Komnas HAM launches probe into rights abuses in Papua
Komnas HAM launches probe into rights abuses in Papua
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua
A seven-member team from the National Commission on Human Rights
(Komnas HAM) has begun to investigate allegations of human rights
abuses in the province of Papua.
The team, led by Safroedin Bahar, arrived in the provincial
capital Jayapura on Monday evening to begin a one-week inquiry.
It met separately on Tuesday with Papua Governor Jaap Salossa,
church leaders and activists from non-governmental organizations.
The team is scheduled on Wednesday to meet with Papua Police
chief Insp. Gen. Budi Utomo, Trikora Military commander Maj. Gen.
Nurdin Zainal and the deputy speaker of the Papua legislative
council, John Ibo.
It will gather data and information in Jayapura, Wamena,
Wasior and Timika, where non-governmental organizations have
accused security personnel of human rights violations.
The Komnas HAM mission also will look into the murder case of
separatist leader Theys Hiyo Eluay, who was found dead in his car
on Nov. 11, 2001. Several members of the Army's elite Kopassus
force were convicted in the killing.
"We will meet with the Papua police chief to get information
on the cases of Theys and Wasior, while from the Trikora Military
commander we want to get information about the Wamena case,"
Safroedin said on Tuesday.
He said the inquiry into the murder of Theys, a former leader
of the Papua Presidium Council, would focus on reports of human
rights violations.
The team is being assisted by Papuan activists Demianus
Wakman, Iwan K Nidoe and Salomina Yaboisembut.
It is divided into two groups -- one to investigate alleged
human rights abuses in the areas of Timika and Wasior, the other
in examine the murder of Theys and allegations of rights abuses
in Wamena, Safroedin said.
In Wamena regency, the team will investigate the validity of a
report released by the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims
of Violence stating that at least 16 villagers were killed in the
course of a search by soldiers for guns stolen by suspected
separatist rebels in April of this year.
The dead were mostly from the village of Kuyawage, according
to the June 6 report, which stated that other villagers also died
of starvation after fleeing to the forest in order to avoid the
soldiers.
The weapons were stolen on April 4 in a raid that left three
people, including two soldiers, dead. The attackers made off with
29 firearms, 22 of which were later recovered by the military.
Safroedin said the team would speak with villagers in Kuyawage
to obtain first-hand information on the alleged deaths.
"However, I have been told that access to Kuyawage is very
difficult as it only can be reached by plane," he said.
In Timika, the Komnas HAM team will look into allegations of
human rights violations when two American teachers and one
Indonesian were killed in an ambush by gunmen near the U.S. gold
and copper mine PT Freeport Indonesia.
Also in Timika, the team is planning to investigate alleged
human rights abuses during recent tribal clashes between
opponents and supporters of the creation of Central Irian Jaya
province.
At least five people were killed in a week of fighting last
month after Central Irian Jaya was declared a province.
Members of the Komnas HAM team will also look into a 2001
attack that took place in Wasior. The attack, which left five
members of the police's Mobile Brigade dead, was blamed on a
group of unidentified gunmen.
Safroedin said the findings of the team would be discussed
during a plenary meeting of Komnas HAM in Jakarta.
"The team has been given until Oct. 24 2003 to complete its
work. The results of its investigations will be presented during
the plenary meeting to draft recommendations for the President
and ministers," he said.