Operasi Militer
THE MILITARY ACTION IN BIAK
By Elsham Biak
Sep 2, 2005, 05:30

Dear International Solidarity Groups.

Here’s ever all information from Human right post contact in Biak west Papua. We would like to send this information to All of organisation in the World so they will know what problems and what happening in Biak Papua with The Military action. We Also Would like to joint you for campaign in your country with our Data and Our problems but sometime Money is big Problems in Papua to going abroad .

POLITICAL SITUATION IN WEST PAPUA THE ATTITUDE OF THE ARMY, POLICE AND MILITIA IN THE DISTRICT OF BIAK NUMFOR

[Slightly abridged in translation]

According to a report from Biak, West Papua, conditions throughout West Papua have deteriorated since the despatch of organic and non-organic troops, sent on the instructions of President Yudhoyono and armed forces commander-in-chief, General Endriartono Sutarto. Their actions have undermined Papuan aspirations to create a Land of Peace.

Army Intelligence have reinforced their presence throughout West Papua with the creation of a Regional BAKIN (Intelligence Coordination Agency) for West Papua, according to a presidential decision on 10 June this year.

Specifically with regard to Biak, the report lists a number of incidents over the past three months, as follows:

1. According to a report from the secretary of Wari Kampung. North Biak, eight persons, seven of whom were non-Papuans (migrants) drove into the village late at night on 12 May and forcibly took a local man away for interrogation. The man, Daniel Rumakeuw, was asked to name local people involved in the armed resistance, TPN/OPM, and to name people who advocate the idea of a Free Papua (Papua Merdeka).The young man denied all knowledge of these things, saying that he was in the area only briefly for a visit. He later told the Wari village secretary that in the vehicle in which he travelled there were shovels, crowbars and hoes which were apparently intended to bury people accused of engaging in activities which were unlawful, according to the Indonesian army, TNI.

2. On 15 May, several men turned up wanting to buy fish and other marine products. To handle their business, they came in four cars, three from Ujung Pandang and one from Biak. Three of the cars were given to local youths in East Numfor to be used for public transport (ojek).

3. On 18 May, a group of men arrived in Wari Kampung in a vehicle with darkened windows, wanting to know where Steven Rumabar was. After going to his home and finding that he was not there, they asked local people to tell him to call a mobile number. Rumabar and another local man, Abraham Rumaikeuw are both local activists.

4. On 19 May, a letter was received at the office of Dewan Adat Papua (DAP) [Papuan Customary Council] in Sabar Miokre, North Supiori, informing them that the police on duty there would be replaced by soldiers from a unit the identity of which was not mentioned. It was stated that one hundred troops would be stationed there. This news caused anxiety among the local people whose past experience of having members of the armed forces nearby had not created a sense of security but had created chaos. The people say they don’t want to suffer more casualties as a result of military violence.

5. Late at night on 1 June, a police officer and the local army commander in East Numfor threatened the Erens Baransono/Krey family by shooting at the roof of their house. The incident spread fear among the villagers there.

6. On 13 June, at 8.30am, a Kodam official told an employee in South Biak that six persons were being taken into custody. Four were officials of DAP-Biak and the other two were humanitarian activists. (The names of the men are included in the report.)

7. On 14 June, the commander of 1708 district military command issued instructions for four men (names given) to be taken into custody, three of whom were members of TPN/OPM.

8. On 15 June, an SMS text message was received from a person identified only as S.R. that troops would conduct a show of force in Kampung Sburya, Suapardibo Village, from 10am till the end of the day.

9. On 23 June at 10pm, assaults were carried out by masked Korem troops in Biak, backed up by (other) soldiers.

10. On 7 July, the number of troops, police and militias in Biak had reached 7,500, along with 300 members of Kopassus.

11. For two days, on 15 - 16 July, hose pipes were used to clear the Inpres Market, Biak while traders were conducting their business after official closing hours. The operation was undertaken by the district chief, troops and police. Later that evening troops from the local garrison went out on patrol among local people engaged in trading and it was announced that all such activities in Biak Numpor district must end by 6pm.

12. Intel agents use a variety of methods: disguising themselves as ojek drivers, posing as textile traders or vendors of ice-cream, fish or other produce, going from town to town. Taking jobs in local government offices or businesses, taking charge of security at 'vital' enterprises.

