Indonesian military personnel in Maybrat regency, West Papua province, 11 September 2021 Photo: Supplied
Violence in West Papua continues to escalate with the Indonesian government being urged to be transparent about the situation.
The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence claims the government has been covering up and restricting the international community's access to information.
Commission co-ordinator Fatia Maulidiyanti said this was in relation to the murder and mutilation of four civilians in August which were not reported within the legal framework.
"Instead of continuing to cover up the actual violence in Papua with various narratives, the Indonesian government must open the widest possible access to the international community."
Maulidiyanti said Indonesia seemed to be covering up information about the violence in Papua, including access to the United Nations Human Rights Council.
"This access must also be opened to foreign journalists, considering that access for the international community to Papua has even decreased in recent years," Maulidiyanti said.
She called on the government to disclose information about it was doing to to resolve the conflict in Papua and provide full participation of Papuans in the process.
Indonesian police prepare to raid the dormitory. Photo: Tubir Face
Violence in Papua
Papua Student Front for Victims of Violence chairperson Rudi Kogoya said there had been three cases of murder which were allegedly committed by Indonesian military personnel over the last month or so.
"In the month of August, two incidents occurred in Mimika and Mappi which is known to involve six military personnel and four civilians. Following this, there was another incident of allegedly torture of several civilians in Bade sub-district, Mappi regency. One person named Bruno Amenim Kimko died from the abuse and two others suffered serious injuries."
Kogoya said news of another incident in Pania was received last night.
It reportedly involved a civilian who suffered head injuries.
"From what I saw their head had a hole in it, we don't know whether it was torture or a shooting. It's possible it was done by TNI personnel as well", said Kogoya.
"Although a sum of money has been paid from members of the TNI to the victim's family for the customary settlement process, this does not necessarily eliminate the responsibility and obligation of the state to process this case legally. To process the alleged perpetrators with the applicable law in the judicial environment general," said Kogoya.
