The video of a man from West Papua who is tied up in a barrel filled with water and being physically assaulted and attacked with knives, allegedly by Indonesian soldiers, has reignited calls for global intervention in the disputed province.
In the Central Papua province, two videos were allegedly filmed in early February during a military operation in Puncak regency’s Omukia and Gome districts, depicting a man being tortured. These videos have been brought to light.
The clip, which has been reviewed by the Guardian but not reproduced, depicts a man seated in a 44-gallon barrel containing water stained with blood.
The video shows him being punched, elbowed, struck with sticks, and kicked while he is sitting in the barrel. He has multiple injuries on his face and head, with blood visibly running down.
In another, a hand holds his head as a knife is repeatedly dragged across his already bleeding back. He can be observed bleeding from his ear and head, visibly shivering.
The man stands with his arms held behind his back, passively enduring the attacks without speaking or fighting back. The assailants are dressed in regular clothes, but one appears to be wearing camouflage pants that are part of the Indonesian military uniform for the TNI.
Menase Tabuni, the executive president of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), expressed strong disapproval towards the attacks on innocent civilians.
These actions go against humanitarian principles. No legal system can justify the cruel acts of torture depicted in the two video clips.
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There aren’t any investigations in Tabuni’s
According to Tabuni, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights should quickly establish a team to conduct investigations into the violations of human rights and potential genocide against the people of Papua. There have been no investigations conducted by Tabuni’s statement.
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In 2018, discussions were held for a visit from the United Nations high commissioner for human rights to West Papua. Over 100 countries have expressed their backing for this visit, but it has yet to happen.
Benny Wenda, the leader of ULMWP and an exiled representative from West Papua, remarked that the recently shared videos, while jarring and extreme, simply reveal the everyday actions of Indonesia in his homeland.
The use of torture in the military is so common in West Papua that it has even been referred to as a form of ruling. The speaker urges those who view the video to keep in mind that West Papua is a secluded society that has been isolated from the rest of the world for 60 years due to Indonesia’s military control.
“How many individuals become undiscovered casualties of the world? How many occurrences go unrecorded on camera? Every week, we are alerted of another tragedy, execution, or tortured civilian.”
According to a statement from Rumadi Ahmad, deputy chief of the presidential staff in Indonesia, the government is dedicated to promoting growth and safety in Papua. However, any violent or tortuous actions carried out by military personnel could hinder these efforts.
Rumadi stated that although they have confidence that their soldiers are not participating in immoral actions, if it is confirmed to be true, those responsible must face consequences as outlined by the relevant rules and regulations.
Rumadi expressed concern that if the video is verified as accurate, the behavior of a small group of careless individuals may significantly interfere with the successful progress of our planned and executed development.
BenarNews spoke with military representative Col Gusti Nyoman Suriastawa, who stated that they are currently looking into the video.
“We are confirming its legitimacy… If it is real, it is necessary to establish the location and timing of its occurrence.”
The four disputed provinces in Indonesia located on the island of Papua, also known as New Guinea island, are known as West Papua together.
Indonesia took over the former Dutch colony in 1963. It solidified its takeover with the UN-approved “Act of Free Choice” in 1969. However, this referendum, which involved only a small number of selected Papuans, was widely considered to be fake as many were coerced or threatened into voting for Indonesian control.
Over the years, security personnel have faced accusations of committing serious human rights abuses, resulting in an estimated 500,000 deaths among Papuan people. A previous investigation by The Guardian revealed consistent accounts of military authorities torturing and killing civilians, including minors.
The Indonesian government has consistently maintained that the provinces of West Papua are an inseparable part of the Republic of Indonesia.
Source: theguardian.com
