Jayapura's top cop replaced for mishandling violent protest

Nethy Dharma Somba and Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post/Jayapura/Semarang

Under mounting public pressure, Papua provincial police replaced on Friday another senior policeman held responsible for the shoddy handling of a violent protest in Jayapura on Tuesday.

During the official changeover ceremony on Friday, the provincial police also named nine other lower ranking officers as suspects for alleged human rights and procedural violations.

Jayapura Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Son Ani was replaced after a thorough evaluation in the case, said Insp. Gen. Dodi Sumantyawan, the chief of Papua provincial police.

Mimika Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Paulus Waterpauw would replace Son Ani, while Son Ani would assume a non-commission post at the provincial police, Dodi said.

"We expect that a leader must not only be able to impose self- control, but he or she has to be able to impose control on his or her subordinates in order to prevent unexpected things from happening," said Dodi after the changeover at the Papua provincial police headquarters.

The demotions came after allegations from the local branch of the National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM) that police had severely beaten a group of Papuan separatist protesters, with several officers allegedly dragging a woman protester away and stripping her of her clothes. Another officer allegedly stabbed protesters with a syringe.

More than 20 people, including police officers later received hospital treatment for injuries sustained in the brawl.

Earlier, Son Ani's subordinate Adj. Comr. Novly Pitooy was replaced by Adj. Comr. Dominggus Rumaropen. Novly is also to assume a non-commission post at provincial police headquarters.

Dodi said provincial police were investigating nine officers named suspects for alleged human rights violations in the incident. He did not specify what the violations were.

Police were also questioning 26 protesters over the case, he said.

The protest broke out on Tuesday when some 100 people became unruly in front of the Jayapura District Court, shortly after a trial prosecuting two Papua separatist leaders took place.

The protesters were upset as Philep Karma, a respected separatist leader, was not allowed to speak before or after the court session, unlike in previous court hearings.

The group hurled stones into the court grounds that were being guarded by police, prompting a response from the officers.

Karma and Yusak Pakage are on trial for allegedly helping to raise a Papua separatist flag in September last year. During the trial on Tuesday, a prosecutor recommended the court sentence the pair to five years' jail each for their subversive activities.

Earlier the case attracted the attention of the National Police's top brass in Jakarta. During his visit to Semarang on Friday, national chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar slammed the way the officers handled the case.

Da'i, who had earlier called for the planned demotions and investigations, said he planned to visit the Papua provincial police headquarters soon to personally receive a briefing on the matter.

Meanwhile, a human rights activist called on Friday for the national headquarters of Komnas HAM to investigate the case despite the internal police investigation and sanctions.

Albert Rumbekwan, an official at Komnas HAM's Papua office said the rights body should probe the case thoroughly.