The forensics doctors from Unhas arrived in Sugapa, the capital of Intan Jaya District, along with members of the joint fact-finding team (TGPF) and National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).
The Papua police headquarters had yet to receive reports of the post mortem examination that might be conducted on Saturday, Papua Police Chief Insp. Gen. Mathius Fakhiri noted in a statement that ANTARA quoted in Jayapura on Saturday.
The body of Priest Zanambani will be exhumed to ascertain the cause of death. The priest, a resident of Hitadipa Village, Hitadipa Sub-district, Intan Jaya District, Papua Province, was shot dead on September 19, 2020, Fakhiri remarked.
The dead priest's wife and family members had given the consent to exhume the body and conduct post mortem examination, Fakhiri confirmed.
Benny Mamoto, the TGPF head, had stated earlier that the post mortem examination should be conducted to determine the cause of the priest's death.
The results will then assist authorized investigators to continue their probe into the murder case and to determine suspected perpetrators, he remarked.
The Indonesian government formed the TGPF to probe a series of deadly shootings in Intan Jaya in September 2020, the bloodiest month in the district last year, with armed separatists mounting a spate of attacks, which left two soldiers and two civilians dead, and two others injured.
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, according to XVII Cenderawasih Regional Military Command spokesperson, Lt. Col. Reza Nur Patria.
On the same day, Priest Yeremia Zanambani was gunned down in Hitadipa Village, Hitadipa Sub-district.
According to Joint Regional Defense Command (Kogabwilhan) III spokesperson, Col. IGN Suriastawa, the priest died of wounds from gunshots fired by armed criminals.
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 seized his gun and magazine, according to commander of the Biak-based 173/Praja Vira Braja Military Resort Command, Brig. Gen. Iwan Setiawan.
Sahlan, a member of the 1404 Pindrang Military District Command in South Sulawesi Province, had been tasked with backing up the Village Supervisory Non-Commissioned Officers (Babinsa) of the Persiapan Hipadipa Military Sub-district Command, he stated.
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.
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Translator: Evarukdijati, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
