Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Law Enforcement and Human Rights Coalition said that the perpetrators of the shooting of nine civilians in Mappi Regency on December 14, 2022 must be held to justice. The coalition rejects “peace efforts” facilitated by the local government because it is considered not to provide a deterrent effect for the perpetrators.
Coordinator of the Coalition Emanuel Gobay said that from the investigations conducted by the coalition, it was concluded that the shooting was allegedly carried out by Indonesian Military (TNI) soldiers and members of the Mappi Police, and that there were allegations of crimes against humanity in the incident.
On that basis, the Coalition had filed a complaint to the Papua Police chief and the commander of the XVII/Cenderawasih Military Regional Command (Kodam). The Coalition asked the Papua Police through the Internal Affairs Division (Propam) and Kodam XVII/Cenderawasih through the Military Police to send a team to investigate the shooting.
“In our analysis, there are allegations of abuse of authority. We submitted our investigation results to the Papua Police and Kodam, hoping that it can be followed up to conduct a further investigation into that case,” Gobay told Jubi on Monday.
Gobay said it was important for the Papua Police and Kodam XVII/Cenderawasih to reveal the alleged involvement of their members in the shooting of civilians in Mappi. Gobay hopes that the perpetrators of the shooting can be prosecuted.
The Coalition rejected the peaceful settlement through the payment of money to the victims of the shooting that would be facilitated by the Mappi District Government. The Coalition considered it would not have a deterrent effect on the perpetrators.
“If the money is taken and the case is over just like that, will there be a deterrent effect on the perpetrators not to do it again? Settlement by paying money will not stop the violent actions of security forces against civilians,” he said.
Gobay said money settlement would only perpetuate impunity in Papua. “Deterrent effect is only achieved if the perpetrators got prosecuted, never through money settlement,” he said.
Meanwhile, Helmi, a member of the Coalition, hoped the TNI and police institutions could take firm action against their members involved in the shooting of nine civilians in Mappi. “We also hope that the TNI and police will take firm action against their members who commit similar cases,” said Helmi.
The results of the Coalition’s investigation conducted on December 17-20, 2022 concluded that there was initially a resident who stabbed another resident named Martinus. However, the Coalition denied that there was a clash between residents that followed the stabbing.
With these findings, the Coalition denied the Papua Police’s version that the shooting of civilians occurred because security forces were attacked while breaking up clashes between residents. “The information stating that the officers shot the victims when the officers separated the clash between the victims’ group and the perpetrators’ group is not true,” said Helmi.
The Coalition’s findings differ from the information conveyed by the Liaison Officer of the South Papua Police, Sr. Comr. Erick K Sully in Jayapura City on December 15, 2022. Sully said that the shooting occurred after a group of residents attacked security forces who broke up a clash between two groups of residents who were under the influence of alcoholic beverages. (*)
