Arrijal Rachman, Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) on Monday presented their initial findings after investigating a demonstration protesting against a mining project in Parigi Moutong, Central Sulawesi, which turned deadly after a 21 year-old protester named Erfaldi was shot dead.

Their initial findings revealed that the young protester was shot in the back with a live bullet that penetrated through his left chest. This was confirmed by an autopsy by the Katulistiwa village community health center (Puskesmas) and interviews with the victim's relatives.

Central Sulawesi Komnas HAM chairperson Dedy Askari confirmed that members of the human rights watchdog had been mobilized to the field to investigate the cause of the youth's death, who joined the demonstration against the mining activities conducted by PT. Trio Kencana in Kasimbar and South Tinombo districts.

"The essential aspect in this initial investigation is understanding the cause of the death of one protester," said Askari on Monday, February 14. "It is confirmed that a live bullet caused it, confirming the projectile recovered from the victim's body. The projectile hit the victim from behind."

"Other facts from our interview with the victim's family revealed how the projectile was recovered from the victim and how the bullet shot from an apparatus that shot his back and pierced through his left chest," said the Komnas HAM chair.

This finding was confronted to members of the Parigi Moutong Police Resort through chief of operations Junus Achpa, who guaranteed that the protester was not shot by a police member.

"I dare say that I guarantee the victim was not [shot] by our member, we have layers of security personnel at the location," said Dedy, who reiterated the statement made by the police officer.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1560694/komnas-ham-anti-mining-protester-dies-from-live-ammo-sho