Political Assassination of West Papuan High School Student

Political Assassination of West Papuan High School Student by Indonesian Police

Monday evening, September 28, Indonesian Police shot two Senior High School Students in Gorong-Gorong, Timika, West Papua. Around 7pm (Papua local time) Kaleb Bogau (17 years old) was shot in the chest and died on the scene. Efrando Sabarofek (also 17 years old) was shot in the chest and leg and is in a critical condition in the Timika hospital. The family of Kaleb Bogau has treated this case as a political assassination. Kaleb Bogau was the son of KNPB (Committee National West Papua) activist Reverend Obed Bogau from Kingme Church. Kaleb Bogau body was taken from Timika hospital by his family to the KNPB office.

Obed Bogau is also reported to have received a text message apology from Paulus Waterpau, the Regional Chief of Police (Kapolda), based in Jayapura, Papua. It is reported that Obed Bogau refused the apology message from Waterpau saying that Indonesia had killed so many Papuans and was treating them like animals. He asked the Police to properly investigate this case and, additionally, the recent killing of Kamoro students by military at a traditional ceremony in the Catholic Church in Timika last month.

The KNPB is a non-violent movement seeking Independence from Indonesia, comprising mostly youth and students who are active in all major centres across Papua. Under the administration of President Jokowi, KOREM, the Indonesian Military Intelligence, have identified KNPB as the prime target for counter insurgency operations.

Within the past year there have been at least five cases of civilian shootings in Papua by soldiers or police force. A total of eight people have died as a result.

Paula Makabory representing the Institute for Papuan Advocacy and Human Rights said today, “This Indonesian police assassination is directed against Papuan youth and the KNPB in an attempt to quell political protest by a new generation of Papuans. This political assassination of a West Papuan youth should draw international condemnation.”

Paula Makabory also stated, “The Pacific Island Forum this month has talked about sending a Human Rights fact finding mission to West Papua. The Indonesian foreign minister had said it was wrong for the Pacific Island Forum to speak about the internal affairs of Indonesia. The Australian and New Zealand Government appear to have sided with Indonesia to attempt to sideline attempts for International access and attention to the Human Rights situation.”

“It is clearly time that our brothers and sisters in the Pacific and wider international community condemn Indonesia for its callous & vicious State control over the West Papuan people”.

ENDS

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