http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/alleged-indonesian-military-attack-claims-10-lives-in-papua-elsam/523124 Violence Continues With Two More Papua Shootings
Camelia Pasandaran & Banjir Ambarita | June 07, 2012 Violence continued to escalate in Papua on Thursday as gunmen shot a woman and a police officer in the latest incidents of separate shootings in the restive province this week. A 20-year-old man was also shot on Thursday morning in Jayapura. In total, eight people have been shot — and one soldier stabbed — in the province since Monday. On Thursday afternoon, police officer Brig. Laedi was shot by two unknown gunmen in the Angkaisera district, Papua Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Yohanes Nugroho Wicaksono said. "Angkaisera police were shot at by unidentified gunmen," Yohanes said. "One officer was shot on the left side of his waist." Police chased the gunmen, but they reportedly fled into the jungle, Yohanes said. “We are still investigating whether this is revenge for the raid of an OPM headquarters in that district,” he said. Two members of the Free Papua Organization (OPM) were arrested in a raid in Angkaisera on May 31 by members of the police and Indonesian military (TNI). In Kerom district, a woman was shot on Thursday by an unidentified gunman, according to Papuan human rights activist Ferry Marisan. She was taken to Abepura hospital and her condition is unknown. Police blame the recent surge in violence in Jayapura and surrounding districts on Papua's separatist elements. Ferry said he doubted groups like the OPM were behind the attacks, instead pointing the finger at Indonesian security forces. “Papua is a place for law enforcement to get promoted,” Ferry said. “Isn't it strange that after a series of shootings, the police cannot find the perpetrators? They always claim the perpetrators are unidentified gunmen. They analyzed the bullet, conducted ballistic tests but the results were never made public.” The activist criticized the Papua Police, saying officers should gather evidence before placing the blame on groups like the OPM, which is based in Puncak Jaya, more than 400 kilometers from the provincial capital. “Their base camp is in Puncak Jaya, not in Jayapura,” Ferry said. “Jayapura is not a big city, where there is only one main road running north to south. There is no way for OPM members to hide without being caught by police.” Ferry said the Indonesian government has an interest in prolonging the conflict in Papua. “If there is conflict here, there will be money from the central government for the police and military to solve the case,” he said ++++ http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/alleged-indonesian-military-attack-claims-10-lives-in-papua-elsam/523124 Alleged Indonesian Military Attack Claims 10 Lives in Papua: Elsam Erwida Maulia | June 08, 201 n people were killed when the Indonesian Military (TNI) opened fire in an alleged retaliatory attack on a village in Wamena, Papua, on Thursday, a human rights activist in Jayapura said on Friday. Members of the TNI's local Battalion 756 reportedly attacked the village on Thursday, killing ten, injuring dozens of others and setting an unknown number of houses ablaze, Ferry Marisan, director of the Papua office of the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (Elsam). It has been difficult to determine exact numbers or verify reports because the TNI has shut off all access to the village, Ferry told The Jakarta Globe in a phone call from Jayapura. “We’ve been having difficulties confirming the figures because we cannot access the Wamena village. It’s been blockaded by the TNI,” Ferry said. Original reports Thursday night listed the death toll at one. It has since grown to ten and will likely continue to rise as dozen of villagers were reportedly injured in the attack, Ferry said. “We’ve got the number from some members of the Papua Legislative Council after a meeting with them yesterday,” Ferry said. The TNI allegedly attacked the village as revenge for a solider who was killed by an angry mob on Wednesday, Papua Legislative Councilmember Nason Uti said. First Private Sahlan was reportedly stabbed to death in the village of Honai Lama on Wednesday after nearly hitting a child on his motorcycle. Another solider, Second Sgt. Pardede, was badly injured in the attack. The Indonesian military have denied allegations that members of the TNI attacked the village. “I have not received any report of that incident. We’ve stationed our soldiers around the area; no one is wandering around,” said Infantry Col. Ali Bogra, spokesman for the Papua Military Command. “After [Wednesday]’s incident, the situation is under control now. There are no other significant things happening.” [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
