The TNI has denied involvement in all three killings, accusing separatists of killing two of them and claiming that the other one was not actually dead. Human rights institutions have called on the government to open an independent investigation to shed light on the killings.

President of the Papuan Baptist Churches Fellowship, Sokratez Sofyan Yoman, has alleged that prior to Yeremia, TNI members shot dead two other pastors, namely Geyimin Nirigi and Elisa Tabuni, in separate incidents.

Geyimin was killed in Mapenduma district, Nduga regency, on Dec. 19, 2018, he said, adding that the victim was reportedly forced to dig a grave in the backyard of his house, before being shot dead and his body burned.

“[Geyimin] had been a church pioneer since 1963. He was an old man, a figure who had received the gospel in Nduga,” Sokratez told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Socratez said a TNI spokesman at that time had denied the allegation, saying Geyimin was alive and well. However, he added, the results of an investigation by the Papuan Human Integrity Justice and Peace Foundation showed that Geyimin had died, allegedly at the hands of TNI personnel.

Meanwhile, Elisa was reportedly handcuffed and shot dead by members of the Army’s Special Forces (Kopassus) in Tingginambut district, Puncak Jaya regency, on Aug. 16, 2004, Sokratez said.

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