Military Operations
Jayapura Navy investigates members for sexual harassment
By Antara , Jayapura
Jun 4, 2008, 18:08

Jayapura Navy investigates members for sexual harassment
Antara , Jayapura | Thu, 05/29/2008 6:45 PM | National

Forty-one marines from the Jayapura Navy's main base are under investigation for the sexual harassment of a local young couple.

"We will continue to investigate this case although we are yet to find any substantial evidence," Jayapura Navy main base commander Brig. Gen. Giyarto, as quoted by Antara news agency, on
Thursday.

Giyarto was speaking after a meeting facilitated by the Papua legislative council.

He said the navy authorities were having difficulty proving the allegation due to a lack of evidence.

During the meeting, he asked for another month to investigate the case, adding that if the case was not solved within a month, the navy would inform the legislative council.

Four marines being investigated, said Giyarto, were naval officers. One of them is a highly ranked battalion commander.

Papua legislative council vice spokesman Paskalis Kossy said the council would wait for the results of the investigation.

"Because they asked for one month to conduct an investigation into the case, we are waiting for the report," Kossy said. The alleged sexual harassment occurred on May 18 at about 11 p.m. local time when a young couple, aged 27 and 18, were forced to have intercourse with each other by eight people at Hamadi beach near the base.

The eight people later ran into the navy complex. The victims' family has accused marines of being the perpetrators. The family has held demonstrations outside the navy complex and at the office of the provincial legislative council demanding the case be solved. (**)

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Richard Samuelson
Free West Papua Campaign, Oxford, UK.
www.freewestpapua.org



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