When will the autopsy of Danny Kogoya’s body take place?

January 2, 2014

Danny Kogoya (Jubi)

Jayapura, 2/1 (Jubi) – The delayed autopsy toward Danny Kogoya’s body on demand of his family is still unclear. Papua Human Rights Defender activist, Matius Murib, states the negotiation between the family and the Government of Indonesia are still continuing.

“From our last negotiations with Kogoya’s family, the Consulate of Indonesia and the Office of Civil Security in Vanimo, PNG, dated 20 December 2013, it has resulted some points of agreements. One point is his family requested the autopsy of Danny Kogoya’s body to prove the cause of his death. However, it is not yet known when the autopsy is scheduled. The family asked that the autopsy should be conducted in the hospital in Vanimo. Thus, there is still a tug of war between the Kogoya’s family and the GoI (government of Indonesia),” said Matius Murib via his cellphone on Thursday (2/1).

According to him, the other point that resulted from the negotiation is the funeral procession will be carried out after the autopsy, agreed that both sides will keep the security situation peaceful. All parties were asked to contribute in accelerating the handling process of this case, to combat the impression of ignoring it.

“We will continue to mediate the case in order to achieve the goal that is equally well received by the Governments of PNG and Indonesia, in particularly to fulfill the sense of justice and peace, especially for the family of the victim. May the spirit of a peaceful Christmas 2013 and New Year 2014, make us more wise and prudent, to observe and respect the human rights for all human beings,” said Murib.

However, differing from Murib’s statement, the autopsy plan according to the Consulate of Indonesia will be taken in 7 January 2014. Jihar Gultom, the Head of Indonesian Consulate in Vanimo, said to Jubi, Thursday (2/1) that the agreement to do the autopsy was decided in 23 December 2013. At the time when this decision was made, was joined by the family of Danny Kogoya and the Governor of Sandaun, and a representative of the Government of Port Moresby (PNG).

“We met Kogoya’s family and the Government of Sandaun before Christmas. There are also 3 delegates from Port Moresby. In respect of the celebration of Christmas, the autopsy is scheduled to be conducted before 7 January 2014 by a doctor from Port Moresby in Vanimo,” said Jihar Gultom.

When contacted by Jubi, Jefrey Pagawak, representing Danny Kogoya’s family, admitted that the family has met the Government of PNG and the Indonesian Consulate in Vanimo to discuss the determination of the autopsy’s schedule.

“The Indonesian Consul in Vanimo at first did not agree about the autopsy. They wanted to send Danny’s body to Jayapura immediately for the result to be equally well received by both parties, that was their reason. But, when the authority of PNG who represented by Moses Poi from Foreign Affairs Division of the Government of PNG came to Vanimo to discuss this situation, they finally agreed. We, as representatives of the family, met Jihar Gultom, Head of Indonesian Consulate in Vanimo, yesterday, Monday (23/12). Previously, we met Mr.Moses Poi from the Foreign Affairs of the Government of PNG to agree that in respect to Christmas and New Year, Danny’s body will be autopsied after New Year’s celebrations, before 7 January,” explained Jefrey.

Danny Kogoya died in the early December 2013 in PNG. He was called as leader of the National Liberation Army of Free Papua Movement. He was detained in Mapolresta Jayapura in 2012, accused as being the mastermind behind a series of 2011 shootings in Jayapura and surrounding areas. Kogoya sustained gunshot injuries in his legs during his arrest, and his legs were amputated without permission by surgeons allegedly acting under instruction from Jayapura police.

However he was released on Saturday, 11 May 2013 after charges were dropped. After his release, Danny Kogoya crossed to Papua New Guinea to live with his family but in early December 2013, he passed away, with the exact cause of his death unknown.

The representative of Indonesian Consulate claimed that the cause of Danny Kogoya’s death was the liver cancer. Opposing this claim, the family representative in Vanimo said that Danny was killed gradually through a slow acting poison that was injected whilst undergoing surgery of leg amputation. (Jubi/Arjuna/P. Maizier)

With editing and additional reporting by West Papua Media