Jayapura, Jubi – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has accumulated pending tasks related to its investigation of alleged civilian shootings in Dogiyai Regency. In addition to not conducting field investigations regarding the reported shooting of Dogiyai civilians on July 13, 2023, Komnas HAM has also not yet concluded its inquiry into the alleged shooting of Dogiyai civilians that occurred on January 21, 2023.
Johana Tukayo, coordinator of Human Rights Advancement at the Representative Office of Komnas HAM Papua, has stated that their office is still in the process of finalizing the investigation into the shooting on January 21 in Totoke Tagia, Tugomani Village, Dogiyai.
On January 21, 2023, Yulianus Tebai, who worked as a member of the Dogiyai Civil Service Police Unit, suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the right back. Meanwhile a civilian, Vincen Dogomo, was also allegedly shot in the thigh and received treatment at the Nabire Regional General Hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Tukayo mentioned that a Komnas HAM Papua team had visited Dogiyai from June 5-10, 2023, to investigate the shootings of Yulianus Tebai and Vincen Dogomo. However, the investigation remains incomplete due to several uninterrogated witnesses, including former Dogiyai Police Chief Comr. Samuel D Tatirattu and former Dogiyai Police Chief Second Brig. Fauzi Dwi Romadhon. The team has also yet to consult the forensic doctor regarding Vincen Dogomo’s injuries.
Tukayo admitted to being unaware of the examination schedules for Tatirattu and Romadhon, or the forensic doctor. “So far, there is no examination schedule because the commissioner’s schedule is busy,” she said.
Frits Ramandey, head of the Komnas HAM Papua, noted that several police officers had been questioned by the Papua Police. However, he was uncertain about the number of officers questioned.
“I communicated with the Papua Police; some members have been questioned. But they did not mention [how many members were questioned],” said Ramandey.
As of now, Komnas HAM has also not conducted field investigations regarding the alleged shooting of civilians in Dogiyai on July 13, 2023. During that incident, a civilian named Yosua Keiya (20) allegedly died from shots fired by mobile brigade personnel in Idakebo Village, North Kamu District.
The Legal Aid Institute Talenta Keadilan Papua (LBH-TKP) and the Human Rights Advocacy Network reported that the shooting of Yosua Keiya was followed by another incident on the evening of July 13 in Dogiyai’s Moanemani, which resulted in the deaths of Yakobus Pekey (20) and Stepanus Pigome (19).
On July 19, 2023, Papua Police spokesperson Sr. Come. Ignatius Benny Ady refuted information regarding the alleged shootings that led to the deaths of three civilians in Dogiyai on July 13.
He stated that the data collected by various police units did not confirm any fatalities or injuries during the handling of mass disturbances in Dogiyai on July 13-14, 2023.
The discrepancies in reported data have prompted several human rights advocacy organizations to urge Komnas HAM to dispatch a team to Dogiyai to determine the veracity of the claims regarding fatalities or injuries during the incident.
