Subject: Wamena Update : Torture at the Police Station

LEMBAGA STUDI DAN ADVOKASI HAK ASASI MANUSIA (ELS-HAM)
Institute for Human Rights Study and Advocacy (Ihrstad)
Jln. Kampus ISTP - Padang Bulan, Jayapura - PAPUA BARAT
Tlp/Facs: 62-967-581600/581520; email: elsham_irja@jayapura.wasantara.net.id

URGENT! URGENT! URGENT!

TESTIMONY OF VICTIMS : PEOPLE TORTURED AT THE POLICE STATION IN WAMENA
"One Tortured to Dead, Some Missing"

(Wamena, October 12, 2000)

As continuesly reported by ELS-HAM Papua Barat more and more people taken from their houses for qustioning at the police station in relation to the October 6 insident in Wamena, Baliem valley - Papua Barat. Last night (Oct. 11) at about 19:00 five members of Panel Presidium Council of Papua region Jayawijaya, namely: the Rev. Roberth Komba (53)' Yafeth Yelemaken (42), Murdiono Murip (36), the Rev. Yudas Meage (37) and Amelia Jigibalon had been taken to the Jayawijaya Police Station for question. They had been quetioned as " witnesses" in relation to that insident. Mr. Yafeth Yelemaken told  ELS-HAM headquarters in Jayapura this morning that the questioning process
will continue again today at 09:00. (ELS-HAm just received a call from Wamena that the questioning for today lasted at 16:00).

Meanwhile 12 victims of arbitrary arrest and torture gave their testimony to Contact ELS-HAM Wamena this afternoon (16:00) Papuan time. These 12 people are members of Taskforce Papua and were arrested on October 6 when the police forced the people to lower the Papuan flag "morning star" in Wamena town. They were taken to the police station and tortured. AM (24), one of the victims, told ELS-HAM over the phone from Wamena today that during their arrest they had been badly beaten and tortured by the police and Brimob members. "They ordered us to take off our cloths, we only wear under pants. And then they begin to beat us with their riffle butts, rattan and kicking
us with their boots. They put guns to our mouths threaten to kill us if we choose west papua independence. After that they ask some of us go and take urines of the police and forced us to drink their urine. We're afraid so we drink their urine, told AM to ELS-HAM in Jayapura. He said that during their arrest they saw some other people (about 35) also going through the same process -- beaten, tortured and then forced to drink the police urine. He further said, " 12 of us saw a brutality of the police and Brimob to a man named, Yohanes Udin, originally from Flores.  He was beaten, kicked until dead in front of us. His body then loaded into a police truck and taken to the hospital," said AM.  Jayawijaya hospital confirmed to ELS-HAM that when Yohanes Udin taken to the hospital by the police he is no longer alive. Eye witnesses told ELS-HAM that Yohanes Udin was taking photographs when the police started the operation to lower the flag that morning (oct. 6). He was then arrested the next day and taken to the police station.

As reported earlier that amongst more than 200 people that arrested by police and Brimob, 25 were school children. They told ELS-HAM also that they had been beaten and totured during their arrest at the police station. They
were released on October 8. 

Contact ELS-HAM Wamena also received information today from relatives of 7 people who have been missing when they were taken by the police on October 6 at Pike village (about 3 km north of Wamena town). They're: Yoakim Hubi, Frans Hubi, Apemus Marian, Jackson Itlai, Yerry Kosai and Agus Itlai. All are members of Satgas Papua. According to an eye witness, YM, who was also arrested at the police station said that the 7 people already released by the police the next day (oct. 7). However their relatives said that they haven't reached homes yet.

Contact ELS-HAM Wamena also received complaints from families who tried to visit the detainees that they have been denied access by the police and brimob.

ELS-HAM is very much concerned about the situation of the rest of the detainees, that they may face continues torture and their rights denied. (@)