Arrests Of West Papuans By Anti Terrorist Police

Wednesday, 22 July 2009, 1:32 pm
Press Release: West Papua Media Alerts
Arrests Of West Papuans By Anti Terrorist Police Over Freeport Attacks

Information has been received from a variety of sources that at 1500 local time on Monday June 20, two platoons of Detasment 88 anti-terrorist troops have raided the village of Wowor, New Mimika. Seven (7) West Papuan people were arrested allegedly in connection with the series of attacks on Freeport personnel since July . Unconfirmed witness reports have also been received of excessive force used by the elite troops before, during and after the arrests. Human RIghts monitors have grave concerns for the safety of these people, and information has indicated that these arrests may have been arbitrary.
The detainees were then taken to the PolRes Regional police headquarters in Timika for interrogations. Human Rights monitors have grave concerns for the humane and fair treatment of the detainees, access to legal representation, and respect for the legal process, and call on the Indonesian Police to immediately allow independent human rights monitors to have full access to ensure detainees are not mistreated. Recent reports released by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have detailed widespread and institutionalised torture and ill-treatment of West Papuan political prisoners by members of the Indonesian Security Forces, including cases by Detachment 88 members and police at Timika.

Name place of Birth DOB/Age Tribe Religion address Employment
Eltinus Beanal Tsinga 9 may 86 Amugme, Tani Protestant Beana Gom Pura Copper District.
Simon Beanal Tsinga 29 July 76/ 33 Amugme Protestant New Complex Yahamak Timika.
Samuel Toffy age 29 Protestan Jl. C heatubun back Wowor Timika. Amugme Community Cooperatives
Amun Yawane 35 Amugme banti 1 tembagapura employees of PT. Redparth
Domininggus beanal 13 June 91 AMugme Christian behind Kwamki Polsek
Peter Kanisius Luther 10 Oct 69 Tanimbar Protestant Christian Gold Miner
Tommy Beanal Tsinga 8 June 84 Protestant Christians tembagapura employees. M.H

Given the significant doubts cast internationally on the Indonesian Government's version of events surrounding the shooting of Australian mine worker Drew Grant, it is crucial for the detainees not to be subjected to inhuman treatment and torture. Significant concerns are present that the arrest of these West Papuan villagers will be used to scapegoat West Papuans for the responsibility over the Freeport attacks. The Indonesian Defence minister even has conceded the Free Papua Movement is unlikely to be responsible, and has indicated both the military and the police are responsible, and even went as far a suggesting that Australia itself was behind the attacks.

The Indonesian security forces cannot be trusted to investigate themselves, especially considering their involvement in local illicit activities. Full international and independent human rights investigation is required immediately on the ground in Timika, and the Indonesian Government must immediately reverse the ban on foreign journalists reporting this crucial issue.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0907/S00340.htm