Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Desk of Evangelical Christian Church, Papua Province regarding the assault and maltreatment conducted by Indonesian Air Force personnel. On 5 June 2015 at 2:20 p.m., a member of the Air Force heavily maltreated 22-year-old Amsal Marandof, leading to an injury above his right eyebrow. As Amsal’s elder sister Ida Marandof (26) tried to intervene, she was severely beaten on the chest by another Air Force member, causing her to lose consciousness.
CASE NARRATIVE:
On Wednesday June 5, 2015, around 14:20 pm, Amsal Marandof went to his brother’s grave on the left side of the “Papan Kuning” road. Amsal had a machete with him to cut the grass around the grave. When Amsal arrived there, he saw two Air Force personnel, approximately 200 meters ahead of him, following activities on a piece of land that had previously led to a conflict between Amsal’s family and the Air Force. Amsal walked over to them, intending to ask what they were doing. As he approached, one Air Force personnel panicked and fell down while stepping backwards. Thereupon, the second Air Force member became angry and kicked Amsal in the face, causing a bleeding injury above Amsal’s right eyebrow.
The air force member’s aggressive behavior angered Amsal, so he fought back using the machete and and hit the Air Force personnel’s helmet. Subsequently, Amsal panicked and retreated. After several minutes other Air Force members came running out of their headquarters to chase after Amsal. One staff ran towards him and pointed his gun at him, while others threw wooden sticks and rocks at him, shouting “You are OPM member” (Free Papuan Movement).
Amsal then sought rescue at Arafat workshop, but some 50 Air Force personnel caught him in front of the workshop and kicked and punched him. When Amsal’s older sister, Ms. Ida Marandof (26) received information about the incident, she came to the workshop to help her brother. As Ida tried to intervene, one Air Force personnel hit her on the chest causing her to lose consciousness. Ida was then taken to the Air Force Base Hospital at Singamangaraja Street, Biak City, while Amsal was taken into custody at the Biak District Police Office.
Ida received medical treatment and was supplied with oxygen. When she regained consciousness, a member of the Army Air Force questioned her, but Ida refused to answer. After that the Air Force member gave Ida a sum of IDR 100.000 as transport fee and said, “This problem ends here.” Ida then left the hospital, still feeling pain in her stomach.
At around 3:15 p.m., angry local residents blocked “Papan Kuning” road in front of the grave of Amsal and Ida Marandof’s brother. Demonstrators cut the trees and broke some bottles in the middle of the road, causing a traffic jam. The road block was reopened by the community members and police at 5 p.m.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Papua and West Papua provinces remain in the dark, still facing uncertain law enforcement. The AHRC has reported and documented cases of torture and extrajudicial execution conducted by Indonesian security forces against indigenous Papuans, such as in the case of Indigenous Papuan youth brutally shot by police (AHRC-UAC-128-2015).
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities listed below, asking them to ensure that an immediate investigation into this case is carried out.
The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, , and the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of the indigenous peoples, calling for their intervention into this matter.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ………………..,
INDONESIA: Indonesia Air Force personnel assault two indigenous Papuans
Name of victim:
- Mr. Amsal Marandof
- Ms. Ida Marandof
Alleged perpetrators: Indonesia Air Force Personnel
Date of incident: 5 June 2015
Place of incident: The Arafat Village Biak, Papua Province, Indonesia
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the assault and maltreatment conducted by Indonesian Air Force personnel.
On Wednesday June 5, 2015, around 14:20 pm, Amsal Marandof went to his brother’s grave on the left side of the “Papan Kuning” road. Amsal had a machete with him to cut the grass around the grave. When Amsal arrived there, he saw two Air Force personnel, approximately 200 meters ahead of him, following activities on a piece of land that had previously led to a conflict between Amsal’s family and the Air Force. Amsal walked over to them, intending to ask what they were doing. As he approached, one Air Force personnel panicked and fell down while stepping backwards. Thereupon, the second Air Force member became angry and kicked Amsal in the face, causing a bleeding injury above Amsal’s right eyebrow.
