8 Aug 2017

Local police chief in Papua loses stripes after fatal shooting

1:16 pm on 8 August 2017

A local police chief in Indonesia's Papua has been stripped of his position following last week's fatal shooting in Deiyai Regency.

The body of a shooting victim left in front of  the Deiyai police station by relatives who called on police to take responsibility for their actions. 02 July 2017.

Photo: Supplied

Yulianus Pigai died and and up to 16 others were injured when police tried to disperse an angry crowd that had destroyed a construction camp in the area.

The incident followed the death of a local villager who had needed help from the construction firm to get to hospital.

The Jakarta Post reported the Tigi Police chief N. Raini had been stripped of his position and Mobile Brigade personnel had been recalled from the area.

The paper reported an investigation team led by Papua Police's internal affairs division head was investigating with the National Commission for Human Rights.

According to the Jayapura-based news agency Tabloid Jubi the police have apologised and weapons of the officers involved have been confiscated.

"Papua Police apologized for the incident in Deiyai, we apologize to the people of Papua, especially the families of the people who were hit by officers," Papua Police Chief Inspector General Boy Rafli Amar told the agency.

Civil society groups and activists held a candle light vigil in Jayapura on Sunday night to express concern over the incident.

The Jakarta Post reported Timika Bishop John Saklil also condemned the shooting, calling it an abuse of state apparatus to attack civilians and a cruel crime against humanity.

"All perpetrators must be held to account and tried in the human rights court," he said.