Illustration. -Tempo.co
Merauke, Jubi – A sixteen years old Oktovianus Warip Betere was allegedly persecuted by members of the Border Security Task Force 561 – Caraka Yudha, Brawijaya Military Command whose base in Asiki, Boven Digoel Regency, Papua.
Pastor Anselmus Amo, the Director of SKP Merauke Archdiocese (KAME), confirmed Jubi by phone on Sunday (26/7/2020). “I have contacted Pastor Yakob from the Asiki Parish to verify the violence committed by soldiers on duty in Asiki,” he said.
The Asiki Parish Pastor reported that the persecution occurred around midday at the military post on Friday, 25 July 2020. It was believed the boy died at the scene because when taken to the Asiki clinic for medical treatment, he had died.
According to the Asiki Parish Pastor, Pastor Amo said that it assumed a resident told soldiers at the Military Post 561 that the victim was stealing something. Based on that report, soldiers went to the Asiki market to get the victim who was eventually there. “That’s right, the boy (victim) tried to escape, but they could get him. He was then tortured, put on a car and taken to the military post,” he said.
Soldiers allegedly continued to beat the boy until he died. They then brought his body to the Asiki clinic to examine. “It’s true that the post mortem showed some visible marks on his body,” he said.
“I don’t know how they hit him to death. Also, I don’t know how many soldiers were involved in this persecution,” he said.
Furthermore, Pastor Amo who was born in Kedang, Lembata Regency of East Nusa Tenggara Province, asked the authority to further investigate this case because the Asiki community questioned the cause of the victim’s death.
He said this case must be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators must be taken to the court. “We have a team in Asiki who will be investigating this case,” he said.
Separately, Major Infantry Suko Raharjo, the spokesperson of the Military Regional Command 174/ATW, admitted that the investigation team from the Military Regional Command 174/ATW under the Regional Military Chief had come to Asiki on last Saturday (25/7/2020.
So far, according to him, there has been no report yet because the team is still continuing their further investigation.
When asked whether it is true the victim was persecuted in the Military Post Asiki until he died, he denied it. “It’s not true, the victim died in the Asiki Community Health Center,” he declared. (*)
Reporter: Ans K
Editor: Pipit Maizier
