When will the case of Yeremias Zanambani be put to rest?

The Indonesian public is waiting for resolution to the murder case of the Papuan priest and Bible translator Yeremias Zanambani. It was feared that the Indonesian Government’s handling of the case could be used to fuel separatist sentiments in Papua, especially around the symbolically important date of 01 December.

Benny Wenda was nominated to be interim president when West Papuan leaders declared a provisional government in waiting to mark 01 December demonstrations . Source: Photograph by HANDOUT/AFP/Getty Images - 01 Dec.

Papuan priest Yeremias Zanambani died on 19 September 2020.  However, resolution of the case is taking time.  One reason is conflicting case reports from the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) and the Joint Fact Finding Team (Tim Gabungan Pencari Fakta or TGPF set up by the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security Mahfud MD. Another complication is that the priest’s family have refused an autopsy of his body. What are the implications for stability and human rights in the province?

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Separatist tensions always mount in Papua around 01 December and there appears to be growing international support . Source: Image by AK Rockefeller//Creative Commons.