13. Troops patrolled routes from the town, going in and out of kampungs from 10am till 4pm.

14. Equipment for the purposes of kidnapping include iron bars and two types of poison gas.

15. On 16 July at 9.30pm several people taking part in an orchid fair in Jayapura district were told that when President Yudhoyono visited the US recently to negotiate an end to the US arms embargo, he was provided with state-of-the-art detection equipment to keep tabs on people functioning with mobiles or on the internet. They said that this equipment has been installed at the presidential palace to monitor activities relating to a Free Papua.

16. Local adat groups in West Biak were subjected to beatings by maverick groups in connection with activities planned for 15 August.

17. Similar actions took place on the following four days.

18. Local people in East Biak were reported to have been supplied with sharp implements to prevent events planned for 15 August.

19. There were reports that the Morning Star Flag would be flown by militias on 15 August.

20. Several army posts have been established in Dedifu Village, located near the forest, to search people's houses in the vicinity.

21. According to a report from West Biak, [army posts] were located in Sopen Kampung on 7 August. Local inhabitants were terrified when troops went out on patrol in the forest and started shooting, which caused the people to flee in panic, abandoning their gardens. Some women and children fell in the panic because of injuries sustained. A local church leader commented that such a thing had never happened there before.

22. The following is a report sent by Isak Wanma to Dewan Adat Biak:

I returned home at around 2pm to Adadikam Kampung when shooting occurred, and panic-stricken people fled in search of protection. The first shooting was from a bazooka followed by a series of shots by small arms. I met a member of the army. I saw a group of eight soldiers in Mamoribu village disappear into the forest. As soon as I arrived in Adadikam, people urged me to report these incidents. Before this happened, inhabitants in West Biak asked the local Dewan Adat representative to file a complaint against the army for conducting operations and reckless shooting there. Papuan military men bearing signs of having been involved in operations, left Mamoribu Kampung and met up with members of the army. As I alighted from a taxi, I heard shooting by a bazooka. I saw troops on a truck armed with M16s and backed by heavily armed troops. This spread fear among the local people. Shooting occurred in Perwomi HQ. Soldiers forced a local inhabitant in Mamoribu to show them the way. I left Adadikam at 7am, going in the direction of Kotz. I alighted at the Adadikam Church and walked towards the soccer field and then on to the HQ. I saw women fleeing with their children from the forest to their kampungs and to the coast. Intel agents conducted operations in Adadikam, searching for a local official. When I reported this to the chief official, I was told that intel people had gone to my home asking for me.

The report then lists the names of 11 Papuans from Biak Town, from Airport and from the wharf who were working for the army as spies. These persons are frequently involved in discussions, giving information about developments in West Papua. They are also used to mount demonstrations for provocative purposes in Biak. According to the latest information received, a secret meeting took place at Biak Kodim HQ to discuss the planned demo for 15 August, when it was agreed to disrupt the 15 August action. These people are given a monthly fee of Rp 750,000 and supplied with vehicles paid for by the army to monitor events and report to the army

23. 173 Resort commander held a meeting with persons named Toga, Todat and Tomas at the army base, and it was agreed to set up a joint team composed of members of the Biak Numfor DPRD and the army, for the following purposes: The DPRD will conduct activities to intimidate people into not attending the 15 August event. Members of the army will go to the kampungs to spread intimidation and terror to warn people against taking part in the 15 August event.

1. Such activities are completely at variance with the duties of the local officials (Muspida). According to the Special Autonomy Law, keeping local developments under review is the duty of the executive and not the army. So this raises several questions: what does all this mean? Why are the army attending such a meeting? Does it mean that the executive are making recommendations to the district commander?

2. There are reports of a mission from the Dewan Adat, the identity of which is unclear, and led by the deputy district chief named Adrianus Kafiar which will travel to Jayapura to meet the governor. They will then travel together to Jakarta for a meeting with the President, for purposes that are not clear. There are indications of operations undertaken by the army, the police and the militia in the run-up to August 2005, involving violence, intimidation, terror threats and shows of force in various parts of West Papua. The aim appears to be to create a state of war against the indigenous people. The following facts appear to bear this out, especially in Biak Numfor District:

24. From 1 - 5 August, the army and police conducted sweepings against the local people in a number of districts: East Biak, Biak Town, North Biak, West Biak and Supiori. Operations were also conducted by Kopassus troops sent from Jakarta and local army and police. Every village and kampung was placed under heavy guard. Guerrilla actions took place in the forests during which the gardens owned by West Papuan people were taken over.

From 6 - 8 August, the army and police drove convoys through several districts in East Biak, Biak Town and North Biak, brandishing automatic weapons. (SSK and tanks).

On 9 August the army and police held shooting practice in all parts of Biak Numfor District.

