Jayapura, Jubi – A number of student organizations in Jayapura City built a coalition to encourage law enforcement in the persecution case allegedly done by Indonesian Military (TNI) soldiers, which resulted in the death of one Mappi resident.
The coalition, called the Humanitarian Care Coalition, urges law enforcement officials to ensure that all TNI personnel involved are prosecuted.
The coalition consists of PMKRI Jayapura, GMKI Jayapura, South Papua Student and Youth Association, Merauke Student Association, Mappi Student Association, Boven Digoel Student Association and Asmat Student Association.
Previously, on August 30, 2022, TNI personnel allegedly tortured three civilians at Bade Post, Edera District, Mappi Regency. The persecution caused Bruno Amenim Kimko to die, and Yohanis Kanggun was seriously injured. Other than Kimko and Kanggun, another resident named Norbertus was also a victim of the persecution.
Secretary of the Merauke Student Association Pelipus Cambu said that peace efforts made by the TNI by providing compensation money should not stop the legal process. According to Cambu, the persecution was a serious case, so the perpetrators must be brought to justice.
“It’s a serious thing. If it is not brought to court, it will happen again. We have to push for the case to be resolved legally so it won’t happen again,” said Cambu in Jayapura City on Thursday, September 8, 2022.
Meanwhile, the deputy chair of the Boven Digoel Student Association, Imelda Yumdeleng, said the assault and murder could not just be swept under the rug. The perpetrators, if proven guilty, must be punished and fired from their institution. She also urged the victim’s family not to accept the money.
GMKI Jayapura chair Opinus Segoniap said that GMKI supports the legal process against TNI personnel suspected of being involved in the torture. According to Segoniap, the acts of torture and murder were inhumane and violated human rights. “Human life belongs only to God,” he said.
Similarly, Helmi from the Democracy Alliance for Papua said the compensation money would not resolve the problem. It should not stop the investigation into the case which had resulted in the loss of civilian lives.
Helmi said that persecution and murder are categorized as ordinary criminal offenses, and therefore, the police could start probing the case without waiting for a complaint from the victim or the victim’s family first. (*)
