Jokowi Urged to Apologize for Military Violence against Papuan

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Papuan advocacy team member Michael Himan urged President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to apologize for a brutal act committed by the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) members against a Papuan. “We urge President Joko Widowo as the supreme military commander to immediately issue an apology,” Michael said in his statement on Tuesday, July 27.

Michael also asked the state head to order his subordinates to take firm action against the two perpetrators, legally process the incident, and impose sanctions in the form of dismissal. The sanctions must be given transparently as a form of accountability to the public.

The brutality by two police military (POM) personnel who shouted, strangled, and stepped on the victim’s head was clearly a violation of human rights, he underlined. Moreover, the victim was a person with disabilities. 

As a state security apparatus, the Indonesian Air Force should set a good example for the community to act according to the law.

Michael further opined that those repressive actions did not only cause physical pain to the victim. “It also adds to the long list of discriminatory actions by security forces against indigenous Papuans,” he remarked.

The incident was recorded in a video widely circulating on social media. The TNI AU spokesman First Marshal Indan Gilang conveyed an apology on behalf of his institution. “In response to an incident of misunderstanding between two members of the Merauke J.A Dimara Airbase Military Police and residents at a food stall in Merauke, the Indonesian Air Force extends regret and apologies,” said Indan in his statement on Tuesday, July 27.

Read also: Cover-up in Papua 

FRISKI RIANA