The team will be assigned for two weeks starting the issuance of this decree. They will report the result (of the investigation) to the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, has formed a joint fact-finding team to investigate the attacks in Intan Jaya District, Papua Province that have left two soldiers and two civilians dead.

"Today, we set up a joint fact-finding team (TGPF) for the Intan Jaya case through decree number 83 of 2020," he said at an online press conference on Friday.

The minister has appointed day-to-day chief of the National Police Commission, Benny Mamoto, as chief of the fact-finding team, and the ministry's deputy for legal and human rights coordination, Sugeng Purnomo, as the deputy chief.

“The team will be assigned for two weeks starting the issuance of this decree. They will report the result (of the investigation) to the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs,” he said.

The team comprises 18 members, drawn from the Indonesian military, police, presidential staff office, and Papua social figures.

It was reported earlier that an armed civilian group in Hitadipa, Papua, had shot dead two Indonesian military personnel, a civilian, and a priest. The Indonesian military said the shootings were aimed at drawing attention, particularly ahead of the United Nations General Assembly.

“On September 17-19 (2020), civilians and military members were shot dead in Intan Jaya, Papua. The shootings have sparked debates about who have shot and who have been shot,” the minister said.

He said the armed civilian group, which the Indonesian military and police have held responsible for the shooting, has lodged a counter accusation against the security agencies.

“It is the last (shooting incident) that was much debated with the passing of priest Yeremia. It is still unclear whether he was shot dead, since security personnel have found it difficult to meet his family, much less to see his body,” he added.

The government will remain firm in upholding the law as it is and disclose the actual fact to the public, he said.

“We have received many inputs and applications from social and religious figures and others who have called for immediate, heavy law enforcement and formation of a fact-finding team,” he added.

Related news: Armed Papuan criminals in Intan Jaya committed 17 crimes: police
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Translator: Syaiful Hakim/Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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