The air force member’s aggressive behavior angered Amsal, so he fought back using the machete and and hit the Air Force personnel’s helmet. Subsequently, Amsal panicked and retreated. After several minutes other Air Force members came running out of their headquarters to chase after Amsal. One staff ran towards him and pointed his gun at him, while others threw wooden sticks and rocks at him, shouting “You are OPM member” (Free Papuan Movement).
Amsal then sought rescue at Arafat workshop, but some 50 Air Force personnel caught him in front of the workshop and kicked and punched him. When Amsal’s older sister, Ms. Ida Marandof (26) received information about the incident, she came to the workshop to help her brother. As Ida tried to intervene, one Air Force personnel hit her on the chest causing her to lose consciousness. Ida was then taken to the Air Force Base Hospital at Singamangaraja Street, Biak City, while Amsal was taken into custody at the Biak District Police Office.
Ida received medical treatment and was supplied with oxygen. When she regained consciousness, a member of the Army Air Force questioned her, but Ida refused to answer. After that the Air Force member gave Ida a sum of IDR 100.000 as transport fee and said, “This problem ends here.” Ida then left the hospital, still feeling pain in her stomach.
At around 3:15 p.m., angry local residents blocked “Papan Kuning” road in front of the grave of Amsal and Ida Marandof’s brother. Demonstrators cut the trees and broke some bottles in the middle of the road, causing a traffic jam. The road block was reopened by the community members and police at 5 p.m.
Therefore, I respectfully call upon the government to ensure that an immediate investigation into the assault on the two indigenous Papuans is carried out and the perpetrators are prosecuted. Moreover, the Chief of Indonesian Military should ensure that an investigation into the alleged involvement of Air Force personnel is initiated. The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) as well as the Indonesian Parliament, in particular Commission I, should monitor and evaluate whether the investigation is conducted in accordance with standards of fair trial.
Yours Sincerely,
……………….
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Joko Widodo
President of the Republic of Indonesia
Jl. Veteran No. 16
Jakarta Pusat
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 3458 595
Fax: +62 21 3484 4759
E-mail: webmaster@setneg.go.id
2. Mr. Yasonna Laoly
Minister of Law and Human Rights
Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav. 6–7
Kuningan, Jakarta 12940
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 525 3006, 525 3889
Fax: +62 21 525 3095
3. Dr. Mualimin Abdi SH., MH
Director General of Human Rights
Office of the Director General of Human Rights
Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav. 6–7
Kuningan, Jakarta 12940
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 5253006
Fax: +62 21 5253095
4. General Badroedin Haiti
Chief of National Police (KAPOLRI)
Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3
Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan 12110
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 384 8537, 726 0306
Fax: +62 21 7220 669
E-mail: info@polri.go.id
5. Inspector General Pol Yotje Mende
The Chief of Police Area of Papua [KAPOLDA]
Jalan. Sam Ratulangi No. 8, Papua 99112
INDONESIA
Tel : +62 967 531014
Fax : +62 967 533763
6. Mr. Luhut Binsar Panjaitan
Chairperson National Police Commission
Jl. Tirtayasa VII No. 20
Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 739 2315
Fax: +62 21 739 2352
E-mail: secretariat@kompolnas.go.id, skm@kompolnas.go.id
7. Mr. Danang Girindrawardana
Chairperson of Ombudsman of Republic of Indonesia
Jl. HR. Rasuna Said Kav. C-19 Kuningan (Gedung Pengadilan TIPIKOR) Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 52960894/95
Fax: +62 21-52960904/05
8. General Gatot Nurmantyo
Chief of Indonesian Military
Mabes TNI Cilangkap Jakarta Timur
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 84595576, +62 21 8459-5326
Fax: + 62 21 84591193
Email: ppidtni@puspen.tni.mil.id
9. Mr. Mahfudz Siddiq
Chairperson of the Commission one of the House of Representative [DPR]
Gedung Nusantara II DPR RI, Lt I
Jalan Jenderal Gatot Subroto, Jakarta,
INDONESIA
Tel : +62 21 5715.520, +62 21 5715.518 / 581
Fax : +62 21 5715. 328 / +62 21 571 5687
Email : bag_pengaduan@dpr.go.id
10. Mr. Nur Kholis
Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission
Jl. Latuharhary No. 4-B
Jakarta 10310
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 392 5227-30
Fax: +62 21 392 5227
E-mail: info@komnas.go.id
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
