"The police investigators have named them suspects in the assault case," Jayawijaya Police Chief Adjunct Sen. Coms. Dominggus Rumaropen informed journalists in Wamena, the capital of Jayawijaya District, Papua Province, on Tuesday.
Three other people that the police investigators had summoned for questioning in connection with this case were allowed to go home since they were all regarded as witnesses, he noted.
The priest, whose identity was withheld, survived the attack and is hospitalized to receive medical treatment for his injuries, Rumaropen remarked.
Police investigators charged KW and TA, currently under the police’s custody, for violation of Articles 551 (2), 351 (1), and 55 (1) of the Criminal Code that makes them liable to imprisonment for a five-year term.
The priest's recovery is underway, but local police officers have taken precautionary measures against possible acts of revenge against the suspects by the victim's family members, he revealed.
Rumaropen expressed gratitude to the priest's family members for their goodwill to heed to the police's peaceful call to not take revenge against the attackers.
An act of violence against priests has repeatedly occurred in Papua Province over the past two years.
On September 19, 2020, Priest Yeremia Zanambani residing in Hitadipa Village, Hitadipa Sub-district, Intan Jaya District District, was shot dead.
His death triggered protests and condemnation. The Indonesian government then formed a joint fact-finding team (TGPF) to probe the fatal shooting.
Indonesia's top security minister, Mahfud MD, revealed that security personnel and a “third party” might have been involved in the death of Priest Zanambani.
The coordinating minister for political, legal, and security affairs made the statement shortly after receiving the TGPF's final report from the team's head, Benny Mamoto, on October 21, 2020.
Information and data gathered by the TGPF members during their fact-finding mission indicate alleged involvement of security personnel, Mahfud MD pointed out.
However, the minister hinted at the involvement of a "third party" in the fatal shooting of Priest Zanambani, adding that the government had ordered the National Police and Attorney General’s Office to handle the case in accordance with Indonesia's legal system.
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Translator: Marius FY, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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