REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Amnesty International (AI) has welcomed the announcement made by Indonesia's National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) that it will be recommending the formation of a pro-justicia inquiry team.
This team will be given the task of undertaking a detailed investigation into the incident that led to the death of four students and left dozens of others injured in Paniai, Papua province, in December 2014.
"Victims and their families, as well as human rights groups, have been calling for justice since the incident occurred, and this news offers them some genuine hope for accountability," Josef Roy Benedict, a campaigner for Indonesia and Timor-Leste of Amnesty International's Southeast Asia and Pacific Regional Office, said in a statement on Saturday.
Four people were found dead from gunshot wounds during a protest rally held in Karel Gobai field, Enarotali, Paniai district, Papua province, on December 8, 2014.
"At least 17 others were injured after either being hit by bullets or bayoneted by security forces," Benedict added in the statement.
In December 2014, President Joko Widodo had publicly committed to resolve the case, and soon after, Komnas HAM had established a team to undertake an initial investigation into it, Amnesty International said in the statement.
"After four months of work, the commission has now found evidence of gross human rights violations as defined in law number 26/2000 on human rights courts, and has recommended a pro-justicia inquiry to undertake a more detailed investigation, which could eventually lead to prosecution in a human rights court," he affirmed.
The commission will make a final decision in May 2015 after the team completes compiling all information on the case and a legal analysis as required by the law.
Moreover, Amnesty International urges Indonesian authorities to ensure that all relevant parties, especially Indonesian security forces, cooperate with the commission's team when it is formed and carries out its work, and that the commission be provided with adequate resources, including forensic and other relevant experts, to undertake its task.
"Should Komnas HAM's investigations and the president's public commitment to resolve the case lead to genuine accountability and reparations for the victims and their families, it would give Papuans a positive impression of President Widodo's commitment to improve the human rights situation in the region," he remarked.
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