UPDATE ON WAMENA PRISONERS ­ 17th April 2003

Please phone: KODIM (TNI) Office in Wamena: +62969 31089

Yapenas Murib has been brutally dragged through the streets by chains around his neck and then died whilst being held in the army post Kodim 1702 in Wamena.

Kanius Murib was treated the same and is still being held in the army post. His life is in serious danger.

Paulina Itlay was arrested by TNI soldiers whilst leaving her village of Pugima for the market in Wamena. They asked where her husband was, saying that he had stole the guns. They beat her and then ripped her clothes from her body. She was then taken to Kodim 1702 where the soldiers cut off her breasts and cut her thighs, they then stuck burning cigarettes in her wounds and stubbed them out in her vagina. They still asked where are the OPM/TPN and she replied that she didn’t know. They also took all her money she was going to put in the bank. She was thrown out on the street at 10pm and was found and is now in the Wamena hospital.

The following are all being held in Kodim 1702 and are in serious danger.
1 Danius Murib
2 Marthen Wenda
3 Telianus Jikwa
3 Turangen Murib
5 Marthinus Jikwa
6 Jos Jikwa
7 Paul Kogoya
8 Ikon Kogoya
9 Darius Kogoya

Also, operations are planned for tomorrow in Ragayam, Bogolakme and Pyramid where the army are likely to burn more houses, beat more people and arrest more people.

Our experience is that DIRECT PHONE CALLS to the army/police can help these people. There is an urgent need to let the Indonesian authorities (esp. army) in Wamena know that we know what they are doing. Please make phone calls tonight and over the Easter weekend…

KODIM (TNI) Office in Wamena : +62969 31089
BUPATI (Regent) of Wamena : +62969 31005
POLICE Office in Wamena: +62969 31110

PLEASE PHONE (esp. KODIM) and say the names of the above people. Ask questions or use some of the Indonesian below.

Also, some money is being sent out to support Paulina and the family of Yapenas and the other people being held. If you want to send a donation please send a cheque payable to KSAS and post to KSAS, c/o SDEF, Prior House, 6 Tilbury Place, Brighton, BN2 2GY stating that it is to support
Wamena prisoners.

Some Indonesian phrases you can use (pronunciation guide in brackets):

Kami marah sekali tentang sifat TNI (Karmee marar saykarlee tentang seefat TNI) - We are very angry about the behaviour of TNI
Saya telepon tentang … (Sy-ar telepon tentang..) - I am telephoning about
...
Hati hati (Harti harti) - Be careful
Kami jaga lihat anda sekarang. (Karmee jargar leehat anda seykarang) - We are watching you now
Saya dari Inggris. (Sy-yar dary Ingrees) - I am from England
Kamu pratikan baik kesehatan mereka, minum, makan dan keselamatan mereka. (Karmu prateekan bike kay-say-hartan meraykar, minum, makan dankay-selamtan meraykar) - Treat them well, give food, water and look after them
Kami tahu apa yang lakukan di KODIM. (Karmee tarhoo apa yang larkookan dee lembarga) - We know what you do in KODIM
Kami adalah teman mereka. (Karmee ard-ar-lar tayman meraykar) - We are their friends
Papua Merdeka! - Free Papua!


Wamena, ELSHAM News Report ­ WPNews

Report received by Elsham and Demmak contact persons in Wamena mentioned one of those arrested by the TNI (Indonesian army), Yapenas Murib, from Ilekma village, died early this morning. He died due to heavy torture by the TNI.

A day before he died (14/4), at 16:00 Papua Time (PT), Yapenas Murib and Kanius Murib were dragged towards Ilekma village, 3 km south of Wamena town. Kanius' arms were tied up, while Yapinus' neck was tied with 2 steel chains (treatment like an animal/ cow), then they were both dragged backwards. When Yapenas fell down, he was kicked and told to wake up.
This drama of violence repeatedly dan villagers around the area came to witness what was happening along the way from Sinakma to Ilema.

One eye witness said that after his return to Ilekma, 1t 18:00 PT, Yapenas had his dinner, but then in the morning he was found dead. Even Doctor Nugroho, who carried out autopsy on Yapenas corpse, when phoned for confirmation from Elsham at 14:16PT did not want to give any clarification. When asked the outcome of medical analyses and the cause of his death, dr. Nugroho put off his telephone after knowing that he was receiving call from Elsham in Port Numbay. Three times Elsham contacted again, but dr. Nugroho did not answer the phones.

There is no clarification yet what caused his arrest and torture and died in the hands of TNI/ Kodim 1702 Wamena. Available information indicates that both Yapenas and Kanius were those who gave back 3 guns to the mediators of the military operations underway in Wamena at the moment.
The guns were returned to the mediators in Ilekma village. Elsham as well as Demmak have has not yet received information how both of them got the guns.

Sargent Fred Koridama, TNI member at Kodim 1702 post in Wamena who received a phone call from Elsham papua on Tuesday (15/4) at pukul 12.42 PT to get further information for the Human Rigths Monitoring Staff and requested the commander of Dandim Wamena, but Koridama replied that Mr. Dandim is in Jakarta for a meeting held by the TNI Headquarter. Polres (Police Resort) Wamena confirmed the death of Yapenas Murip.

Meanwhile, there is also a report that on Saturday (12/4) one of those being detained, whose name has not yet been identified was brought to the hospital in Wamena. This detainee was tortured heavily (his chest and back were sliced into pieces with razor blades). Medical workers in
Wamena hospital only told to treat them with bethadine liquid.

For more info see: www.westpapua.net
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Koteka Prisoner Support
 koteka_prisoner_support@xsmail.com