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Indonesia: Police attack and shoot at 10 Papuan youth, killing one and injuring others
Asian Human Rights Commission Urgent Appeal - July 23, 2015
Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the shooting and brutal attack on 10 indigenous Papuan youth conducted by police officers of Tigi Police Sector (Polsek Tigi), Deiyai Regency, Papua Province. The attack resulted in the death of Yoteni Agapa (19), while Melianus Mote (21) was seriously injured. Furthermore, eight other youth suffered injuries and trauma. The attack was the police response to the youth blocking the road and collecting money from four-wheel vehicles; the police officers did not effectively attempt to dialogue with the boys to stop their action, and instead shot and injured them.
Case narrative:
On 25 June 2015, at around 6:30 p.m., 10 youth brought a dog for hunting rats near a farm fence by Nabire-Paniai Road. After catching 10 grass rats they went back to their houses, but when they arrived at Kotubado, the dog ran onto the road and a passing truck suddenly hit and killed the dog. The unidentified driver then sped off towards Tigi, Deiyai Regency. In anger, the youth created a road blockade at around 8 p.m., at Kotubado, Ugapuga, District East Kamuu, Dogiyai Regency, and collected between IDR 20,000-50,000 from each four wheel vehicle that passed. In total, the 10 boys collected money from six vehicles.
The six drivers who paid them filed a report at the Tigi (Waghete) police sector (Polsek Tigi), Deiyai Regency, Papua Province. At 10 p.m., the police officers arrived at the blockade in a car. Yoteni Agapa stood at the left door of the car, while Melianus Mote stood at the right door. Suddenly, one of the police officers got out and shot Agapa in the chest. After being shot, Agapa ran towards Iyadimi mountain. While he was running, the police shot him again twice on his right arm, and finally Agapa fell. According to one of the witnesses, the security forces ran towards Agapa. "They surrounded him. They kicked the body. They also hit him with their rifle even though he was already dead. Then they stabbed him with a bayonet on his chest, where he was hit by the bullet. It made the gunshot hole bigger."
One of the boys was hiding behind the grass and witnessed the perpetrators beating and kicking the dead body of Agapa and stabbing him in the chest. When the police stabbed Agapa, they used a flashlight as it was very dark. The police officers then left towards Waghete.
Meanwhile, when Melianus Mote saw Agapa shot by the police officers, he tried to run, but the driver of the police vehicle stabbed his right arm. After sometime, he realized that his arm was bleeding. The other eight youth tried to escape, some jumping into the river, some running on the road until Ugapuga.
At 10:30 p.m., when the Upagupa community heard the police officers had shot to death Yoteni Agapa, they arrived at the location of shooting. They started to take the dead body and collected evidence, including a live bullet with the code number PT. PIN 556. They also found two other live bullets in Agapa's right arm.
On June 26, at around 1 a.m., the dead body of Agapa arrived at Jigiugi Village, his home town. At 11 a.m., the Chief of Police of Kamuu Police Sector came to Agapa's house and offered to conduct an autopsy, which was rejected by Agapa's family. The police tried to convince the family that an autopsy was important to prove that Agapa was not shot to death, but stabbed to death.
Additional information:
Papua Province is one of the most dangerous places in Indonesia. The AHRC's previous monitoring and documentation reveals that there is practically no effective law enforcement against perpetrators of crimes. After the Government divided Papua into the two provinces of Papua and West Papua, various crimes still occur widely. The security forces who conduct violence and serious crimes enjoy impunity, and cases are investigated only if there is massive pressure and media coverage. Even then, only a light sentence will be imposed by the court.
In its concluding observations on the initial report of Indonesia's compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on 21 August 2013, the UN Human Rights Committee stated that "the Committee is concerned at increased reports of excessive use of force and extra-judicial killings by the police and the military during protests, particularly in West Papua", and recommended that the government prevent this by ensuring that law enforcement officers "comply with the 1990 United Nations' Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. It should also take appropriate measures to strengthen the National Police Commission to ensure that it can effectively deal with reported cases of alleged misconduct by law enforcement personnel."
Suggested action:
Please write to the authorities listed below, asking them to ensure that the police officers responsible for the shooting of Yoteni Agapa (19) and injuring of eight others are prosecuted and punished accordingly. The Chief of National Police must order the Chief of Police of Papua Province to investigate properly and comprehensively the shooting and brutal attack on the 10 youth. Moreover, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) and the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) have to monitor the investigation processes and ensure that the police officers who perpetrated the crime are held accountable. Furthermore, the Government of Indonesia must be more consistent in conducting police reform and comprehensively evaluate the placement of security forces in Papua and West Papua provinces to avoid future crimes and excessive use of force in the provinces.
The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions, and Special Rapporteur on the rights of the indigenous peoples
To support this case, please click here: http://203.86.237.28/web28/web/support.php?ua=AHRC-UAC-090-2015.
Sample letter:
Dear....................,
Indonesia: Police attack and shoot at 10 Papuan youth, killing one and injuring others
Name of victims:
1. Yoteni Agapa (19)I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the shooting and brutal attack on 10 indigenous Papuan youth conducted by police officers of Tigi Police Sector (Polsek Tigi), Deiyai Regency, Papua Province. The attack resulted in the death of Yoteni Agapa (19), while Melianus Mote (21) was seriously injured. Furthermore, eight other youth suffered injuries and trauma.
