TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Amnesty demands probe into death in police custody of Papuan singer's brother-in-law
The human rights organization and the victim's family are demanding an investigation into the questionable circumstances surrounding the death of George Karel Rumbino, who had been detained for police questioning in connection with a separate case in Sorong City, West Papua.
Change Size
Students and activists under the Committee for the Release of Papuan Political Prisoners protest in front of the Supreme Court building in Central Jakarta on June 15. They demanded the authorities release the seven Papuan activists standing trial in Balikpapan district court in East Kalimantan on treason charges. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
A
mnesty International Indonesia has called for a thorough investigation into the recent death of 21-year-old George Karel Rumbino in the custody of the Sorong City Police in West Papua.
"Police should carry out a thorough, effective and independent investigation of this case," executive director Usman Hamid of Amnesty International Indonesia said in a statement on Monday.
"The judicial process must be carried out in a transparent and accountable manner. The victim's family has the right to know what really happened," Usman added.
George was a brother-in-law of Edo Kondologit, a popular Papuan singer and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician.
He died on Aug. 27 after spending less than 24 hours in the custody of the Sorong City Police, who arrested him for questioning in connection with a homicide case involving the robbery and rape of a 70-year-old woman.
Members of George's family said that they discovered two gunshot wounds and other injuries on his body.
Read also: ‘#PapuanLivesMatter’: George Floyd’s death hits close to home in Indonesia
Sorong City Police criminal investigation head Adj. Comr. Misbachul Munir claimed that police "had to shoot" George in the legs because he tried to escape arrest.
Mibachul said that George later died inside a jail cell at the Sorong City Police station after another detainee assaulted him.
"After receiving [medical] treatment, [George] was taken to a jail cell at the Sorong City Police station for questioning. However, another detainee, identified only as C, attacked him inside the cell. He died shortly afterward," Misbachul said on Monday as quoted by kompas.com.
He added that C had confessed to assaulting George.
Edo and other relatives doubted the police's account. The family held a protest at the Sorong City Police station on Monday, demanding an investigation into George's death in police custody. They also demanded that the police publicly release CCTV security footage from the jail.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Argo Yuwono said that the West Papua provincial police had set up a team to investigate George's death.
"The team will investigate if any unlawful procedures were involved during the suspect's [George's] arrest. We will carry out disciplinary action against any officers who are found guilty [sic] of violating [police] procedures," Argo said.
Usman said separately that any policemen found to have committed procedural violations that led to George's death should be taken to court.
Read also: Fight for freedom: New research to map violence in the forgotten conflict in West Papua
Justice needs to be upheld. The perpetrators should face criminal charges, not just institutional discipline. All this time, policemen and [soldiers] who commit a crime against civilians have rarely been tried [at court]. This indicates the institutions' strong impunity," he said.
Usman added that it was unacceptable that George had been the victim of assault by another detainee while in police custody.
"An investigation must be carried out, because a the safety of detainees is the police's responsibility," he said.
