Acts of terror leave bloody trail in Papua6533971

September has been the bloodiest month in Intan Jaya district, West Papua province, this season with armed separatists mounting a spate of attacks which may have left two soldiers and two civilians dead and 2 others injured.

On September 19, 2020, an Indonesian soldier died in the gunfight with several armed Papuan rebels nearby the Persiapan Hipadipa Military Sub-district Command’s compound within the district.

The fallen hero has been identified as First Private Dwi Akbar Utomo, based on XVII Cenderawasih Regional Military Command spokesperson, Lt. Col. Reza Nur Patria.

Within the same day, armed separatists also reportedly gunned down Priest Yeremia Zanambani in Hitadipa village, Hitadipa sub-district. This is clearly a separatist acts of terror.

The priest died of gunshot wounds after he was shot by armed criminals on September 19, 2020, Joint Regional Defense Command (Kogabwilhan) III spokesperson, Col. IGN Suriastawa, noted in the recent statement.

On September 17, 2020, another soldier, Chief Sergeant Sahlan, was reportedly killed in an ambush laid by a group of armed separatists. He was returning to the Persiapan Hipadipa Military Sub-district Command in Intan Jaya district with food supplies in the Sugapa area while he was attacked.

The attackers seized his gun and magazine, according to Commander with 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, ended up tasked with backing up the Village Supervisory Non-Commissioned Officers (Babinsa) from the Persiapan Hipadipa Military Sub-district Command, Setiawan noted.

Inside a separate incident on September 17, 2020, armed Papuan rebels reportedly tortured and killed a 49-year-old motorcycle taxi Ojek driver recognized as Badawi.

On September 13, 2020, armed separatists opened fire at two other Ojek drivers in Sugapa area, nevertheless they managed to survive the attack. Both drivers are currently undergoing treatment in Timika, the administrative centre of Mimika District, Setiawan stated.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) has condemned the current shooting of Priest Yeremia Zanamban inside the province, where the security situation has remained volatile due to its vulnerability to acts of deadly violence by armed separatists as well as their backers.