+ A
A -
dpa
Jakarta
The chief of the Indonesian Air Force apologised on Wednesday after two personnel assaulted a disabled man in the rebellious Papua province, where anger against Jakarta’s rule has been on the rise.
A video circulating online showed the Papuan man, who visibly had a speech disability, arguing with the owner of a food stall before two Air Force officers came, dragged him away and forced him onto the ground with one officer’s knee on his back. The other officer is shown placing his foot on the man’s head.
The military confirmed that the incident took place on Monday in Merauke district. The officers’ action was condemned by Papuans and other Indonesians who saw the incident as just another example of the excessive use of force and racist action by security forces in the mainly Melanesian province.
“I, as the commander of the Air Force, would like to humbly apologize to our brothers and sisters in Papua, especially the victim and his family,” Air Force chief Air Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo said in a video posted on social media.
“We will take strong action against those who committed this grave action,” he added. The Air Force announced later Wednesday that it had dismissed the chiefs of the Merauke airbase and its military police service from their posts.
“This is a form of accountability for the incident. The commanders are responsible for the actions of their units,” Fadjar said. The presidential chief of staff, Moeldoko, described the officers’ action as “excessive.”
Jakarta
The chief of the Indonesian Air Force apologised on Wednesday after two personnel assaulted a disabled man in the rebellious Papua province, where anger against Jakarta’s rule has been on the rise.
A video circulating online showed the Papuan man, who visibly had a speech disability, arguing with the owner of a food stall before two Air Force officers came, dragged him away and forced him onto the ground with one officer’s knee on his back. The other officer is shown placing his foot on the man’s head.
The military confirmed that the incident took place on Monday in Merauke district. The officers’ action was condemned by Papuans and other Indonesians who saw the incident as just another example of the excessive use of force and racist action by security forces in the mainly Melanesian province.
“I, as the commander of the Air Force, would like to humbly apologize to our brothers and sisters in Papua, especially the victim and his family,” Air Force chief Air Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo said in a video posted on social media.
“We will take strong action against those who committed this grave action,” he added. The Air Force announced later Wednesday that it had dismissed the chiefs of the Merauke airbase and its military police service from their posts.
“This is a form of accountability for the incident. The commanders are responsible for the actions of their units,” Fadjar said. The presidential chief of staff, Moeldoko, described the officers’ action as “excessive.”
