Wife of human rights activist shot at Papua-PNG border<\/p>\n
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Unidentified men shot the wife of a human rights
\nactivist near an immigration post near the Indonesia-Papua New
\nGuinea border at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The woman, identified as 40-year-old Elsie Rumbiak Bonay, is
\nthe wife of Johanis G. Bonay, director of the Papua-based
\nInstitute for Human Rights Study and Advocacy (Elsham).<\/p>\n
Another woman, identified as Yeni Irew Merauje, 35, was also
\nshot during the attack.<\/p>\n
Both women underwent surgery at the Army hospital in Jayapura.<\/p>\n
The two women, along with nine other people, boarded a vehicle
\nbelonging to the Papua's Public Works Office to cross the border
\nto visit relatives in Vanomi, Papua New Guinea.<\/p>\n
When they arrived at the border the gate was still closed and
\ntherefore, the driver of the vehicle, Albert Merauje, head of the
\nborder road development project, turned back to the immigration
\npost. Suddenly shots were fired from the forest at the vehicle
\nfrom its left side.<\/p>\n
One shot hit both Elsie's legs, another shot hit Yeni's upper
\nright leg and also the left shoulder of Marlin Bonay. Another
\nshot was fired, but it did not hit any of the passengers.<\/p>\n
Local military (172rd Resort) chief Col. Agus Muljadi blamed
\nan \"armed renegade group\" for the attack.<\/p>\n
Elsham deputy director Allosyus Renwarin, however, linked the
\nattack to Johanis Bonay's activities as a rights campaigner.<\/p>\n
Before Saturday's attacks, Allosyus said, Bonay had received
\nseveral threats.<\/p>\n
\"When attending the funeral of the late Michael Rumbiak, a
\nlecturer of Cendrawasih University who died last week, Pak
\nBonay's car tires were slashed by unidentified persons, and then,
\nthe telephone line at his home was cut.\"<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military (TNI) once threatened to sue Elsham
\nfollowing its report alleging Military involvement in the Aug. 31
\nambush close to the mining area of PT Freeport Indonesia in
\nTimika.<\/p>\n
Unidentified gunmen opened fire on buses near the U.S.-owned
\nFreeport gold and copper mine in Timika, killing two U.S.
\nteachers and an Indonesian, as well as injuring 18 others.<\/p>\n
Elsham's allegation, however, was later supported by the
\nfindings of an investigation by Papua Police. Papua Police deputy
\nchief Brig. Gen. Raziman Tarigan asserted that Army soldiers were
\nsuspected of having carried out the attack.<\/p>\n
Johanis Bonay, however, refused to link the attack on his wife
\nwith Elsham's allegations about the Freeport attack. \"I don't see
\nthe link in that direction,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Jayapura Police chief of detectives Adj. Comr. Mikel Da Costa
\nalso ruled out any link between Saturday's attack and Elsham's
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
\"We don't see that. What's certain is that there was a violent
\nincident that caused injuries to civilians,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Mikel said he would send his men to the location to
\ninvestigate the attack.<\/p>\n
Col. Agus Muljadi also said that the Indonesian Military would
\nnot let such attacks occur in the future, and therefore, he would
\nlaunch an operation to clear the area of members of the armed
\nrenegade group.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/wife-of-human-rights-activist-shot-at-papua-png-border-1447893297",
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