Komnas HAM to question 75 over Papua rights abuses
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.