Jayapura, Jubi – Two students arrested in Kali Brasa, Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency on February 22, 2024 and have yet to be released by the police as of today. The two teenagers, MH and BGE, have been made suspects in the case of aircraft shooting.
MH and BGE were apprehended by security forces on suspicion of being members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB). They were captured in Kali Brasa during a security raid related to the Wings Air aircraft shooting in Dekai, the capital of Yahukimo Regency, which occurred on February 17.
Chairman of the Yahukimo Church Fellowship (PGGY) Rev. Atias Matuan, stated on Sunday (10/3/2024) that MH and BGE have not been released. “Since they were arrested by the police on February 22, they have not been released and have not returned home until now. At that time, three people went to the garden. After harvesting bananas, they returned. Upon arriving at Kali Brasa, one person, named Elly Giban, was shot, while the two students, MH and BGE, were arrested and have not returned home,” said Matuan.
Matuan said he and several religious figures had met with the Yahukimo Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Heru Hidayanto to clarify the whereabouts of MH and BGE. They requested the police to immediately release MH and BGE. Later, Matuan received reports that the police had not yet released MH and BGE.
Human Rights Activist in Papua, Yones Douw, also attempted to locate MH and BGE. According to him, the two youths are still detained by the police. “I have checked in Yahukimo, and they said they have not been released,” he said.
On Thursday (14/3/2024), Jubi contacted Heru Hidayanto via WhatsApp messaging service. Heru asked Jubi to inquire about the matter to the Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Yahukimo Police, Second Insp. Tantu Usman.
When contacted via WhatsApp messaging service on Thursday, Tantu Usman confirmed that MH and BGE are still detained by the police. According to Tantu, MH and BGE have been designated as suspects in the aircraft shooting case.
“MH and BGE have been named suspects and charged for allegedly violating Article 479 F letter a jo Article 55 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code, and are currently detained at the Papua Police Headquarters in Jayapura City,” said Usman.
Usman stated that MH and BGE have been detained at the Papua Police Headquarters since February 29, 2024. Earlier, on February 27, the Antara News Agency quoted the statement of the Cartenz Peace Operations Coordinator Sr. Comr. Faizal Ramadhani, who mentioned that MH and BGE had been released. In the news reports by various media outlets, Faizal stated that the allegation of the two students being involved in the TPNPB network was not proven, so they were released.
Faizal’s statement is supported with the statement of the TPNPB Ndugama Darakma Battalion Commander, Nabeanus Gerebea, on February 24. Gerebea stated that MH and BGE were ordinary civilians who were arrested while crossing Kali Brasa.
“They are not members of the TPNPB. They are purely civilians and have no knowledge of the TPNPB. They were arrested while crossing Kali Brasa to Dekai. They were arrested and tortured,” said Gerebea. (*)
