Jayapura, Jubi – A Papuan man named Ferianus Asso, who was shot by the police during a peaceful protest to free Victor Yeimo in Yakuhimo Regency’s Dekai City last week, reportedly died at the Bhayangkara Hospital on Sunday, August 22, 2021.
After being shot on August 16, Asso was brought to the Yahukimo General Hospital where the doctors took two bullets out of his body. After removing the bullets, the doctors at the Yahukimo Hospital referred Asso to a hospital in Jayapura.
However, the family decided to bring Asso home out of fear that he would be hospitalized and become unsafe. In Indonesia but especially Papua, it is common to fear that the police would torture protesters at the hospital.
Read also: Babinsa personnel allegedly shot civilian in Papua’s Mappi
That way, Asso was taken home. According to activist Ruben Wakia of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), Asso experienced shortness of breath and fainted on August 17. He was only brought back to the hospital again on August 20 because his stomach was swollen. It is suspected that there are still fragments of bullets in his stomach.
The victim’s family finally agreed to take Asso to Jayapura for further treatment. He was treated at the Bhayangkara Hospital according to the instructions of the Yahukimo Police chief but died two days later.
The peaceful protest a day before Indonesia’s Independence Day was dispersed by the Yahukimo Police, during which Asso was shot and 48 other people arrested. Four people are still being detained by the police to date, namely Anton Hubusa, Lasarus Heluka, Afen Sambon, and Fredy Heluka.
Until this article was published, there was no statement from the Yahukimo Police regarding Asso’s death yet.
Reporter: Victor Mambor
