Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information about the brutal attack and shooting committed by the police in Sanggeng, Manokwari West District, West Papua province. The incident was also reported by various media, including BBC Indonesia. By not following legal procedure while handling the case, the police shooting resulted in the death of one indigenous Papuan, while another was seriously injured. According to the investigation of the incident by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), the case falls within the scope of gross violations of human rights as regulated by Law No. 26 of 2000 on Human Rights Court.
CASE NARRATIVE:
On 26 October 2016, an indigenous Papuan, Vijay Pauspaus, was stabbed in a small shop belonging to an immigrant from South Sulawesi province. This occurred when Vijay bought five packs of yellow rice without having enough money in his pocket; accordingly, Vijay phoned his brother to deliver the money.
Suddenly, two other people, also allegedly from South Sulawesi province, who were eating in the same shop, accused Vijay of not wanting to pay. They fought, and one of them stabbed Vijay in the back. When Vijay’s family came to know, they immediately took him to the hospital. Some family members reported the case to the local community; and shortly thereafter, many local community members came and attacked and burned down the shop. Moreover, they also blocked the roads with pieces of wood from felled trees and glass from broken bottles. They also burned tires.
Shortly thereafter, the police came and fired tear gas at the community. When the community tried to defend themselves and counter attack, the police shot at their feet and body. One of the residents, Onesimus Rumayom (45), was shot in the right thigh and bleeding profusely. He was rushed to the Navy Hospital (RS Angkatan Laut), but he passed away after being hospitalized. As a result of the brutal police shooting, nine other community members were injured. The community members who got injured include Wakum Agus (17), shot in the left forearm; Inggabouw Erikson (22), in the bottom right chin and bleeding; and Paskal Major Sroyer (19), shot in the right foot.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Human rights violations in Papua and West Papua provinces have never been addressed by the government. In the last two years, the AHRC has documented and reported various cases of human rights violations conducted by the police and military, for instance: three indigenous Papuans arbitrarily arrested, tortured and currently waiting for an uncertain justice (AHRC-UAC-003-2016); Indigenous Papuan youth brutally shot by police (AHRC-UAC-128-2015); the Paniai case, where the police and military attacked and killed five teenagers, injured 17 others, in Papua (AHRC-UAC-089-2015). The investigation of these cases remains unclear and with little progress, while the perpetrators enjoy impunity and victims receive no remedy.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities listed below, asking them to ensure that the investigation into allegations of human rights violations against the local community in Sanggeng, Manokwari West District, West Papua province must be conducted in a proper way and under fair trial principles. The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) should immediately complete the investigation and issue recommendations to the Attorney General to further investigate the case. President Joko Widodo and Parliament should fully support the Komnas HAM effort and ensure that the victims receive adequate remedy and guarantee that similar cases do not recur.
The AHRC will write a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions and 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 : Indigenous Papuans attacked and shot by Police in Sanggeng, Manokwari West Papua
Name of victims :Onesimus Rumayom (45), Vijay Pauspaus
and other local community in Sanggeng
Manokwari West District
Names of alleged perpetrators : Indonesian Police
Date of incident : 26 October 2016
Place of incident : Sanggeng, Manokwari West District, West Papua province.
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the brutal attack and shooting committed by the police in Sanggeng, Manokwari West District, West Papua province. The incident was also reported by various media, including BBC Indonesia. By not following legal procedure while handling the case, the police shooting resulted in the death of one indigenous Papuan, while another was seriously injured. According to the investigation of the incident by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), the case falls within the scope of gross violations of human rights as regulated by Law No. 26 of 2000 on Human Rights Court.
On 26 October 2016, an indigenous Papuan, Vijay Pauspaus, was stabbed in a small shop belonging to an immigrant from South Sulawesi province. This occurred when Vijay bought five packs of yellow rice without having enough money in his pocket; accordingly, Vijay phoned his brother to deliver the money.
Suddenly, two other people, also allegedly from South Sulawesi province, who were eating in the same shop, accused Vijay of not wanting to pay. They fought, and one of them stabbed Vijay in the back. When Vijay’s family came to know, they immediately took him to the hospital. Some family members reported the case to the local community; and shortly thereafter, many local community members came and attacked and burned down the shop. Moreover, they also blocked the roads with pieces of wood from felled trees and glass from broken bottles. They also burned tires.
Shortly thereafter, the police came and fired tear gas at the community. When the community tried to defend themselves and counter attack, the police shot at their feet and body. One of the residents, Onesimus Rumayom (45), was shot in the right thigh and bleeding profusely. He was rushed to the Navy Hospital (RS Angkatan Laut), but he passed away after being hospitalized. As a result of the brutal police shooting, nine other community members were injured. The community members who got injured include Wakum Agus (17), shot in the left forearm; Inggabouw Erikson (22), in the bottom right chin and bleeding; and Paskal Major Sroyer (19), shot in the right foot.
Therefore, I respectfully request you to ensure that the investigation into allegations of human rights violations against the local community in Sanggeng, Manokwari West District, West Papua province must be conducted in a proper way and under fair trial principles. The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) should immediately complete the investigation and issue recommendations to the Attorney General to further investigate the case. President Joko Widodo and Parliament should fully support the Komnas HAM effort and ensure that the victims receive adequate remedy and guarantee that similar cases do not recur.
I look forward to your prompt action in this matter.
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 Pol. Drs. H.M. Tito Karnavian, M.A., Ph.D
Chief of National Police (KAPOLRI)
Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3 KebayoranBaru, Jakarta Selatan 12110
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 384 8537, 726 0306
Fax: +62 21 7220 669
E-mail: info@polri.go.id
5. Ms. Poengky Indarti
Commissioner of the National Police Commission
Jl. Tirtayasa VII No. 20
KebayoranBaru, Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 739 2315
Fax: +62 21 739 2352
E-mail: secretariat@kompolnas.go.id, skm@kompolnas.go.id
6. Professor Amzulian Rifai S.H, LL.M, PhD
Chairperson of Ombudsman of Republic of Indonesia
Jl. HR. Rasuna Said Kav. C-19 Kuningan (GedungPengadilan TIPIKOR) Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 52960894/95
Fax: +62 21-52960904/05
7. Dr. HM. Azis Syamsuddin, SH
Chairperson of the Commission III of The House of Representative
KetuaKomisi III DPR RI
Gedung Nusantara II DPR RI, Lt I
JalanJenderalGatotSubroto, Jakarta,
INDONESIA
Telp : +62 21 -5715566, +62 21-5715569, +62 21-5715864
Fax : +62 21 5715566
8. Mr. Abdul Haris Semendawai
Chairperson of the Agency for Victims and Witness Protection
Lembaga Perlindungan Saksi dan Korban (LPSK)
JL. Proklamasi No 56 Jakarta Pusat 10320
Tel: +62 21 31907021
Fax: +62 21 3190606 / +62 21 31927881
9. M. Imdadun Rahmat
Chairperson of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM)
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
10. Mr. HM Prasetyo
Attorney General of Republic of Indonesia
Kejaksaan Agung RI
Jl. Sultan Hasanuddin No. 1
Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: + 62 21 7221337 , 7397602
Fax: + 62 21 7250213
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
