Acts of terror leave bloody trail in Papua3830668

September continues to be the bloodiest month in Intan Jaya district, West Papua province, this year with armed separatists mounting a spate of attacks which have left two soldiers and a couple civilians dead and 2 others injured.

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

The fallen hero may be identified as First Private Dwi Akbar Utomo, according to XVII Cenderawasih Regional Military Command spokesperson, Lt. Col. Reza Nur Patria.

Within 24 hours, 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 within an ambush laid with a group of armed separatists. He was going back to the Persiapan Hipadipa Military Sub-district Command in Intan Jaya district with food supplies from your Sugapa area while he was attacked.

The attackers seized his gun and magazine, based on Commander of the Biak-based 173/Praja Vira Braja Military Resort Command, Brig. Gen. Iwan Setiawan.

Sahlan, part of the 1404 Pindrang Military District Command in South Sulawesi province, have been tasked with backing up the Village Supervisory Non-Commissioned Officers (Babinsa) with the Persiapan Hipadipa Military Sub-district Command, Setiawan noted.

In the separate incident on September 17, 2020, armed Papuan rebels reportedly tortured and killed a 49-year-old motorcycle taxi Ojek driver identified 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. The 2 drivers are presently undergoing treatment in Timika, the administrative centre of Mimika District, Setiawan stated.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) has condemned the latest shooting of Priest Yeremia Zanamban within the province, in which the security situation has remained volatile because of its vulnerability to acts of deadly violence by armed separatists and their backers.