Jayapura – Papuan students from across Java and Bali who are members of the Humanitarian Forum held a peaceful demonstration in front of the offices of the Ministry of Human Rights led by Minster Natalius Pigai on Tuesday June 3 to call for the immediate formation of a humanitarian team to investigate the shooting of mama Hetina Mirip and seven other civilians in Intan Jaya regency on May 13.
The protesters, who were disappointed at being blocked by police and because Human Rights Minster Pigai failed to come out and meet with them, set fire to tyres in front of the ministry's front gate in the Kuningan area of South Jakarta.
Lince Omaleng, one of the victim's family members, questioned the police officers guarding the entrance to the Human Rights Ministry offices who prevented the Papuan students from entering.
“Do you have mothers? We Papuan women are standing here because our mother was killed by the Indonesian authorities, so why are you preventing us from meeting Natalius Pigai", said Omaleng.
Meanwhile, action coordinator Yulianus Piame explained that the purpose of the action was to urge the Human Rights Ministry to immediately form an independent team to investigate the murder in Intan Jaya which was an extrajudicial act against Evangelis Elisa Wandagau, Mono Tapani and five other residents.
Piame said that they were allegedly shot dead by Indonesian Military (TNI) officers from the Habema task force and with the exception of Mirip, their bodies and whereabouts are still unknown and the families are still looking for them.
"Except for the body of mama Hetina Mirip who was found on Friday, May 23, 2025 by a team led by the head of the Sugapa district, Misael Sondegau."
Mama Mirip's body was removed from the soil and grass then cremated in Ndugusiga Village, Sugapa district, Intan Jaya, Central Papua.
In addition, the demonstrators also urged the Indonesian government to stop military operations in Intan Jaya, Nduga, Yahukimo, Puncak, Puncak Jaya, the Bintang Highlands and other Papua regions because it has resulted in many civilians falling victim.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Mahasiswa Papua Desak Menteri HAM Bentuk Tim Investigasi Kasus Intan Jaya".]
