On 21 September 2017, VIVAT International presented a Joint Oral Statement asking the Government of Indonesia to investigate this extrajudicial killing case and other previous cases, and cooperate with Special Procedures by inviting the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions to visit West Papua under Agenda Item 6: UPR Adoption – Indonesia of the 36th Session of the Human Rights Council, Geneva.
A Joint Oral Statement under Agenda Item 6: UPR Adoption – Indonesia of the 36th Session of the Human Rights Council
21 September 2017
We, Geneva for Human Rights, VIVAT International, International Coalition for Papua, Westpapua-Netzwerk and Franciscans International, welcome the adoption of the outcomes of the UPR of Indonesia. We appreciate the Government of Indonesia’s acceptance of three recommendations on the human rights situation in West Papua.[1] We regret the rejection of one important recommendation on access for UN mechanisms to West Papua.[2]
Despite its commitment delivered at international fora, the Government of Indonesia still fails to ensure the full enjoyment of the human rights of indigenous West Papuans. We continuously receive information on violations by the state apparatus.
For example, on August 1, 2017 Mr. Yulianus Pigai (27 years), an indigenous Papuan villager in Oneibo Village, Deiyai Regency of Papua Province was extra-judicially killedfollowing tensions between Oneibo villagers and workers of PT Dewa Krisna, who declined to bring a victim of drowning to hospital.[3]
Mr Pigai was shot dead allegedly by the members of the Indonesian Mobile Brigade. They were called by the officials of the company to control the situation. Instead of calming down the situation, they applied excessive use of force against the indigenous Papuans, which caused the death of Mr Pigai, and injured ten other persons including five minors. We also received reports that the police allegedly accused them of being supporters of a Papuan armed independence movement.
As conclusion, we ask the Government of Indonesia to investigate this extrajudicial killing case and other previous cases without delay, and cooperate with Special Procedures by inviting the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions to visit West Papua.
[1] See A/HRC/WG.6/27/L.5, recommendation 139.51, 139.67 and 141 63
[2] Idem, see recommendation 141.24
[3] The incident started due to the failure of the workers of PT Dewa Krisna company who declined to bring Mr Kasianus Douw, who was unconscious due to drowning case, to nearby hospital. The late response caused the death of M Douw. The villagers were angry and tore down the tents of the workers. The officials of T Dewa Krisna reported this incident to the police who send a truck with fully armed mobile brigade police officers. Our sources mentioned that instead of calming down the situation or disperse the crowd with warning shots, the police opened fire and shot the villagers indiscriminately, including to Mr Pigai and other victims.
