Mako Tabuni

On 19 November 2008 the National Committee for West Papua (abbreviated KNPB, Komite Nasional Papua Barat) was established by a number of Papuan ngo's. The KNPB campaigns for the right to self-determination for the people of Papua of West New Guinea. This right was withheld from the Papuans in 1969 with the Act of Free Choice, which was rigged. The KNPB advocates a referendum to determine the political future of West Papua (i.e. West New Guinea). It cooperates for this purpose with the International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) and the International Lawyers for West Papua (ILWP).;{{cite web |url=http://knpbnews.com/cat33 |title=KNPB website |access-date=2012-11-01 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127034329/http://knpbnews.com/cat33 |archive-date=2013-01-27 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.tribunnews.com/2012/06/14/penembakan-mako-tabuni-dan-papua-yang-ingin-merdeka |title=Penembakan Mako Tabuni dan Papua yang Ingin Merdeka |publisher=Tribun News |date=June 14, 2012 |access-date=June 16, 2012 }}

Mako Tabuni was born in Wamena.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} Mako and members of his family were themselves victims of human rights violations in West Papua, 1980.Pinang Terakhir Mako Tabuni. An obituary. {{in lang|id}} http://duniabergerak.blogspot.com {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130426004252/http://duniabergerak.blogspot.com/ |date=2013-04-26 }}

In May 2012, a German tourist, Pieter Dietmar Helmut was non-fatally shot while swimming with his wife in Base G beach, the perpetrators were later revealed to be members of extremist faction of KNPB led by Mako Tabuni, three members were later caught and charged with manslaughter.{{cite web | last=Prasetyo | first=Budi | title=Gelar Perkara Tersangka Pelaku Penembakan Turis Jerman | website=Tribunnews.com | date=2012-06-25 | url=https://www.tribunnews.com/regional/2012/06/25/gelar-perkara-tersangka-pelaku-penembakan-turis-jerman | language=ms | access-date=2021-12-10}}{{cite web | title=Papuan 'separatists' vs Jihadi 'terrorists': Indonesian policy dilemmas | website=Crisis Group | date=2013-12-05 | url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia/south-east-asia/indonesia/papuan-separatists-vs-jihadi-terrorists-indonesian-policy-dilemmas | language=sl | access-date=2021-12-10}}

On June 14, 2012, Mako was killed, as he was walking near his home in Waena, without any further warning by Indonesian police in plain clothes,{{cite web|url=http://westpapuamedia.info/2012/06/14/knpb-leader-mako-tabuni-shot-dead-by-aust-funded-indonesian-detachment-88-troops-riots-in-jayapura/ |title=KNPB leader Mako Tabuni shot dead by Australian funded anti terrorist unit Detachment 88(Densus 88); riots in Jayapura |publisher=West Papua Media |date=June 14, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2012 }}{{cite web|url=http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2012/06/imparsial-criticises-police-for-the-death-of-mako-tabuni/ |title=Imparsial Criticises Police For The Death Of Mako Tabuni |publisher=Pacific Scoop |date=June 15, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2012 }} sparking massive and violent protests and riots.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-18442620 |title=Indonesian police kill Papua separatist Mako Tabuni |publisher=BBC News |date=June 14, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2012 }} Activists have since claimed that Tabuni was killed intentionally, which is a breach of the law. The police spokesman said that he was shot because he resisted arrest.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/15/world/asia/indonesia-riots-erupt-after-police-kill-activist.html |title=Indonesia: Riots Erupt After Police Fatally Shoot Activist at His Arrest |work=New York Times |date=June 15, 2012 |access-date=June 16, 2012 }}[http://www.freewestpapua.org/index.php/news/1920-indonesian-police-kill-top-papua-separatist-mako-tabuni Indonesian police kill top Papua separatist Mako Tabuni] Free West Papua. Retrieved June 15, 2012 However, the police view was challenged by eyewitnesses. These also claimed that Mako was still alive when he entered the police hospital in Jayapura and that he died while in police custody.

Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono conceded that the Indonesian security forces have overreacted at times but also mentioned that the attacks were "on a small scale with limited victims."{{cite web |url=http://www.todayonline.com/World/EDC120615-0000119/Activist-slaying-sparks-riot-in-Indonesias-Papua-province |title=Activist slaying sparks riot in Indonesia's Papua province |publisher=TODAY Online |date=June 15, 2012 |access-date=June 16, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617050324/http://www.todayonline.com/World/EDC120615-0000119/Activist-slaying-sparks-riot-in-Indonesias-Papua-province |archive-date=June 17, 2012 }}

In an official statement, national police chief General Timur Pradopo said that Tabuni was killed after he grabbed a weapon from a policeman attempting to arrest him and escaped,[https://archive.today/20130203230406/http://www.tempointeractive.com/hg/nasional/2012/06/15/brk,20120615-410849,uk.html Mako Tabuni Was Shot for Resisting Arrest, Seizing Police Gun, Police Chief Says] Tempo Interactive. June 15, 2012 while also adding that investigation revealed that Tabuni had a loaded gun with 18 bullets.{{cite web|url=http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/lawandorder/police-detain-three-people-over-papua-attacks/524438 |title=Police Detain 3 People Over Papua Attacks |publisher=Jakarta Globe |date=June 15, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2012 }} He was wanted for "causing unrest in the province",{{cite web|url=http://blakandblack.com/2012/06/15/the-assassination-of-mako-tabuni-the-afp-is-the-devil-in-everyones-democratic-aspirations/ |title=The assassination of Mako Tabuni: the AFP is the devil in everyone's democratic aspirations! |publisher=Blak and Black |date=June 15, 2012 |access-date=June 16, 2012 }} according to Papua police chief Major General Bigman Lumban Tobing.

Representatives of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence, who interviewed eyewitnesses, stated that Tabuni was suddenly and unexpectedly shot dead by an ununiformed gunman as he walked alone near a housing complex.{{cite web|url=http://www.ucanews.com/2012/06/15/tabuni-intentionally-killed-by-police-activists/ |title=Tabuni intentionally killed, say activists; Official report that activist resisted arrest 'is just a sham' |author=Dagur, Ryan |publisher=UCA News |date=June 15, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2012 }} Following Tabuni's death, a large group of furious protesters went on a rampage in Jayapura, many of them carrying machetes and arrows.Jefrey Pattirajawane June 15, 2012 [http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/06/15/activist-slaying-sparks-riot-papua.html Activist slaying sparks riot in Papua] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616073319/http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/06/15/activist-slaying-sparks-riot-papua.html |date=2012-06-16 }} The Jakarta Post. Retrieved June 15, 2012 Shops were closed during the mass riots, and many citizens were afraid to leave their homes.{{cite web|url=http://www.njherald.com/story/18794850/activist-slaying-sparks-riot-in-indonesias-papua |title=Activist killing sparks riot in Indonesia's Papua |publisher=New Jersey Herald |date=June 15, 2012 |access-date=June 16, 2012 }} But as the outrage worsens, tribal and independence leaders from are urging their followers to maintain discipline, fearing that a violent reaction will give the Indonesian police the justification they need to destroy the independence movement. Said political prisoner Selphius Bobii,

{{cquote|The killing of Tabuni is part of a scenario to destroy the Papuan struggle's commitment to a peaceful path and push Papuans towards violence. So let's control ourselves. Don't get caught in this scenario which will only weaken our peaceful struggle that right now is echoing across our country and up to the UN[http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1206/S00409/papuans-allege-australian-trained-d88-shot-dead-mako-tabuni.htm Papuans Allege: Australian Trained D88 Shot Dead Mako Tabuni] Scoop.co.nz. Retrieved June 16, 2012.}}

After Tabuni's death, police authorities initially refused to pass his body to his family, saying that they would perform Tabuni's burial themselves. They changed later their decision. Then, Tabuni's family could collect his body from the Bhayangkara Police Hospital, ahead of the burial, which took place on June 16, 2012, in Wamena.Nethy Dharma Somba and Margareth S. Aritonang (June 16, 2012) [http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/06/16/approach-papua-slammed.html Approach on Papua slammed] The Jakarta Post. Retrieved June 16, 2012.

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Category:West Papuan independence activists

Category:2012 deaths

Category:Year of birth missing