Komnas HAM to question 75 over Papua rights abuses

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has started investigating alleged gross abuses in the Papua province last year and in 2001 and plans to summon 75 local witnesses to give testimony.

Led by Komnas HAM chairman Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara, the commission's investigation teams have been in the province since Jan. 12.

They have established representative offices in the Papua towns of Wamena and Wasior, where the military and police are accused of committing extra-judicial killings and torturing civilians.

At least 45 local witnesses will be summoned by the team to probe the Wamena case, in which soldiers allegedly killed seven, tortured 48 and forcibly evacuated some 7,000 Papuans between April and June last year.

The incident was sparked by Free Papua Movement (OPM) members who broke into a military arsenal in Wamena on April 4 and escaped with 29 rifles.

Two soldiers, First. Lt. Napitupulu and Chief Sgt. Ruben Lena, and one civilian were killed in the robbery.

The Komnas HAM dispatched a second team to investigate human rights abuses in Wasior in 2001. The three-member group, which recently met with local officials in Manokwari regency, will ask for testimonies from 30 witnesses.

In that case, police allegedly killed three people and tortured 16 more, burning down dozens of homes in raids in retaliation for the deaths of one civilian and five Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) troops. Those deaths were also blamed on Papuan rebels.

Abdul Hakim said investigations into both cases would be held in two phases, the first on Jan. 26 and the second in March.

Trikora Military Command chief of staff Brig. Gen. Getson Manurung said he would support the teams conducting the probes.

"The military will not intimidate the witnesses during the process. If I find out soldiers are committing intimidation, I will not hesitate to take stern action against them," he said.

Earlier, members of the team investigating in Wamena met with local officials in the Jayawijaya regency to inform them of the purpose for their visit and to win their support.