Hengky Yeimo & Abeth You, Nabire – Rights activist Yones Douw said his party had received a testimony from a number of residents in Ilaga District, saying three civilians from Nipuralome Village were shot dead by the Police's Nemangkawi task force on Friday, June 4, 2021.
Meanwhile, the Nemangkawi task force claimed on Saturday that the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) was the one who did the shooting and killed the chief of the Nipuralome Village, Patianus Kogoya (40) and his wife, Paitena Wakerkwa (35), as well as a village official named Erialek Kogoya (50).
According to Nemangkawi task force chief Sr. Comr. Iqbal Alqudusy, the fatal shooting happened after security forces raided the Aminggaru Airport in Ilaga, which was occupied by the TPNPB, and engaged in gunfire with the armed group. Alqudusy said three civilians were shot dead by the armed group. His statement has been quoted and published by the media.
Douw, however, refuted the police's claim and demanded the police to explain the fatal shooting chronologically. "Don't hide the crimes they have committed themselves. One day the crime will be exposed to the public," Douw said on Saturday.
Douw said that according to a number of eyewitnesses, the shooting occurred after Patianus Kogoya, Paitena Wakerkwa, and Erialek Kogoya met with security forces in Ilaga. The victims were leaving their village because of gunfire that had occurred in Nipuralome Village since Friday morning.
According to the eyewitnesses, Douw said, Patianus Kogoya had shown his ID card to the security forces but the security forces ripped it up and shot the three dead. "This is a testimony from the family and local residents who witnessed the shooting themselves," Douw said.
Further, Douw said there were three other civilians who got injured in the same crossfire in Ilaga on Friday, namely Mendinus Murib (5), Mama (mother) Manimbo (26), and Yudes Wanimbo (34).
Former commissioner at the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) Natalius Pigai supported Douw, saying the various evidence that had been obtained by the activists had spoken the truth. "The Nemangkawi task force has spread a hoax," Pigai said.
Source: https://en.jubi.co.id/police-allegedly-shoot-three-civilians-in-papuas-ilaga-says-local-resident