On 13 December 2013, Yulianus Borotian, Petrus Yahones Tafor and Wilem Tafor were arrested in Kerom Regency during a police search operation for an incident they say they were not involved in. The incident involved a group of young men who had been drinking, who blocked a truck transporting wood that been illegally logged. The men were protesting the theft of local resources by security forces. Several police officers who were travelling on the truck called for backup from the Kerom district police station. Two hours later, heavily armed police officers arrived in a police truck and two police patrol vehicles and started shooting directly at the group of young men who were blocking the truck. The group of men threw stones and sticks at the police officers before running away. The clash resulted in the death of one police officer, though reports indicate that the cause of death remains unclear.
Police proceeded to search the surrounding area, shooting indiscriminately into houses and causing extensive damage. Yulianus Borotian had approached the entrance to his home upon hearing shots, was shot in the neck and lost consciousness. Police also approached the home of Wilem Tafor to arrest him. Upon seeing this, his younger brother Petrus Yohanes Tafor threw a stone at the police. Police reacted by shooting him in the hand and the stomach. Both brothers were then arrested. The three men were brought to Kerom regional police station. According to a local source, the three men were not involved in the earlier incident.
Yulianus Borotian and Petrus Tafor were later brought to Kerom Hospital to seek treatment for their gunshot wounds, but because of a lack of facilities they were then transferred to Bhayangkara Jayapura Hospital. They received medical treatment for a month before they were returned to detention in Kerom regional police station.
On 7 February 2014, their case was transferred to the Prosecution. They were charged under Article 170 of the Indonesian Criminal Code for violence against persons or property and were transferred to Abepura prison. Local human rights investigators have voiced concerns that the Kerom police fabricated the contents of the police investigation report (Berita Acara Pemeriksaan, BAP) for this case.
The three men were sentenced to five months’ imprisonment. On 19 May 2014 Yulianus Borotian was released while Petrus Tafor was released on 27 May 2014 and Wilem Tafor on 4 June 2014.
Sources
Email correspondence with human rights investigators, February – June 2014
Report received by email from local human rights source entitled, “Kekerasan Militer Terhadap Warga Sipil di Kabupaten Pegunungan Bintang dan Kabupaten Kerom,” 26 February 2014
Last updated: 16 May 2014 Pada 13 Desember 2013, Yulianus Borotian, Petrus Yahones Tafor dan Wilem Tafor ditangkap di Kabupaten Kerom dalam operasi penggeledahan polisi untuk sebuah kejadian mereka mengata mereka tidak keterlibatan. Kejadian tersebut melibatkan sekelompok pemuda dalam keadaan mabuk di mana mereka menghalang sebuah truk mengangkut kayu yang ditebang secara ilegal. Mereka memprotes pencurian sumber daya setempat oleh aparat keamanan. Beberapa anggota polisi yang berada di truk tersebut terus memanggil sokongan anggota polisi dari Polsek Kerom. Dua jam kemudian, polisi bersenjata lengkap tiba menggunakan sebuah truk polisi dan dua kendaraan patroli polisi langsung mulai menembak ke daerah kelompok pemuda yang menghalang truk tersebut. Mereka melemparkan batu dan batang kayu ke daerah polisi sebelum melarikan diri. Bentrokan tersebut mengakibatkan kematian seorang anggota polisi, meskipun laporan polisi menunjukkan bahwa sebab kematiannya masih belum jelas.
Polisi terus menggeledah kawasan sekitarnya, menembak sembarangan ke daerah rumah-rumah dan menyebabkan kerusakan yang luas. Yulianus Borotian mendekati pintu masuk ke rumahnya setelah mendengar tembakan dan ditembak di leher lalu pingsan. Polisi juga menghampiri rumah Wilem Tafor untuk menangkapnya. Melihat kejadian tersebut, Petrus Yohanes Tafor, adik kepada Wilem, langsung melemparkan batu ke arah polisi.Polisi bereaksi dengan menembaknya di tangan dan perut. Kedua kakak beradik tersebut kemudian ditangkap. Ketiga orang tersebut dibawa ke Polres Kerom. Menurut sumber setempat, ketiga mereka tidak terlibat dalam insiden tersebut.
Yulianus Borotian dan Petrus Tafor kemudian dibawa ke Rumah Sakit Kerom untuk mendapat rawatan untuk luka tembak mereka, tetapi karena kurangnya fasilitas mereka dipindahkan ke Rumah Sakit Bhayangkara Jayapura. Mereka menerima perawatan medis selama satu bulan sebelum mereka dikembalikan ke tahanan di Polres Kerom.
Pada tanggal 7 Februari 2014, kasus mereka dipindahkan ke Jaksa Penuntut Umum. Mereka didakwa dengan pasal 170 KUHP Indonesia untuk kekerasan terhadap orang atau barang dan dipindahkan ke LP Abepura. Peneliti HAM setempat telah menyuarakan kekhawatiran atas kepalsuan isi Berita Acara Pemeriksaan (BAP) bagi kasus mereka oleh polisi Kerom.
Yulianus Borotian dibebaskan pada 19 Mei, sementara Petrus Yohanes Tafor dibebaskan pada 27 Mei dan Wilem Tafor pada 4 Juni.
Sumber
Email dari penyelidik HAM setempat, Februari – Juni 2014
Laporan melalui email dari aktivis HAM setempat berjodol, “Kekerasan Militer Terhadap Warga Sipil di Kabupaten Pegunungan Bintang dan Kabupaten Kerom,” 26 Februari 2014
Terakhir diperbarui: 16 May 2014