any legal licenses; nonetheless, the profit is reasonably significant. However, the Papuan Police send officers from Papua Police Mobile Brigade to guard the mine sites, mining activities and secure the facilities owned by non-Papuans. Police officers are also known to provide security services for the non-Papuans who established their own businesses, including: kiosks, billiard halls, selling of alcohol, gambling, karaoke locations, bars and massage parlors that offer women sex workers.
For the local people, the official tasks of the Police Mobile Brigade officers being assigned and positioned in Degeuwo are:
1. Guarding and providing security for the gold extracting companies, their activities and their facilities in Degeuwo;Actually, the Wolani people are just being known because of their land in Degewo that rich in gold, the local indigenous there just entering the outside style of live when their gold attracted the outsiders to enter their land, especially, the Indonesian security forces and immigrants from Indonesia.
2. Guarding and providing security for the non-Papuan People/immigrants in Degeuwo.
3. Providing security in Degeuwo where the migrants are making businesses for living.
4. Intimidating the Indigenous West Papuans of Degeuwo (local community). For the local Indigenous people, the presence of Indonesian security forces being a live treating for them, most of the time indigenous in that location were shot to dead with the stereotyping as drunken men, OPM members, and/or if they would carry away the guns.
In 2009, Haji Ari (a Muslim non Papuan) issued a statement to Indonesian security forces that if the local Indigenous people in Degewo make troubles, they should be shot to dead and he is ready to pay Indonesian security forces.
Reported by Yones Douw (Nabire Pania)
Translated and edited by IPAHR, Australia
Paula Makabory, IPAHR comments on 'development and militarism in West Papua
"Throughout West Papua the Indonesian security forces are using repressive actions against unarmed civilians of West Papua, especially where there is connection to the fringe businesses linked to the security forces (such as Prostitution, illegal Gold panning, Sandal Woods collection, timber logging, selling Alcohol, etc.) This kind of state violent intervention forces the problems of unregulated development onto the civilian and indigenous population." Paula Makabory said today.
"The reports about the killings and shootings in Degeuwo, Paniai District have been increasing since this area being occupied by large Indonesia security forces and migrants for economic benefits. Degeuwo region is famous with its pure gold in its land and the goldrush which is occurring there. To increase access to the gold resources the military and police forces and the outsiders threatening the right of life of the land owners, who are stigmatized, as trouble makers or separatists, for simply making an argument or standing up for their human rights and indigenous peoples' rights."
Paula Makabory commented, "Indonesian government is trying to introduce their new policy in West Papua, namely the Acceleration Unit of Development of Papua and West Papua Provinces (UP4B) but what have happened all over West Papua showing that GOI is not serious about building any peace and democracy in the West Papua. Instead, there are many tortures, killings and mysterious deaths of the indigenous Papuans, the land is being occupied by large amount of Indonesia security forces. In the recent years, there are more tortures and killings in the Middle Mountains area, from Paniai to Puncak Jaya, West Papua. West Papua and Indonesia civilians become a fresh target by armed groups, for both State backed militias and Indonesian security forces."
"The most development within UP4B are large groups of security forces in West Papua to combat the Guerillas, OPM groups and civilians who being suspected as separatist including environmental and human rights activists. This situation and condition in West Papua land today showing the political history of West Papua back in 1962-recently, where the same Indonesian Government has promised to develop West Papua but the facts, they betrayed the West Papuan right to Self-Determination (with the helps from Australia, USA, and Dutch) and launched military campaigning that have taken more than 100,000 of lives of Indigenous West Papuans. The West Papuans with the support from Guerillas groups have asked for a peace negotiation in International mediate setting agenda to find a way to stop the long standing conflicts in West Papua, but there is no response from SBY government until now, Papua Peace Networks (JDP=Jaringan Damai Papua) led by Fr. Neles Tebay has asked for a peace dialogue between West Papua representatives and Indonesian government but nothing has happened to this day."
Paula Makabory also said, "Since 1960s, West Papuans have been standing up to challenge the International community and government about their political right as a nation in a legal matter. Many Papuans experienced many forms of human rights violence, murder, mysterious deaths, disappearances, rapes, arbitrary detention, extrajudicial killings, summary executions, and many others. The root of the problems and long standing conflicts in West Papua is the lack of political status of West Papua New Guinea (West Papua) as a nation within Unitary Republic of Indonesia."
"In many cases, what the Indonesian security forces commanders see as 'separatism' is the West Papuan people trying to give expression to their basic Human Rights'. Indonesia gives no space in West Papua for difference in political opinion and any expression of the Rights to Self-Determination is severely repressed."
Paula Makabory concluded, "Recently, West Papuans have been crying out for direct International intervention. There must be a constant access for independent international observers in West Papua. Indonesia government and its security forces should not restrict access by International agencies and foreign media to West Papua. The Indonesian Government must be convinced to withdraw its repressive security forces from West Papua."
Paula Makabory
Institute of Papuan
Advocacy and Human Rights (IPAHR), Australia
Mobile: +61 423
451 540
Alt. Matthew
Jamieson IPAHR, tel +61 418291998 email: matthew@hr.minihub.org
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