TNI Investigate Case of Alleged Mistreatment of Elementary School Children in Sinak Papua

Korem 173/PVB investigated allegations of abuse that led to the death of a fourth grade elementary school (SD) child with the initials MT in Sinak District, Puncak Regency, Papua.
"The investigation team has been dispatched to the Sinak District, Puncak Regency to reveal the truth of information from the public regarding allegations made by unscrupulous TNI soldiers and currently the investigation is ongoing," said Dandim 1714/PJ, Lieutenant Colonel Inf Denny Salurerung, in an official statement quoted Tuesday (1 /3).

Denny said the investigation team worked closely with the police, local government, leaders and elements of society in Sinak to obtain the truth of the widely circulated information.
 
He emphasized that the legal process against members of the TNI would be carried out if the information received from the public regarding the alleged incident of abuse that led to the loss of life of an elementary school child was proven.
 
"If it is proven and it is true that persecution has occurred, it will certainly be prosecuted. And of course, let us all oversee the process together," he asserted.
 
"About the chronology of how it actually happened and what caused it, please be patient and let's wait for the results of the investigation from the team currently in Sinak. Hopefully it will be immediately known what, how and the real cause of the incident," he continued.

Previously, Amnesty International Indonesia (AII) received a report that a fourth grade elementary school student with the initials MT in Sinak District, Puncak Regency, Papua, died last week after being mistreated by security forces.

AII Executive Director, Usman Hamid, said MT along with six other children who were also elementary school students were arrested for allegedly stealing weapons belonging to TNI members in Sinak.

"The killing of children in Sinak, Papua, cannot be justified," said Usman in a written statement to CNNIndonesia.com through a written statement, Sunday (27/2).

Citing local media reports, Usman said two youths allegedly took a weapon belonging to a TNI member around Tapulinik Sinak Airport, Puncak Regency, Papua, on the night of February 20.

After the TNI officers learned of the incident, they pursued the person suspected of taking weapons in Kelemame Village. The officers gave chase around the three churches there.

Later, they took the seven children to the post at Sinak Airport for interrogation.

"It is suspected that the seven of them suffered persecution there before they were taken to the Sinak Police Station," said Usman.

He added, in international human rights law, Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Indonesia has ratified through Law No. 12 of 2005, confirms that every individual has the right to life and no one should be deprived of it. right to life.

Meanwhile, within the framework of national law, the right to life is protected in Articles 28A and 28I of the 1945 Constitution and Article 9 of Law Number 39 of 1999 concerning Human Rights which regulates that everyone has the right to live and maintain life.

The United Nations Human Rights Committee, in its capacity as the authoritative interpreter of the ICCPR, stated that states are obliged to investigate allegations of human rights violations promptly, thoroughly and effectively through independent and impartial bodies. And must guarantee the trial of those responsible and provide the right of reparation for the victims.

SOURCE: https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20220301082555-12-765147/tni-usut-case-dugaan-pengperseanan-anak-sd-di-sinak-papua