DPR Urges Transparency And Neutrality Over The Loss Of Tomi Marbun In West Papua

JAKARTA - Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the Papuan Electoral Region (Dapil) Yan Permenas Mandenas called for transparency and neutrality in the search for the Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of the Bintuni Bay Police, Iptu Tomi Marbun, a police officer who was missing while carrying out his duties in the operation to eradicate the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) in West Moskona District, Teluk Bintuni Regency, West Papua in December 2024.

"To oversee the settlement of this case, the operation which currently involves more than 510 TNI and Polri personnel should not only focus on the physical search for Iptu Tomi Marbun," said Yan, who was also appointed under Operations Control (BKO) Commission III of the DPR RI at the Hearing Meeting of the Victims' Families and the West Papua Police, quoting Antara.

He emphasized the importance of objectively collecting information through the crime scene (TKP) and examining witnesses who served with Iptu Tomi Marbun during an operation in December 2024.

"I hope this operation is not just a search, but a thorough investigation is also carried out. The examination of witnesses must be carried out in a neutral place, such as at the Jakarta Police Headquarters, in order to avoid intervention from interested parties in West Papua," said Yan.

He also highlighted concerns about intimidation of witnesses who served under the command of officials who now hold strategic positions at the West Papua Regional Police.

Yan said there were indications of pressure that made witnesses not free to provide information to investigators from the National Police Headquarters.

Responding to the shooting incident against the Chairman of Komnas HAM Papua while participating in the search operation, he reminded the authorities not to build a narration of creating conditions' that were misleading.

He said that so far people in the West and East Moskona areas have lived relatively safely and have not experienced threats from groups called KKB/OPM.

People have never felt terrorized. So if there is a gun battle after the operation begins, there is a perception that this could create conditions that are being carried out, not purely resistance from the KKB group. This perception arises from community leaders and local NGOs," he said.

As a concrete step, he urged the West Papua Police Chief to immediately deactivate the Head of Propam West Papua Police AKBP Choiruddin Wachid, who is the former Head of Teluk Bintuni Police.

According to him, this is important to ensure that the investigation process runs neutral and there is no conflict of interest.

If the West Papua Police Chief and the National Police Headquarters seriously dismantle this case, they must disable the Head of Propam of the West Papua Police first. After that, carry out the process transparently without protecting anyone. This is important to provide clarity to the public, the family of Iptu Tomi Marbun and maintain stability in Papua, "explained Yan.

The case of Iptu Tomi Marbun is now under the supervision of the DPR RI and Yan Mandenas ensures that he will continue to oversee the settlement of this case for the sake of justice and clarity of information for all parties involved.