Government under Growing Pressure to Investigate Journalist’s Murder

The July 30 murder of journalist Ardiansyah Matra’is in Merauke and the failure of the Indonesian police to seriously investigate the crime has drawn growing criticism.

A police autopsy reveals the victim was struck by several blows before drowning in Maro River. He was missing teeth and there was swelling in several parts of his body. He death was ruled a suicide by local police.

Matra’is wrote reports on illegal logging around Jayapura as well as military business in Merauke.

“I think if this case is investigated, many parties will be implicated, prompting the investigation to be delayed. . .”

Complicating any effort to understand or resolve this crime is the infiltration of intelligence personnel into the ranks of journalists.

The Reality of Security Force Brutality in West Papua

Through much of August a video depicting Indonesian state security force brutality in West Papua has circulated widely on the internet.

The video presents the last minutes of a Papauan activist captured and then bayoneted by the Indonesian police.

As the man lies dying, with his intestines spilling onto the ground, he is taunted by his murderers. [WATCH the VIDEO]

The torture-murder of Yawan Wayeni transpired in August 2009, but the video surfaced only in late 2010. His murder was never investigated.

The Indonesian Government Bans Humanitarian Group

The Indonesia Government has banned Dutch funding agency CORDAID from operating in West Papua. They have assisted Papuan NGOs and the Papuan people for over three decades, with focus on social development and economic empowerment for the poor.

“The international community has an important role to play in pressuring the Indonesian security forces and their Western backers to withhold from violent repression of Papuan activists. . .”

The Papuan Branch of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) urged the Indonesian police and military to cease their military operations.

“We believe that force of arms or other forms of violence will only lead to yet more problems and more casualties.”

***these have been highlights from a series of monthly reports that focus on developments affecting Papuans produced by the non-profit West Papua Advocacy Team (WPAT) co-published with the East Timor & Indonesia Action Network (ETAN). you can read the entire report by clicking here.