TNI attack and torture Papuan civilians in Pyramid, near Wamena

Submitted by FdN on Sun, 04/06/2008 - 18:17
FdN's picture

Yesterday we received alarming reports that Indonesian military personnel are currently abusing the fundamental human rights of Papuan civilians in Pyramid, near Wamena, West Papua:
Tuesday 8 July 2005: 12 members of the TNI from two districts (Assologoima and Bogolame) began intimidating and torturing innocent Papuan civilians in the little village of Moragame (Pyramid) in Assologoima District, near the town of Wamena .
Sunday 17 July 2005: 10 members of the same TNI units returned to Moragame (Pyramid). The TNI opened fire on the Moragame villagers with automatic rifles. The people ran to the jungle to save their lives and are now refugees.
Two Moragame villagers, Mr Yiman Wenda, Mr Abai Wenda, were shot by the TNI. They fled, wounded, into the jungle. Nobody knows if they are dead or still alive.

The TNI also burnt homes and smashed down fences around the vegetable gardens. The same brutality and crimes against humanity committed by the TNI against the people of Puncak Jaya are now being committed against innocent civilians in Moragame (Pyramid).

Thursday 14 July 2005: Mr Petto Wenda was tortured by the TNI in the village of Ndome (Pyramid). TNI soldiers first slashed his face with a razor and then cut his flesh all over his body with a knife. Finally the TNI poured petrol over his head and set fire to him. Petto Wenda's hair caught fire. He received serious burns to his head and is now in a critical condition. He is not expected to survive.

28 July 2005: The TNI is still occupying the Pyramid region. Military operations are still on going and hundreds of refugees are still hiding in the jungle, without proper food or shelter.

These attacks, including summary executions, torture, direct attacks against civilians (even if "combatants" are hiding within their ranks), destroying civilian property (including crops vital to the survival of civilians) and the use of collective punishments, are in direct contravention of international law (the Geneva Conventions 1949 & Protocol 1, Additional to the Geneva Conventions1977). As you know, Indonesia became a party to the Geneva Conventions in 1958.

We therefore respectfully request that the Indonesian Government gives orders to the TNI commander in Jayapura to withdraw immediately all Indonesian armed forces from Pyramid and allow access to the area for emergency humanitarian aid.

We also call on the Police to ensure that those responsible for these crimes are arrested, tried and sentenced.

Yours faithfully,

BW
Note: Benny Wenda
Chair of DeMMaK (The Koteka Tribal Assembly)
International Lobbyist in the UK for a Free West Papua
PO Box 1409 Oxford OX4 1UN England UK

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