T

he government should swiftly punish the security personnel involved in fatal shootings in Papua, a rights activist says.

The House of Representatives has also been urged to summon the national security and intelligence agency heads over the violence.

Imparsial Jakarta director Poengky Indarti said the government needed to evaluate the performance of security personnel in Papua due to the string of shootings that has led to the loss of lives and caused public anxiety.

“We urge the government to immediately prosecute and dismiss the security personnel who were involved in the shootings,” Poengky said in a text message to The Jakarta Post.

Motorcycle-taxi driver Arkilaus Refwutu, 48, was shot dead on Thursday by an unidentified group at Yalinggua sub-district, in Puncak Jaya regency.

In an unrelated incident, Melianus Kegepe was shot dead by a member of the police’s Mobile Brigade (Brimob) in Paniai following a commotion at a billiard hall.

The National Police have sent a team to investigate the case, but Poengky said the police chief should apologize to the Papuan people.

The shooting was like killing mosquitoes with a cannon, he said.

“To deal with security at the gold panning site in Paniai the presence of members from the district police was sufficient. There is no need to deploy Brimob troops because they are not designed to deal with communal clashes, but are paramilitary troops designed to fight against foreign invaders and in armed conflicts,” he said.

JP/Nethy Dharma Somba