Tactics and tools for the protection
of Human Rights Defenders

28 October 2011

On 10 and 15 October 2011 respectively, human rights defenders and labour activists Petrus W. Ajamiseba and Leo Wandegau died from gunshot wounds inflicted by police during a demonstration in Papua Province on 10 October.

Further Information

Petrus W. Ajamiseba and Leo Wandegau were labour activists and members of the All Indonesia Labour Federation (SPSI). SPSI is a national labour union which has branches in 33 provinces of the country, and works to increase the labour standards and improve the rights of all workers in Indonesia.

On 10 October 2011, at 10.30am, around 100 police officers from a local police station in Papua province opened fire into the demonstrations organised by SPSI Papua Branch. Around 2,000 workers of Freeport McMoran mining factory and members of SPSI Papua Branch have been holding a peaceful demonstration since 15 September 2011. They demand that the American company improves the working conditions of the workers by increasing their wages, and providing them with health insurance and pensions.

The police officers have been positioned about 50 meters north and west of the demonstration site since 15 September. Based upon the raw footage obtained by Front Line, the police were all heavily armed with automatic rifles.

It is reported that two bullets hit Petrus W. Ajamiseba in his left arm. He was pronounced dead before arriving at the RSUD Mimika hospital. Leo Wandegau died a few days later on 15 October 2011 at his home from the bullet wound in his back. In addition, eight labour activists are also serious injured from the shooting.

SPSI filed a complaint to the police in Timika on 10 October and another one on 12 October to the Indonesian National Police in Jakarta. The petition was submitted to Brigadier General Dzainal Syarief, the Head of the Public Relations Division. According to Dzainal Syarief, an investigation team will be set up and will be dispatched to Papua. SPSI members also gave photos and footage of the incidents to the police. On 15 October, a complaint was filed to the Indonesian Human Rights Commission (Komnas Ham).

Front Line is gravely concerned about the death threats and ongoing harassment against human rights defenders affiliated with SPSI. It is reported that Mr Denie Siregal, the local head of police of Mimika, made a death threat through a phone call to Mr Sudiro, the Chairperson of SPSI Papua Branch on 13 October, saying that the police would kill him if he continued to lead the demonstration. A number of labour activists have also faced intimidation from the police that they will be arrested if they continue to take part in the demonstration. In April 2011, two members of SPSI were found dead in their cars in Freeport area.

Front Line condemns the killing of human rights defenders Petrus W. Ajamiseba and Leo Wandegau in the strongest terms. Front Line believes that the deaths of these two SPSI members and the injuries of eight other members are a direct consequence of their legitimate work in the defence of human rights, especially to improve the working conditions of workers.

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