Repeated Terror at Papuan Religious Leaders: Violence to Killing

Repeated Terror at Papuan Religious Leaders: Violence to Killing 

Illustration of HL Indepth the Expansion of South Papua Province. tirto.id/Lugas 

By: Adi Briantika

Religious leaders in Papua have not been spared from intimidation by the Indonesian security forces. Some cases even resulted in death. tirto.id - The conflict in Papua continues to claim victims. The religious leaders are no exception. 

The government's willingness to solve the problem was questioned amidst the intensification of the security approach. One of the victims was Pastor Yeremia Zanambani, 63, Chairperson of the Hitadipa Indonesian Bible Tent Church (GKII) in Intan Jaya. 

He died last September. Two investigative teams - the Independent Humanitarian Team for Intan Jaya and Komnas HAM - concluded: TNI was the suspected gunman of Yeremia . Meanwhile, the official team formed by the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs only concluded that the perpetrators were "unscrupulous officers" and a third party. In this murder case, security forces accused the perpetrator of being the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM). After the findings of the investigation were made public, the statement changed. Kapen Kogabwilhan III Colonel Czi IGN Suriastawa, for example, said that if it is proven that the perpetrator is the TNI, "it will be processed in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations," told reporter Tirto , Thursday (29/10/2020). Meanwhile, Head of Public Relations of the Papua Police, Kombes Pol Ahmad Musthofa Kamal, said he would follow up on the findings. "It will be held next week if the weather supports it," he said when contacted by Tirto reporter , Monday (11/2/2020). On 26 October 2020, Rufinus Tigau, a catechist (professional religion teacher at the Catholic Church) at Jalae Parish, Sugapa, Intan Jaya, Papua, also died after being shot dead by joint forces. Saint Mikael Bilogai parish priest Yustinus Rahangiar confirmed Rufinus' status. Also read: Mahfud promises to convey the findings of the Papuan pastor's murder to Jokowi Catechist Shot in Papua: Church & Police Cross Opinions The local police claimed he was the OPM who attacked members of the Intan Jaya Joint Fact-Finding Team Bambang Purwoko as well as two members of the Indonesian Army. "The target has been stalked for a long time, apart from being based on accurate information that he is active in the KKSB (Armed Separatist Criminal Group) action," said the official . This statement was denied by the Diocesan Administrator of Timika Diocese, Father Marthen Kuayo, a day after the victim's death. "The allegation that Rufinus was involved in a separatist movement or armed group is untrue," he said. Suriastawa said that after the Yeremia case, the OPM had a tendency to attach victims to religious leaders . This happened in three other cases. He then reminded them "not to play with SARA" and emphasized that the TNI-Polri must respect religious and community leaders everywhere. The problem is that a similar case has not only happened this time. There are also other cases that befell religious leaders but did not lead to death. According to the report of the West Papua Movement Against 2019: Protesting Racism and Demanding the Right to Self-Determination, released by Tapol (dot) org , in Deiyai, a year ago, when the actions against racism broke out, three human rights defenders who are also Catholic priests were harassed and intimidated by the authorities. First is Pastor Santon Tekege. He was pointing a gun to the head while visiting the injured victim who was being treated at the Madi Hospital, August 29. Second, Pastor Demianus Adii was wanted by the military and police. They combed Kampung Tigi Barat on 4 September. He was hidden by the villagers. Finally, the Hebrew priest Gwijangge who was intimidated and interrogated about his relationship with the OPM when they combed Damabagata District, 6 September. In addition, there are those who experience excessive supervision. Yones Douw, head of the Justice and Peace Department at the KINGMI church, finds his house under surveillance almost every nightdrones . Questioned Will of the State Ari Pramuditya, a researcher from Amnesty International Indonesia, said the claim that religious leaders were 'intimate' with armed groups and therefore were often suspected of being an old case that should no longer be defended. He said the religious leaders were not "helping the OPM," but actually serving the community in the name of humanity. He also questioned how loyal the government is to the security approach in Papua, instead of a more humanist approach. "Why is the [security] approach always being used, even though it is what causes victims from civil society?" said Ari, last Monday (2/10/2020). For the President of the West Papua Baptist Churches Association Socratez S. Yoman, the act of attacking and even killing religious leaders is proof that "the security forces are barbaric, they are categorized as criminals." "It is a cursed act that cannot be tolerated," he told reporter Tirto , Tuesday (3/10/2020). "Shooting human beings is inhuman and barbaric. It is only right for such people to be punished and fired." Also read: Komnas HAM Findings Reinforce Suspicion of the TNI Shooting Pastor Jeremia What's wrong with Vanuatu, West Papua and Indonesia? Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) Asfinawati said the above case was evidence that the tendency of religious leaders in conflict areas to be safer than ordinary civilians did not occur in Papua. If this were to repeat itself, he told reporter Tirto , the problems there "will get worse." On this basis, Ari Pramuditya also said that the perpetrators of the murder of religious leaders should be punished, the process was carried out in civilian courts, not in the military. Civil justice is more appropriate because it is more open, transparent and accessible to witnesses and victims. On the other hand, military justice is closed and it is feared that it will not be transparent. "The slow completion of this case is actually detrimental to Indonesia," said Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the DPR Desmond Junaidi Mahesa. "If like this it justifies gross human rights violations," he explained when contacted by reporter Tirto , Tuesday. The proposal is also similar to that of the National Commission on Human Rights, namely to encourage connectivity justice. If that is not done, in the end the Papuan people will be more convinced to "separate" from Indonesia. Also read articles related to VIOLENCE IN PAPUA or Adi Briantika's other interesting articles (tirto.id - Law ) Reporter: Adi Briantika Author: Adi Briantika Editor: Rio Apinino

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