Heavy security forces guard mourners for Mako Tabuni

Heavy security forces guard mourners for Mako Tabuni

The burial parlour where the body of Mako Tabuni, deputy chairman of the KNPB (National Committee of West Papua), was laid out was under heavy guard by the security forces. Mako was shot by members of the security forces on Thursday, 14 June at a road junction at Perumnas, Waena

The place where the body of Mako Tabuni was laid in Jalan Pos 7, Sentani, Jayapura, was overflowing with relatives and friends of the deceased. They were all shedding tears for the decease but the tear could not capture the sense of loss deep in the hearts of all those present.

A number of young women were standing round the coffin as if they were trying to embrace the body of deceased which was dressed in a black jacket.

The body of the deceased had been handed over by the police to his family at the Bayangkara Hospital where it has been taken before he died.The handing over of the body was witnessed by a number of Papuan leaders, including religious leaders, traditional leaders and intellectuals. The funeral will take place on Saturday, 16 June at the Polomo Cemetery, Sentani.

'We feel like we are in a state of war,' said one of the mourners who was carrying the body but who did not want to give his name..

Along the road leading to Pos 7 where the body had been found, two police trucks were on guard up to late in the evening.. The police were taking careful note of the identities of everyone among the crowd of mourners. Not only that. At a number of places such as the tomb of Theys Hiyo Eluay, army and police personnel were on guard. There were eight trucks with personnel at the cemetery. There were two small police trucks along the way. At Expo Waena, there were three police trucks on guard, including a Baracuda police truck.

ENDS

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