Letter from West Papua

On Saturday August 9, 2008, Indonesian military and police (TNI/POLRI) shot dead Opius Tabuni, a native West Papuan civilian. The incident happened when the native indigenous Papuans were celebrating international Indigenous day in Wamena.
First, all the main activities of the event went well and peacefully. One of the program was a speech by Forkorus Yaboisembut, the chairman of the Papuan Customary Council. Before the chairman of the Papuan Customary council ended his speech, the people had already raised four flags.

The four flags raised were:
1.The United Nations Flag;
2.The Morning Star flag (West Papuan Independence Flag);
3.SOS flag; a white flag which reflects emergency to show that Papua is in an emergency situation and therefore it needs the UN attention.
4.Red and White flag: Indonesian National Flag.
We witnessed everything that happened during the celebration of international indigenous day and tried to take as many pictures as we could.
As soon as the four flags were raised, Indonesian police started shooting the people. The shootings were not warning shots. In fact, the Indonesian police started shooting guns towards the grounds in front of SMU YPPK Santo Thomas, a senior high school building near Sinapuk field , Wamena.
Opius Tabuni who was sitting near the school fence was shot.
I (name withheld) who took all the photos witnessed the violence of Indonesian police who brutally shot the native West Papuans.
I also like to report to the international communities that Indonesian government and military/police are using their media to deny the shooting. They also try to blame the native West Papuans for the incident and claim that what the native West Papuans are doing was illegal.
We send you the photos that we took during the celebration of the indigenous day and the incident that happened after that.
We do hope that the international communities will help the native West Papuans from ongoing violence and killing committed by Indonesian military and police.
Thank you for your help,
Wamena, 9 August 2008
[Name removed]

Photos enclosed:

The native West Papuans were marching to Lapangan Pendidikan Wamena where the indigenous celebration would take place.


Traditional dancing was performed during the celebration.


Native West Papuans sitting on the grass at Lapangan Pendidikan Wamena and following the order of the Indigenous day celebration.


A West Papuan priest was preaching and led a prayer in the indigenous day celebration.

Speeches by Committee of Indigenous day celebration and Papuan Customary Council.


The native West Papuans raised four flags during the Indigenous day celebration: The UN flag, The Morning Star flag (West Papuan Independence flag), The SOS flag (white flag), and The Red and White flag (Indonesian national flag).




Indonesian police start firing at the West Papuans

Opius Tabuni was shot to death by bullets of the Indonesian police.



Opius Tabuni’s body was carried by thousands of native West Papuans to his home.



Opius was in his home surrounded by his family who were mourning for his death.


Source: Free West Papua