Komnas HAM set to verify reports of abuses in Papua

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua

A National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) team is scheduled to arrive here on Monday to investigate reports of human rights abuses in the troubled province of Papua.

The team will gather data and information in Wamena, Wasior and Timika, where non-governmental organizations have accused security personnel of human rights violations.

Latifah Anum Siregar, secretary of the Coalition of Non- Governmental Organizations for Human Rights Protection and Enforcement, said on Friday she had received a letter from Komnas HAM confirming the planned arrival of its team.

The six-member team will comprise Sriyana, Safarudin Baharudin, Solahudin Wahid, Mansur Fakri, Amirudin Indri and Eka Sapta Rahmani.

The inquiry team will be assisted by Papuan activists Demianus Wakman, Iwan K Nidoe and Salomina Yaboisembut.

Latifah told The Jakarta Post that the team would visit Timika 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 the one-week fighting after Central Irian Jaya was declared a province, a move supported by the central government.

In Wamena, the team will investigate the validity of a report released by the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) stating that at least 16 villagers were killed as troops searched for guns stolen by suspected Papuan rebels in April this year.

The dead civilians were mostly from Kuyawage village, according to the June 6 report, which said that other villagers had also died from starvation in the forest, where they had gone to hide.

In the arms raid on April 4, three people, including two soldiers, were killed when attackers made off with 29 firearms. Twenty-two of the firearms were later recovered by the military.

The 2001 Wasior incident left five members of the police Mobile Brigade dead. The attack was blamed on a group of unidentified gunmen.

After the incident, the police launched an operation to search for the attackers. "There were allegations of human rights violations in the case. So, Komnas HAM is sending the team to Wasior," Latifah said.

Jayapura Military Commander Col. Agus Muljadi has hailed Komnas HAM's inquiry, saying the human rights group needed to witness conditions in Papua for itself.

"It's good. We hope Komnas HAM will view the problem objectively and not seek fault with the security forces," he told the Post on Friday.