Hans Arnold Kapisa (Contributor), Jakarta – Environmental activist Sulfianto Alias, the director of the non-government organisation (NGO) Panah Papua, suffered serious injuries after being brutally beaten on the morning of Friday December 20 in Bintuni Bay regency, West Papua.
When contacted by Tempo by phone, Alias said that he has reported the assault to the Bintuni Bay District Police (Polres) and included evidence in the form of a medical examination.
"I was set upon by more than three people, my mobile phone was seized, I was even threatened with being killed by one of the perpetrators who claimed to be a member of the police who took out their pistol", said Alias.
He said that the assault occurred after he came out of one of the coffee shops in the Kalitubi area of Bintuni Bay regency at around 12.30 in the morning on Friday.
"When I came out of the coffee shop, I was shouted at by several unknown individuals who then chased me and carried out the beating", Alias said.
Alias then tried to find help and was able to avoid them by hiding in a bathroom belonging to one of the karaoke bars not far from the location of the initial incident.
"Because I couldn't fight back, I managed to run away and hid in the bathroom of nearest building, but the perpetrators continued to chase me and broke down the door and continued the beating", he said.
Not stopping there, the perpetrators then dragged Alias to a location far away the crowded location around that Tanah Merah Awarepi area and continued to torture him and demand he unlock his mobile phone.
"I was forced to have to unlock my mobile phone while continuing to be intimidated with repeated threads I would be killed, and in the end my mobile phone was taken away and I was left sprawled on the ground at the location", he said.
Suffering injuries all over his body and head, as well as a bruised faces, Alias tried to find help on the side of the road until he was saved by a TNI (Indonesian Military) officer who passed by.
"Around 3 am I returned to look for help after the perpetrators had gone taking my mobile phone away. And thank God I was saved by a TNI member who passed by on a motorcycle", he said.
The brutal beating of the environmental activities has been severely criticised a number of parties in West Papua.
Manokwari Legal Aid Assessment, Research and Development Institute (LP3BH) Executive Director Yan Christian Warinussy urged the Bintuni Bay Police Chief Assistant Superintendent Choiruddin Wahid and his officers to immediately follow up on the Alias police report.
Warinussy said that it is strongly suspected that one of the people who assaulted Sul (Alias' nickname) is a local police officer.
"I received reports from several local environmental activists in Bintuni, Moskona and Sorong as well as Manokwari, related to the assault on the Director of the NGO Panah Papua", he said.
Warinussy is therefore urging West Papua Regional Police Chief Inspector General of Johnny Eddizon Isir to pay attention to and fully supervise Choiruddin Wahid in order that they immediately uncover and arrest the perpetrators.
"This is a pure a criminal act that cannot be ignored. Hopefully this incident will get the attention of Inspector General Jhonny who will immediately pay serious attention so that the Bintuni Bay Polres will immediately arrest the perpetrators of the assault which clearly violates Article 351 of the Criminal Law (KUHP)", said Warinussy.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Aktivis Lingkungan Sulfianto Alias Alami Pengeroyokan di Teluk Bintuni, Satu Pelaku Mengaku Polisi".]
