Jayapura's top cop replaced for mishandling violent protest<\/p>\n
Nethy Dharma Somba and Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post\/Jayapura\/Semarang<\/p>\n
Under mounting public pressure, Papua provincial police replaced
\non Friday another senior policeman held responsible for the
\nshoddy handling of a violent protest in Jayapura on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
During the official changeover ceremony on Friday, the
\nprovincial police also named nine other lower ranking officers as
\nsuspects for alleged human rights and procedural violations.<\/p>\n
Jayapura Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Son Ani was replaced
\nafter a thorough evaluation in the case, said Insp. Gen. Dodi
\nSumantyawan, the chief of Papua provincial police.<\/p>\n
Mimika Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Paulus Waterpauw would
\nreplace Son Ani, while Son Ani would assume a non-commission post
\nat the provincial police, Dodi said.<\/p>\n
\"We expect that a leader must not only be able to impose self-
\ncontrol, but he or she has to be able to impose control on his or
\nher subordinates in order to prevent unexpected things from
\nhappening,\" said Dodi after the changeover at the Papua
\nprovincial police headquarters.<\/p>\n
The demotions came after allegations from the local branch of
\nthe National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM) that police
\nhad severely beaten a group of Papuan separatist protesters, with
\nseveral officers allegedly dragging a woman protester away and
\nstripping her of her clothes. Another officer allegedly stabbed
\nprotesters with a syringe.<\/p>\n
More than 20 people, including police officers later received
\nhospital treatment for injuries sustained in the brawl.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Son Ani's subordinate Adj. Comr. Novly Pitooy was
\nreplaced by Adj. Comr. Dominggus Rumaropen. Novly is also to
\nassume a non-commission post at provincial police headquarters.<\/p>\n
Dodi said provincial police were investigating nine officers
\nnamed suspects for alleged human rights violations in the
\nincident. He did not specify what the violations were.<\/p>\n
Police were also questioning 26 protesters over the case, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The protest broke out on Tuesday when some 100 people became
\nunruly in front of the Jayapura District Court, shortly after a
\ntrial prosecuting two Papua separatist leaders took place.<\/p>\n
The protesters were upset as Philep Karma, a respected
\nseparatist leader, was not allowed to speak before or after the
\ncourt session, unlike in previous court hearings.<\/p>\n
The group hurled stones into the court grounds that were being
\nguarded by police, prompting a response from the officers.<\/p>\n
Karma and Yusak Pakage are on trial for allegedly helping to
\nraise a Papua separatist flag in September last year. During the
\ntrial on Tuesday, a prosecutor recommended the court sentence the
\npair to five years' jail each for their subversive activities.<\/p>\n
Earlier the case attracted the attention of the National
\nPolice's top brass in Jakarta. During his visit to Semarang on
\nFriday, national chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar slammed the way the
\nofficers handled the case.<\/p>\n
Da'i, who had earlier called for the planned demotions and
\ninvestigations, said he planned to visit the Papua provincial
\npolice headquarters soon to personally receive a briefing on the
\nmatter.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a human rights activist called on Friday for the
\nnational headquarters of Komnas HAM to investigate the case
\ndespite the internal police investigation and sanctions.<\/p>\n
Albert Rumbekwan, an official at Komnas HAM's Papua office
\nsaid the rights body should probe the case thoroughly.<\/p>",
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