PR84732

JAKARTA, Indonesia, July 10,2020/Antara=KYODO JBN/--

The Papuan Representative Office of the National Commission on Human Rights of

the Republic of Indonesia (Komnas HAM) revealed the case of a civilian death in

Asiki, Boven Digoel Regency, a victim named Marius Betera on May 16th 2020

after completing a field investigation in order to meet the demand made by an

NGO and the victim’s family, Wednesday.

The coordinator of Komnas HAM Papua investigation team, Frits Ramandey, in his

press statement in Jayapura, stated that this investigation result must be

disclosed to the people, the victim’s family, and NGO to find out the cause of

death of Marius Betera (40) last May 2020 and Korindo was proven not to be

involved in the death case and did not violate human rights.

Frits said that the field investigation by Komnas HAM is done by visiting the

location of incident in Asiki, Boven Digoel Regency and asking for information

from the local residents, the Catholic Church diocese, and the victim’s wife.

The findings by the Papuan Representative Office of Komnas HAM RI are based on

facts, data and information gathered from a number of witnesses and several

related parties including an inspection on the location of the land that had

been used by the victim, Marius Betera to plant bananas inside the oil palm

plantation area owned by PT. TSE POP A Camp 19.

“Regarding the position or location of the banana trees at the plantation, the

Papuan Representative Office of Komnas HAM RI received three different

informations,” said Frits accompanied by the Acting Head of Komnas HAM,

Melchior S. Weruin, in his statement to the reporters.

Based on the information obtained from the field, the banana trees were owned

by the victim, but the land was legally owned by the palm oil company PT. TSE

POP A.

As for the company’s policy, according to Frits Ramandey, the Papuan

Representative Office of Komnas HAM RI did find that inside the plantation area

of PT. TSE POP A Camp 19, there are banana trees planted by residents on the

roadside.

Frits expected the company to be firm in giving prohibition if the land is used

by other people for planting.

According to Frits, if such condition is not immediately fixed, it will

potentially create similar conflicts in the future.

Furthermore, based on the findings by Komnas HAM in the field, the victim

Marius Betera’s anger was caused by his unwillingness to let his banana trees

be removed by a certain party.

Frits further explained that to protest, Marius Betera came to Police Post Camp

19 to report the removal of his banana trees but did not meet the Head of

Police Post.

As a result of not being able to meet the Head of Police Post, according to

Frits, the victim Marius Betera’s anger was peaked when he experienced violent

acts from a police officer with initial MY.

The Papuan Representative Office of Komnas HAM RI stated that from the

information gathered from the perpetrator and witnesses in the field, the

violence caused by the police officer MY against the victim Marius Betera can

be categorized as an excessive, arbitrary, and unprofessional act.

The involvement of this police officer, according to Frits, has violated the

National Police Chief Regulation No.1 and No.8 of 2009 on the Implementation of

Human Rights Principles and Standards in Discharge of Duties of the Indonesian

National Police article 11 letter g which states that police officers are prohibited

from carrying out punishments and physical acts which are not based on law.

Moreover, from the doctor examination result at POP A Camp 19 clinic and other

parties, as evidenced by the doctor’s post-mortem result, according to Frits,

the Papuan Representative Office of Komnas HAM considered that there was no

medical evidence to confirm the death of victim Marius Betera was caused by

violent acts by a police officer.

Komnas HAM has recommended the Regional Police Chief of Papua to carry out a

law enforcement process against the police officer who allegedly committed

violent acts toward the civilian Marius Betera at Camp 19 Asiki, Boven Digoel

Regency on May 16th 2020.

SOURCE: Antara News Agency