Five West Papuan civilians were shot dead and twelve others injured on Monday after Indonesian troops and police fired into a crowd in the highlands region of Paniai. The incident is the latest in a long history of violent repression by Indonesian security forces against the indigenous population of West Papua.
According to local sources quoted by Suara Papua, the crowd had gathered at Karel Gobay Square to protest against the actions of a group of Indonesian soldiers the previous night. On Sunday evening, a group of boys aged twelve and thirteen had stopped a military vehicle to complain that it was being driven without headlights — a small act that would have fatal consequences. The driver and passenger returned to their base in the village of Madi, then came back with fellow soldiers in trucks and beat at least one of the boys.
The boys had been living in a small roadside shelter, a common feature of Christmas celebrations across Papua.
The following morning, a crowd gathered in protest. Tabloid Jubi editor Victor Mambor, also citing local sources, reported that when the crowd attacked a military vehicle, Indonesian police and military opened fire. Five people were killed. Twelve more were wounded.
International media access to West Papua remains heavily restricted by the Indonesian government. Events such as these are documented largely through local journalists and community sources who operate at considerable personal risk. Dancing Turtle has been covering the situation in West Papua through our documentary film Forgotten Bird of Paradise. The DVD is available through the Dancing Turtle shop.