25. On 10 August, Korem 1703 published a radiogram from President SBY about: 'Shooting on Sight' and the arrest of elite Papuans and those advocating a Free Papua.

26. On 11 August, a ceremony was held to mark the anniversary of AURI (Indonesian Air Force) at which the AURI commander in Biak said: 'We reject the decision of the US Congress and all countries throughout the world which support Freedom for West Papua.'

27. On 12 August, while the peaceful action by the Papuan people to hand back Law No 21/2001 on Special Autonomy was taking place from 6 -

10. 15am, the army conducted a Show of Force which spread fear among the local people.

28. On 12 August, a battleship of the Indonesian Navy chased and evicted traditional fishermen from Arwai Waters. These operations spread fear among the fishermen who decided to abandon their fishing activities during the night.

29. On 14 August, while the congregation at the Ferat Ansrom Church were at prayer, three armed members of the army together with a local person entered the church, spreading fear among the congregants. The SBY government has held discussions with the army, the police and the Indonesian militia to conduct actions against indigenous people, regardless of the decisions adopted at the March 2005 Conference.

30. On 15 August, three members of Kopassus forces took a villager from Nikakan Kampung, District of Yendodori, by force from the fish market and forced him to stand on the uppermost rung of steps, 200m [?] above the sea. They intended to shoot him but, afraid that their pistol shots would be heard, they pulled out their knives to use against at the victim. Out of fear, the victim jumped off the steps and fell into the sea; as the tide was low, he was able to swim to Fofenbeyob on the Yandidori coast, near the local clinic and fled into the forest, where he remained for two days. He returned home on 17 August and hid until the following Tuesday. He then reported his experience to an Investigation Team of Biak Dewan Adat. The local community were terrified because motorbikes and cars came to their homes every night.

31. On Saturday and Sunday, 20 and 21 August, the local resort military command held a meeting, the results of which were as follows:

1. A Killer Operation would be conducted against Dewan Adat activists and humanitarian workers and people working for a Free Papua throughout Biak Numfor and Siopori. The prime targets were:

the chair of Biak Dewan Adat, Yan Pieter Yarangga, the chair of West Biak Dewan Adat, Noak Awom, the chair of Dewan Adat, Supiori representative in Biak Town, Semuel Sauyas

2. The operation would commence on 23 August and would continue from 3pm till 6pm for an unspecified number of days.

3. Two vehicles would be put at the disposal of this operation (markings of the vehicles are given)

32. On 23 August, a member of Satgas [special unit] who was an agent of Kodim told us (ELSHAM volunteers) that they had been invited to an evening meal with the Kodim intel chief, Captain Sujiono. (The invitation is attached.) Many persons were invited to the meal: Toga, Tomas, the adat chief, a pro-government NGO and civilians in the service of the army. Altogether 47 persons were present. They were all thoroughly searched and not allowed to keep any writing materials (pencils, notepads) with them. After the meal they were taken to a location where they were instructed on the conditions to be created following the 12 August demo to hand back the Special Autonomy Law.


The meeting also concluded that:

1. As long as the Dewan Adat and its staff existed, they would continue to promote the idea of a Free Papua.

2. There would be a division of labour between Kostrad and intel to deal with certain individuals who have been marked with crosses written with a red marker. One agent, David Rumansara (Korem intel) was given the task of monitoring the activities of the 'Beyusar group', a traditional band set up to revive Papuan cultural values, and to closely follow the movements of the leader and members of the Group.

3. Their names have been placed on the Wanted List and each marked with a red cross. Three of the men named in the report are members of the Beyusar Group, two are Elsham volunteers in Biak, and the sixth is Agust Rumbiak, chair of YAPIKBI, a youth organisation in Biak, and ELSHAM volunteer.

4. The operation would cover East, West, North and South Biak, including Biak town, as well as Supiori.

In view of the many cases which we have raised in this report, coming from a number of reliable sources and from the victims themselves, we have come to the conclusion that if this situation is allowed to continue, things will become increasingly tense, with all the inhabitants feeling more and more insecure, a situation that could result in loss of life. We therefore very much hope that domestic and international groups pay attention to this situation, and we make the following recommendations:

The international community: The UN Security Council, the US Congress and NGOs should exert strong pressure to end the repressive activities of the army and police and the Indonesian militia.

The national community: NGOs should exert strong pressure to end to the repressive activities of the army and police and the Indonesian militia.

The indigenous people of Papua need protection from the international community with placements throughout the length and breadth of the Province of West Papua.

Biak, 26 August 2005

Source: ELSHAM West Papua Dewan Adat Biak



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