2. Melianus Mote (21)
3. Podepai Agapa (14)
4. Yulius Agapa (17)
5. Unias Agapa (16)
6. Feri Goo (15)
7. Neles Douw
8. Menki Agapa
9. Leo Agapa
10. Eratinus Agapa
Alleged perpetrators: Police officers of Tigi (Waghete) Police Resort (Polsek Tigi), Deiyai Regency, Papua Province, Indonesia. Date of incident: 25 June 2015 Place of incident: Kotubado, Ugapuga, District East Kamuu, Dogiyai Regency, Papua Province, Indonesia
On 25 June 2015, at around 6:30 p.m., 10 youth brought a dog for hunting rats near a farm fence by Nabire-Paniai Road. After catching 10 grass rats they went back to their houses, but when they arrived at Kotubado, the dog ran onto the road and a passing truck suddenly hit and killed the dog. The unidentified driver then sped off towards Tigi, Deiyai Regency. In anger, the youth created a road blockade at around 8 p.m., at Kotubado, Ugapuga, District East Kamuu, Dogiyai Regency, and collected between IDR 20,000-50,000 from each four wheel vehicle that passed. In total, the 10 boys collected money from six vehicles.
The six drivers who paid them filed a report at the Tigi (Waghete) police sector (Polsek Tigi), Deiyai Regency, Papua Province. At 10 p.m., the police officers arrived at the blockade in a car. Yoteni Agapa stood at the left door of the car, while Melianus Mote stood at the right door. Suddenly, one of the police officers got out and shot Agapa in the chest. After being shot, Agapa ran towards Iyadimi mountain. While he was running, the police shot him again twice on his right arm, and finally Agapa fell. According to one of the witnesses, the security forces ran towards Agapa. "They surrounded him. They kicked the body. They also hit him with their rifle even though he was already dead. Then they stabbed him with a bayonet on his chest, where he was hit by the bullet. It made the gunshot hole bigger."
One of the boys was hiding behind the grass and witnessed the perpetrators beating and kicking the dead body of Agapa and stabbing him in the chest. When the police stabbed Agapa, they used a flashlight as it was very dark. The police officers then left towards Waghete.
Meanwhile, when Melianus Mote saw Agapa shot by the police officers, he tried to run, but the driver of the police vehicle stabbed his right arm. After sometime, he realized that his arm was bleeding. The other eight youth tried to escape, some jumping into the river, some running on the road until Ugapuga.
At 10:30 p.m., when the Upagupa community heard the police officers had shot to death Yoteni Agapa, they arrived at the location of shooting. They started to take the dead body and collected evidence, including a live bullet with the code number PT. PIN 556. They also found two other live bullets in Agapa's right arm.
On June 26, at around 1 a.m., the dead body of Agapa arrived at Jigiugi Village, his home town. At 11 a.m., the Chief of Police of Kamuu Police Sector came to Agapa's house and offered to conduct an autopsy, which was rejected by Agapa's family. The police tried to convince the family that an autopsy was important to prove that Agapa was not shot to death, but stabbed to death.
Therefore, I respectfully request you to ensure that a comprehensive investigation is conducted into this case. The Chief of National Police must order the Chief of Police of Papua Province to investigate this matter effectively.
Moreover, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) and the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) have to monitor the investigation processes and ensure that the police officers who perpetrated the crime are held accountable. Furthermore, the Government of Indonesia must be more consistent in conducting police reform and comprehensively evaluate the placement of security forces in Papua and West Papua provinces, to avoid future crimes and excessive use of force in these provinces.
Yours Sincerely,
...................
Please send your letters to:
1. Mr. Joko Widodo
President of the Republic
of Indonesia
Jl. Veteran No. 16
Jakarta Pusat
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 3458 595
Fax: +62 21 3484 4759
E-mail: webmaster@setneg.go.id
2. Mr. Yasonna Laoly
Minister
Ministry of Law and Human
Rights
Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav.
6 -- 7
Kuningan, Jakarta 12940
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 525 3006, 525
3889
Fax: +62 21 525 3095
3. Dr. Mualimin Abdi SH.,
MH
Director General of Human
Rights
Office of the Director General
of Human Rights
Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav.
6 -- 7
Kuningan, Jakarta 12940
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 5253006
Fax: +62 21 5253095
4. General Badroedin Haiti
Chief of National Police
KAPOLRI
Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3
Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta
Selatan 12110
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 384 8537, 726
0306
Fax: +62 21 7220 669
E-mail: info@polri.go.id
5. Inspector General Pol
Yotje Mende
The Chief of Police Area
of Papua [KAPOLDA]
Jalan. Sam Ratulangi No.
8, Papua 99112
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 967 531014
Fax: +62 967 533763
6. Mr. Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno
Chairperson
National Police Commission
Jl. Tirtayasa VII No. 20
Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta
Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 739 2315
Fax: +62 21 739 2352
E-mail: secretariat@kompolnas.go.id,
skm@kompolnas.go.id
7. Mr. Nur Kholis
Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission
Jl. Latuharhary No. 4-B
Jakarta 10310
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 392 5227-30
Fax: +62 21 392 5227
E-mail: info@komnas.go.id
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
(ua@ahrc.asia)
Source: http://www.humanrights.asia/news/urgent-appeals/AHRC-UAC-090-201.
See also:
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