Fatal Shooting at UN Indigenous People Day

Sunday, 10 August 2008, 12:03 pm
Press Release: Institute for Papuan Advocacy

Media alert

West Papua: Fatal Shooting at UN Indigenous People Day in Wamena

Saturday ( August 2008

Reports from Wamena this afternoon state that there has been a fatal shooting at an event to celebrate UN Indigenous Peoples Day. Reports say that rally event involves 20,000 local people.

The man who was shot is identified as Mr Opinus Tabuni, age 35. Mr Tabuni is said to have been shot in chest and killed after Indonesian security forces fired into the crowd at about 3.45 pm today.

Mr Tabuni is said to have been an organiser for the Tribal Council in the Wamena region (Lapago) and appears to have been coordianting the event.

The demonstrators have raised four flags. These are the United Nations flag, the Indonesian flag, the West Papuan Morning Star flag and the SOS emergency flag.

The demonstrators are said to be refusing to move from the site of the demonstration until there is now International intervention in West Papua.

ends

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