Jayapura, Jubi – Free Papua activist Filep Karma passed away at 63 on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. Karma’s daughter Andrefina Karma confirmed that his father died in a diving accident in the waters of Base G Beach, Jayapura City.
Andrefina said she followed the external post-mortem process of Filep Karma’s body. The results showed that Filep Karma died from drowning while diving.
“To all friends of Filep Karma who know him as a Papuan nation’s figure, I am very sorry he has left us all. I have participated in the post-mortem, it is clear that he died from drowning while diving,” Andrefina Karma said on Tuesday.
Andrefina received a phone call on Tuesday morning asking her to immediately come to Base G Beach. Filep Karma was found dead at the beach at around 7 a.m. Papua time. Andrefina said her father left home to dive on Sunday. She said there was a family member who met the late Karma on Sunday morning.
“They swam together. But our family member went home alone because Filep Karma said he still wanted to swim but the tide was high so he waited,” said Andrefina.
The daughter said the family wanted the best for Filep Karma and hoped there would be no hoaxes circulating around Karma’s death. Andrefina also asked the people not to protest regarding the death of her father.
“I invite all Papuans to let Filep Karma go. There is no need for violence or demonstration against his death. Let us pray together for our father Filep Karma,” she said.
On the other hand, a number of Papuan activists have yet to accept that Filep Karma died in a diving accident. They wanted an investigation into the death of Filep Karma.
West Papua National Committee (KNPB) activist Ogram Wanimbo, who paid his respects at the funeral home in Dok 5 on Tuesday, said Filep Karma was a West Papuan figure much respected by people from Sorong to Merauke. Wanimbo hopes that Filep Karma’s family will understand if the public wants to know the chronology of Filep Karma’s death more clearly.
“The complete chronology of Fileph Karma’s death must be revealed transparently to the public. We are very dissatisfied with the post-mortem results. We need an explanation of who went to the beach with him and what exactly happened,” he said.
Papuan People’s Petition spokesperson Jefri Wenda said he was saddened by Filep Karma’s passing. He also emphasized that Filep Karma was a West Papuan national figure, therefore many parties want to know the full chronology of his death.
“We ask for a more detailed explanation. Filep Karma is the leader of the West Papuan nation from the Biak tribe. He was no ordinary person. We ask that all parties respect his struggle,” he said.
Chairman of the Papua Customary Council Dominikus Surabut said his party also did not fully believe that Filep Karma’s death was purely an accident. “The family said it was a pure accident but until now, I don’t believe it. Let there be an investigation into it,” Surabut said. (*)
