The Papuan Representative Office of the National Commission on Human Rights of 
the Republic of Indonesia (Komnas HAM) revealed the case of a civilian death in 
Asiki, Boven Digoel Regency, a victim named Marius Betera on May 16th 2020 
after completing a field investigation in order to meet the demand made by an 
NGO and the victim’s family, Wednesday.

The coordinator of Komnas HAM Papua investigation team, Frits Ramandey, in his 
press statement in Jayapura, stated that this investigation result must be 
disclosed to the people, the victim’s family, and NGO to find out the cause of 
death of Marius Betera (40) last May 2020 and Korindo was proven not to be 
involved in the death case and did not violate human rights.

Frits said that the field investigation by Komnas HAM is done by visiting the 
location of incident in Asiki, Boven Digoel Regency and asking for information 
from the local residents, the Catholic Church diocese, and the victim’s wife. 

The findings by the Papuan Representative Office of Komnas HAM RI are based on 
facts, data and information gathered from a number of witnesses and several 
related parties including an inspection on the location of the land that had 
been used by the victim, Marius Betera to plant bananas inside the oil palm 
plantation area owned by PT. TSE POP A Camp 19.

“Regarding the position or location of the banana trees at the plantation, the 
Papuan Representative Office of Komnas HAM RI received three different 
informations,” said Frits accompanied by the Acting Head of Komnas HAM, 
Melchior S. Weruin, in his statement to the reporters.

Based on the information obtained from the field, the banana trees were owned 
by the victim, but the land was legally owned by the palm oil company PT. TSE 
POP A.

As for the company’s policy, according to Frits Ramandey, the Papuan 
Representative Office of Komnas HAM RI did find that inside the plantation area 
of PT. TSE POP A Camp 19, there are banana trees planted by residents on the 
roadside.

Frits expected the company to be firm in giving prohibition if the land is used 
by other people for planting.

According to Frits, if such condition is not immediately fixed, it will 
potentially create similar conflicts in the future.

Furthermore, based on the findings by Komnas HAM in the field, the victim 
Marius Betera’s anger was caused by his unwillingness to let his banana trees 
be removed by a certain party.

Frits further explained that to protest, Marius Betera came to Police Post Camp 
19 to report the removal of his banana trees but did not meet the Head of 
Police Post.

As a result of not being able to meet the Head of Police Post, according to 
Frits, the victim Marius Betera’s anger was peaked when he experienced violent 
acts from a police officer with initial MY.

The Papuan Representative Office of Komnas HAM RI stated that from the 
information gathered from the perpetrator and witnesses in the field, the 
violence caused by the police officer MY against the victim Marius Betera can 
be categorized as an excessive, arbitrary, and unprofessional act.

The involvement of this police officer, according to Frits, has violated the 
National Police Chief Regulation No.1 and No.8 of 2009 on the Implementation of 
Human Rights Principles and Standards in Discharge of Duties of the Indonesian 
National Police article 11 letter g which states that police officers are 
prohibited from carrying out punishments and physical acts which are not based 
on law.

Moreover, from the doctor examination result at POP A Camp 19 clinic and other 
parties, as evidenced by the doctor’s post-mortem result, according to Frits, 
the Papuan Representative Office of Komnas HAM considered that there was no 
medical evidence to confirm the death of victim Marius Betera was caused by 
violent acts by a police officer.

Komnas HAM has recommended the Regional Police Chief of Papua to carry out a 
law enforcement process against the police officer who allegedly committed 
violent acts toward the civilian Marius Betera at Camp 19 Asiki, Boven Digoel 
Regency on May 16th 2020.

SOURCE: Antara News Agency