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Mahfud MD vows impartial enforcment of Papuan pastor’s murder in Intan Jaya
Mahfud said the office would follow up on the recent findings of an independent investigation carried out by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).
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Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD talks to reporters on the sidelines of an event held by law firm Dentons HPRP in Jakarta on Jan. 22. (JP/Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman)
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oordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD has ensured that the government is committed to a thorough and impartial investigation into the torture and subsequent murder of Papuan pastor Yeremia Zanambani in Intan Jaya regency.
Speaking in a video uploaded to the office of the coordinating ministry’s official YouTube channel on Wednesday, Mahfud said the office would follow up on the recent findings of an independent investigation carried out by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).
“We will follow up through the available channels and carry out impartial law enforcement,” Mahfud said, adding that he would notify President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo of the findings.
He noted that Komnas HAM’s report had yielded several findings that aligned with the investigation carried out by the government-sanctioned joint fact-finding team (TGPF) under his coordination.
Both investigations, for instance, sought to ensure human rights protection in Papua, he said.
However, Mahfud claimed the two investigations differed in technicalities and perspective.
“[The investigations] differ a little in terms of perspective and technical aspects,” he said. “But, in principle, they are the same.”
Read also: Soldier tortured, shot pastor, Komnas HAM alleges
Komnas HAM’s investigation, launched after the incident on Sept. 19, found that a member of the Indonesian Military (TNI), identified as Chief Sgt. Alpius Hasim Madi, was allegedly behind the death of Yeremia.
Yeremia was purportedly tortured and shot at close range in his pig pen in Hitadipa district, Intan Jaya, which led to his death hours later amid escalating tensions in the area, according to the investigation results.
Komnas HAM suspected that the torture was carried out by the perpetrator with the aim of extracting information from the victim, either about a missing weapon taken from a slain soldier or the whereabouts of members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).
Meanwhile, the TGPF investigation results previously reported by Mahfud on Oct. 21 were indecisive, although the team said there was an indication of TNI involvement.
