Aug 12, 2008

West Papua: Fatal Shooting at UN Indigenous People Day in Wamena


Active ImageDemonstrators want to hold their stand until international intervention in West Papua is decided upon.
 
 
Below is an article published by Institute for Papuan Advocacy & Human Rights:
 
Reports from Wamena this afternoon [10 August 2008] state that there has been a fatal shooting at an event to celebrate UN Indigenous Peoples Day. Reports say that rally event involves 20,000 local people.

The man who was shot is identified as Mr Opinus Tabuni, age 35. Mr Tabuni is said to have been shot in chest and killed after Indonesian security forces fired into the crowd at about 3.45 pm today [10 August 2008].

Mr Tabuni is said to have been an organiser for the Tribal Council in the Wamena region (Lapago) and appears to have been coordianting the event.

The demonstrators have raised four flags. These are the United Nations flag, the Indonesian flag, the West Papuan Morning Star flag and the SOS emergency flag.

The demonstrators are said to be refusing to move from the site of the demonstration until there is now International intervention in West Papua.