But, we hope there will be no security disturbancesSentani, Jayapura (ANTARA) - Some 700 personnel of the Indonesian military and police as well as local government's public order officers were deployed to secure Sentani city and surrounding areas, Jayapura District, Papua Province, on Sunday.
The deployment of those personnel was aimed to anticipate any unwanted incident during the commemoration of the Free Papua Movement's (OPM's) anniversary on Sunday, Jayapura Police Chief Adjunct Sen.Coms. Victor Dean Mackbon said.
All of the on-duty security personnel were expected to work well. "But, we hope there will be no security disturbances," he said.
On Saturday, the Jayapura police precinct had conducted a roll call, led by Victor Dean Mackbon and joined by those from the police, military, and public order units.
Mackbon appealed to the district's community members to remain calm and not to get provoked by any unlawful activity.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, a group of Papuan gunmen fired at an escort car owned by PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) at around Mile 60 in Tembagapura Subdistrict, Mimika District, Papua Province, but there were no casualties in the incident.
Spokesman of the XVII/Cenderawasih Regional Military Command Colonel Eko Daryanto told ANTARA that the gunmen who fired at the PTFI's "Delta Zone" escort car might belong to an armed Papuan rebel group, led by Hengki Wamang.
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The ill-fated vehicle was attacked when the driver and its two passengers, Latif and Matthew Philips Driven by Ramadhani, were waiting for the coming of an employee shuttle bus coming from the Timika bus terminal, he said.
The shooting occurred at around 3:50 p.m. local time. Ten minutes later, several members of the Indonesian military and police task force were deployed to the site of the attack to assist the victims and secure the Mile 60 area, he said.
"No one is injured in the shooting incident," he said, adding that the military and police personnel should stay alert on the armed Papuan criminals who were keen to disrupt Papua's security.
He also urged local people to remain calm and cautious. The attack occurred ahead of the commemoration of the Free Papua Movement's (OPM's) anniversary on Dec 1.
Papua Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw had earlier warned of the potential security threats posed by the armed Papuan groups at the mining sites of gold and copper mining firm PTFI ahead of the commemoration of the OPM's anniversary.
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Translator: Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
