Where the death of protesters occurred in West Papua, Indonesia (Photo courtesy of the Jakarta Globe)

By Joseph Juhn
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

JAKARTA, Indonesia – A day after the killing of two men by police, the Indonesian military deployed soldiers across Manokwari, West Papua, as thousands of residents took to the streets to protest. A woman was also injured at the shooting and remains in critical condition at the hospital.

A day earlier, Indonesian police opened fire when a dispute over a traffic accident got out of control, resulting in the killings.

In response to the deadly incident, and in rejecting allegations the police used excessive force, provincial police spokesman Wachyono said police were forced to use lethal force in self-defence when dozens of angry residents became violent after a motorist fled the scene of an accident in the city of Manokwari.

“Our members opened fire at the angry residents. They did it automatically in self-defence against people who brought knives, spears and wooden sticks,” he said.

However, Papuan tribal representative Dominikus Sorabut, from the Papuan Customary Council, said heavily armed police acted out of revenge after the mob pelted them with stones.
 
“The policeman who was hit by stones ran back to his station and came back with a troupe and acted blindly by shooting people,” he said.

On Thursday, soldiers had been deployed around important installations and at locations where crowds had been gathering.

“Our soldiers are helping the police secure Manokwari, particularly the heart of the city, crowded areas and vital installations, as requested by the Manokwari Police,” Edward Sitorus said, who is currently the district military commander in Manokwari.

“This has nothing to do with the demand by residents that all Brimob [the National Police’s Mobile Brigade] officers be pulled out of Manokwari,” he said. “We have not taken over security of the city. We are just assisting the police.”

It is widely known that Indonesia’s police are notorious for poor discipline, corruption and torture. 

They are also widely accused of serious human rights abuses against indigenous Melanesians in Papua, where a low-level insurgency has simmered for decades.

Earlier this month police killed seven people in Central Sulawesi province after locals rose up against them in anger at the death in custody of a local man who had been arrested by police for traffic violations.

It is reported that at least 32 officers have been questioned over the violence occurred earlier this month in Buol. 

Bambang, the Manokwari Police chief, was firm in his statement.

“So far we believe that our officers followed procedure. They were attempting to take control of the situation and fired warning shots. Those shots were ignored by the mob. Then, they opened fire to [stop the rioters],” he said.

“I am sure what they did was in accordance with procedure. But an investigation needs to be conducted to legally clarify matters,” Bambang added.

For more information, please see:

Jakarta Globe – Soldiers Patrol West Papua After Deadly Police Shooting – 17 September 2010

Yahoo News – Indonesia police kill two in Papua road riot – 17 September 2010

ABC News – West Papua police kill two in road riot – 16 September 2010