Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia is calling for an evaluation of the placement of TNI (Indonesian military) in Papua after a video of a Papuan man being tortured by several soldiers at the Gome Post in Puncak Regency, Central Papua, went viral on social media.
"This incident was a [case of] cruel and inhuman torture that really damages our sense of justice. It tramples over humanitarian values that are just and civilised. To the families of the victim, we expressed our deep sorrow", said Amnesty International Executive Director Usman Hamid in his statement on Saturday March 23.
Hamid stated that no one in this world, including in Papua, may be treated inhumanely and their dignity demeaned, let alone to the point of causing the loss of life.
"The statements by senior TNI officials and other government officials about a humanitarian approach and prosperity [in Papua] are totally meaningless. It is ignored by the apparatus on the ground", he said.
Hamid said that such incidents are able to be repeated because up until now there has been no punishment for TNI members proven to have committed crimes of kidnapping, torture and the loss of life.
Based on this, said Hamid, they are calling for a joint fact finding team to be formed to investigate the abuse, including urging that an evaluation be carried on to the placement of TNI soldiers in the land of Papua.
"There must be a sharp reflection on the placement of security forces in the land of Papua which has given rise to people falling victim, both indigenous Papuans, non-Papuans, including the security forces themselves", he said.
Earlier, a short video containing an act of torture by TNI members went viral on social media. It shows a civilian who has been placed in an oil drum filled with water being tortured by members of the TNI.
TNI Information Centre Director (Kapuspen) Major General Nugraha Gumilar has revealed the identity of the person being tortured by the soldiers as being a member of an armed criminal group (KKB) named Definus Kogoya.
"The rogue TNI soldiers committed acts of violence against a prisoner, a KKB member by the name of Definus Kogoya at the Gome Post in Puncak Regency, Papua", he said when sought for confirmation on Saturday.
Despite this, Gumilar has still has not revealed any further information about the identity of the TNI members who committed the torture. He confirmed only that more than one member was involved in the abuse.
He said that they are still conducting an intensive examination and promised to be transparent and act firmly against all of the members involved.
"Later I will convey [more information] after the investigation is finished, what is clear is that it was more than one person if you see from the video", he said. (dis/sfr)
Notes
The video (warning: contains graphic, violent content and viewer discression is advised) of the Papuan man being tortured by TNI soldiers can be viewed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJgAHYdLgVo (requires registration), or from the United Liberation for West Papua (ULMWP) website at https://www.ulmwp.org/president-wenda-a-crime-against-humanity-has-been-committed-in-yahukimo.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Amnesty Desak Evaluasi Penempatan TNI Buntut Aksi Penyiksaan di Papua".]
