Wamena – According to a report from ELSHAM's contact post in Wamena, a detainee named Yapenas Murib, from Ilekma who was arrested a few days ago died in military custody at the military command, Kodim 1702 on Tuesday, 5am.
He died as the result of very grave torture inflicted by his military captors. The day before he died, Yapenas Murip together with Kanius Murip were dragged along the street for three kilometers, in the direction of Ilekma, three kilometers south of Wamena town.
Kanius was handcuffed and two ropes were tied round Yapenas' neck, like a cow. Soldiers then pulled the ropes in opposite directions, one from the front and one from behind. When he fell to the ground, soldiers kicked him and ordered him to stand up and run. When he did so, the soldier holding the rope from behind pulled it very hard and when he fell again, the soldier holding the rope in front pulled him forward as hard as he could.
This appalling violence against the detainee was repeated a number of times and was witnessed by members of the public along the road from Sinakma to Ilekma. A witness said that when he arrived in Ilekma at 6pm, Yapenas was able to eat supper but the following morning he was found dead. He was due to be buried today, Tuesday. No one has been allowed to see the body and doctors and personnel at the hospital have been ordered to say nothing.
Doctor Nugroho who conducted an autopsy refused to say anything when ELSHAM phoned to ask him about his findings. As soon as he realised who was making the call, he put the phone down. ELSHAM tried to contact him three times, but he refused to take the calls.
Nothing is yet known about what Yapenas is alleged to have done and why he was arrested with such horrific consequences. Some sources say that Yapenes and Kanius handed in three weapons (stolen from the army post) to a military mediator. ELSHAM has not been able to establish how these weapons came to be in the hands of the two men. A soldier on guard duty at the military command, who took the phone when ELSHAM called, would only say that the commander was away attending a meeting at army headquarters in Jakarta.
The police in Wamena confirmed that Yapenas Murip was dead. ELSHAM has also been informed that another detainee whose name is not known has been hospitalised in the Wamena General Hospital. This detainee is understood to have been tortured; his chest and waist have been slashed with a knife. Personnel at the hospital said that they were only permitted to treat the detainee with iodine.