Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has insisted the police should thoroughly investigate a fatal shooting incident during the commemoration of UN Indigenous People's Day in Wamena on Aug. 9.
"Police must look into the case. They must investigate from which unit the bullets came and conduct investigations objectively, irrespective of the organization involved," Komnas HAM chairman Ifdhal Kasim told the media in Jayapura, on Thursday.
He said the shooting was in violation of human rights because it occurred when civilians were gathering to air their opinions.
"The incident happened during a peaceful rally. It had not threatened public security and people did not carry firearms. This violates basic human rights, without doubt," he emphasized.
Reports received by Komnas HAM, added Ifdhal, indicated that the shooting took place outside the field where the crowd had gathered, and the victim, Atinus Wenda, was not in the group of people who were commemorating the event.
Based on autopsy results, Atinus was shot from a straight angle because the bullet had pierced through the right ribcage and lodged in the heart.
"The bullet came straight and not from warning shots directed upward, or that ricocheted," he explained.
Komnas HAM is monitoring developments of the case through its representative office in Papua. It would form a team if the outcome of the investigation required it to do so.
Asked from which security unit the bullet came, Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Agus Rianto said this was unclear because it was still being analyzed at the police forensics lab in Makassar, South Sulawesi.
He said however that the Wamena police were currently questioning 31 police personnel who were on duty during the incident, and making inquiries with four eyewitnesses.
Rianto said the incident in Wamena concerned two issues – the Bintang Kejora (morning star) separatist flag being raised and the shooting of a civilian.
The Papua Police interviewed five Papua Traditional Assembly (DAP) leaders – chairman Forkorus Yoboisembut, administrative head Fadel Al Hamid, UN Indigenous People's Day chief organizer Julianus Hisage, Baliem chapter head Lemok Mabel and organizer secretary Dominikus Sorambut – Wednesday in connection with the two cases. "They are examined as witnesses," said Rianto.
Separately, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences researcher Muridan Baldan said that flag raising incidents had occurred 10 times this year, and all of the perpetrators had been processed legally.
"Such incidents could occur over and over again and more Papuans would be imprisoned because of the Bintang Kejora flag," he said. "The government should have sought a sensible solution to avoid being embroiled in this issue."
He added prevailing controversies in Papua were more complicated and pressing than the Bintang Kejora flag raising incidents, which were symbolic, rather than substantive.
"The government must renew its approach toward Papua, and not through security means. It has many other substantial issues to resolve but, has only focused on this symbolic question," he said.