Indonesian military beats & humiliates West Papuan villagers in search for 'separatist symbols'

“The Indonesian military came to my village fully armed with guns, searching inside our homes for T shirts, wrist bands, hats, bags -- anything with the Morning Star on it, or “Papua Merdeka” or just “West Papua”. When they found something, they beat that person and stripped them naked in front of the whole village.”
- Extract from telephone interview by Benny Wenda, Free West Papua Campaign (UK)
Kimbim, West Papua, 27 May 2008
On 9th May 2008, in Wamena, West Papua, the Head of Jayawijaya Police, AKBP Marolop Manik, announced the launch of “Operation Mambruk”. He said that for 30 days from 9th May to 7th June, the Indonesian military, intelligence and police would be sweeping villages for any “separatist symbols”. It would be led by the Indonesian intelligence service (BIN).
The Head of Police said this was necessary because “the voice of freedom which blows like a wind is a threat to the State disintegration and is dangerous for community security and stability in Papua and West Papua province, especially in Jawijaya regency”. (See Cenderawasih Pos report, below)
The districts of Kimbim and Bolame were especially targeted.
Benny Wenda: “What happened when the Indonesians started this “Operation Mambruk”?
“The Indonesian military came to my village fully armed with guns, searching inside our homes for T shirts, wrist bands, hats, bags -- anything with the Morning Star on it, or “Papua Merdeka” or just “West Papua”. When they found something, they beat that person and stripped them naked in front of the whole village.”
“Any Papuan men with beards or long hair were especially targeted. In Kalimera village (Kimbim district), the military grabbed two men, Jaris Tabuni and D. Killungga, and beat them in front of everyone because they had Morning Star T shirts.”
“Then soldiers stripped all the clothes off D. Killungga, who is a teacher, and forced him to walk back to his village naked. This was their way of punishing him for wearing a “separatist T shirt”. The Indonesians humiliated him in front of all his people.”
“Then the soldiers burnt the whole collection of symbols – T shirts, hats, wrist bands and bags – in front of everybody.
“And they forced D. Killungga to make a statement on behalf of all his village promising they would never wear “separatist symbols” again. The military warned the villagers that if they did, Indonesian soldiers would come and burn down their homes and their churches and destroy their fences and their vegetable gardens.”
“In Bolame district I know the same is happening. What I saw was in Kimbim.”
“Last week the military captured many Papuans from different villages in Kimbim district and brought them together to one place. One of our Brothers escaped and he ran for a night and a day to Wamena to tell Mr Haluk what had happened. He said the soldiers beat them and then they shot seven of them. And they burnt the village. Many of the people fled to the bush to save their lives. He said the military are still in the village and many people are still hiding in the bush.”
“Now we are trying to find out what is happening at the moment. I will tell you soon, but it is dangerous to go back because the military are still there.”

Regional Police launches First Operation Mambruk – Year 2008
http://www.cenderawasihpos.com/lintas.php

Cenderawasih Pos 10 May 2008
It is the duty of the State security forces to anticipate any expression of any aspiration for independence or any rejection of special autonomy which has shown greater development now as the separatist movement has crystalised within the community leading to a demand to separate from the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.
In a ceremony at Jayawijaya regional police headquarters on Friday morning (9/5/2008) launching the implementation of the police operation in Jayawijaya regency (which is called First Operation Mambruk - year 2008), the Deputy Head of Jayawijaya Police, AKP Sri Satyatama, SIK read the Head of Jayawijaya Police's ( AKBP Marolop Manik) statement which said, 'the voice of freedom which blows like a wind is a threat to the state disintegration and is dangerous for community security and stability in Papua and West Papua province, especially in Jawijaya regency'.
The operation that is supported by all parties will focus on intelligence activities. It will last for thirty (30) days from May 9th to June 7th 2008. Two hundred personnel attended the ceremony. However, the operation will involve 60 personnel who will be involved in the operation directly. (jk)