Two Papuans shot dead and three wounded by Indonesian police

March 16, 2014

WARNING: This article contains some distressing images.

According to the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), on Tuesday (11th March), in Timika, West Papua, two people were shot dead and three more injured by the Indonesian Mobile Police Brigade (BRIMOB).

Reverend Epinus Magal went to visit members of his congregation of the Gospel Tabernacle Church (KINGMI) in Iwaka, Timika. There had been some disputes around the site in Iwaka, between some communities about the land. Another Church leader, Reverend Hengki who was present at the shooting explained that at around 07:00 in the morning, amid heavy dispute, an angry group of people approached a rival group as the argument escalated but without apparent reason, a group of Indonesian police opened fire on all the people including Reverend Hengki.

He said that shot and seriously wounded was Nokolek Abugau and Okto Dimpau with another Papuan whose name he does not know. Those shot dead were Reverend Epinus Magal, and Yoen Wandagau, a member of his congregation.

Rev. Epinus Magal, was shot in the right rib with the bullet lodged in the heart, while Yoen Wandagau was shot in his arm and in the brain. His body will be brought back to Iwaka.

At about 15:00 both the bodies of victims, Rev. Epinus Tabuni and Yoen Wandagau arrived in the local hospital morgue. After 20:00 the families of the victims saw the bodies of those killed and acted as witnesses to the postmortem. Without any given reason, the police and paramedics ordered Rev. Deserius Adii, out of the operation room.

Police and military impunity in West Papua

Such events as these show a clear culture of impunity existing with the Indonesian authorities in occupied West Papua. The police and military regularly torture, shoot and kill innocent Papuans for no reason.

This is another example of how Indonesia’s so called integration of West Papua has failed. Not only did Indonesia illegally invade West Papua and murder it’s people but the Indonesian authorities also have never even lived up to their so-called duty to protect and serve the Papuan people.

Our deepest condolences are with the families of the victims of these terrible murders.

Rest in peace father Epinus Magal and Yoen Wandagau.