We are striving to uncover the acts of deadly violence in Intan Jaya district. It is not just about the death of Priest Yeremia Zanambani, but also about the deaths of civilians and security personnelTimika, Papua (ANTARA) - Papua police officials said they are continuing efforts to uncover a series of deadly shootings over the past few months in Intan Jaya district so that their perpetrators can be brought to justice.
“We are striving to uncover the acts of deadly violence in Intan Jaya district. It is not just about the death of Priest Yeremia Zanambani, but also about the deaths of civilians and security personnel," Papua Police spokesperson Sen.Coms.AM Kamal said.
Police investigators probing the priest’s death had appealed to the victim's family to allow authorized doctors to conduct an autopsy on Zanambani, but the family had opposed this, he told ANTARA here on Tuesday.
"At a meeting in Nabire in the past, one of the victim's family members refused the police's request (for an autopsy). We, however, are striving to convince them about the importance of the autopsy to know the cause of the victim's death," he informed.
Based on information the investigators received, Priest Zanambani suffered injuries on his hands and on the back of his neck, Kamal said adding, community members need to stop making their own judgments about the incident.
The Indonesian province of Papua has been dealing with a vicious cycle of violence, with armed groups in the districts of Intan Jaya and Nduga continuing to target civilians and security personnel over the past few months.
Intan Jaya recorded its bloodiest month in September this year, with armed groups launching a series of attacks in the area that claimed the lives of two soldiers and two civilians and injured two others.
On September 19, 2020, an Indonesian soldier died in a gunfight with several armed Papuan rebels near the Persiapan Hipadipa Military Sub-district Command's compound in the district.
The fallen hero was identified as First Private Dwi Akbar Utomo, XVII Cenderawasih Regional Military Command spokesperson, Lt. Col. Reza Nur Patria, informed.
The same day, Priest Yeremia Zanambani was gunned down in Hitadipa village, Hitadipa sub-district.
On September 17, 2020, another soldier, Chief Sergeant Sahlan, was reportedly killed in an ambush laid by a group of armed separatists. He was attacked while returning to the Persiapan Hipadipa Military Sub-district Command in Intan Jaya district with food supplies from the Sugapa area.
The attackers had seized his gun and magazine, according to commander of the Biak-based 173/Praja Vira Braja Military Resort Command, Brig. Gen. Iwan Setiawan.
In a separate incident on September 17, 2020, armed Papuan rebels reportedly tortured and killed a 49-year-old Ojek motorcycle taxi driver, identified as Badawi.
On September 13, 2020, armed separatists opened fire at two other Ojek drivers in Sugapa area, but they managed to survive the attack. The two drivers were treated at a hospital in Timika, the capital of Mimika district, Setiawan remarked.
The notorious armed groups in the Indonesian province continued their acts of terror in October.
On October 9, 2020, an armed group ambushed a joint fact-finding team (TGPF) set up by the government to investigate a recent shooting in Mamba village, Sugapa sub-district.
In the incident, a TGPF member -- Gadjah Mada University (UGM) lecturer Bambang Purwoko -- was shot in the leg, while a TNI soldier — First Sgt Faisal Akbar of the Hitadipa Task Force — sustained injuries on the waist. (INE)
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Evarianus S, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
