18 Mar 2015

Papuan church leaders want inquiry into Paniai deaths

10:20 am on 18 March 2015

A joint forum of Papuan church leaders has urged Indonesia's President Joko Widodo to set up a commission of inquiry to investigate alleged rights abuses in the Paniai shooting in Papua province late last year.

Five protestors were killed and at least 17 injured in the December incident in which security forces allegedly opened fire on 800 protestors.

Police have reportedly been investigating the killings.

However the head of the Papua Baptist Church Rev Socratez Yoman says police investigation results lack details.

The Jakarta Post reports Rev Socratez saying there is a sense that police want to protect their officers linked to the killings.

Church leaders united under the Oikoumene partnership forum in Papua say it would be best for President Jokowi to establish an inquiry so the Paniai case can be resolved completely.

Earlier, the Indonesian Communion of Churches submitted its own findings on Paniai to the President.

It concluded that military soldiers were responsible for the shootings.

Residents tending to victims after a shooting in Enarotali, Paniai Regency in Indonesia's Papua province. At least four teenagers were shot dead in clashes with security forces, authorities said, although rights campaigners accused police of opening fire on protesters.

This handout photo taken on December 8, 2014 and released by Indonesian Human Rights Watch shows residents tending to victims after a shooting in Enarotali, Paniai Regency in Indonesia's Papua province. Photo: AFP Indonesian Human Rights Watch

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