"It is a pure crime committed by separatists. I do not see any political aspect in the incident. Police and the military should investigate it thoroughly," Tantowi of the House of Representatives (DPR)`s Commission I on defense affairs, said here on Friday.
On Thursday two shooting incidents occurred in Papua, one in Sinak, Puncak district and the other one in Tinggi Nambu (Puncak Jaya district).
Eight military members and four civilians were killed during the shooting incidents.
Tantowi said that the DPR will summon the military commander to explain the shooting incident. "Actually we have no hearing agenda with the military commander but because of the incidents we will summon the commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI)," he added.
He said that so far the news about the incidents was not yet clear so that the TNI commander would be summoned to explain it.
"The TNI commander must explain it. After all, this concerns the loss of eight lives," the legislator said.
Cenderawasih Regional Military Commander Maj Gen Christian Zebua who oversees Papua province said earlier the shooting was done by the Goliat Tabuni and Murib Military separatist rebels.
"We will hunt them together with police because they had committed barbaric acts beyond humanity," the regional military commander said.
It was earlier reported that separatist rebels shot five civilians, killing four of them in Sinak, Puncak District, Papua Province, on Thursday.
The five civilians were construction workers who were waiting for an airplane at Sinak airport to take them out of Sinak, reliable sources said here on Friday.
Upon their arrival at the airport, they were shot by unidentified gunmen, seriously injuring one and killing four others.
Senior Commissioner Gede Sumerta of the Papua Provincial Police confirmed about the deaths of the civilians during the deadly shooting by the armed group.
The construction workers who were killed, are identified by their names as Yohanis Palimbong, Markus Cavin, Uly, and Rudy. The injured victim is Yohanis Jhoni.
In addition of the civilians, 12 Indonesian military officers were also shot by the separatist rebels. Seven soldiers were killed and five others survived.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
