Acts of terror leave bloody trail in Papua768485

September may be 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 a couple others injured.

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

The fallen hero has been identified as First Private Dwi Akbar Utomo, in accordance with 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 inside a recent statement.

On September 17, 2020, another soldier, Chief Sergeant Sahlan, was reportedly killed in an ambush laid by way of a group of armed separatists. He was time for the Persiapan Hipadipa Military Sub-district Command in Intan Jaya district with food supplies from the Sugapa area when 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, part of the 1404 Pindrang Military District Command in South Sulawesi province, had been tasked with burning the Village Supervisory Non-Commissioned Officers (Babinsa) from the Persiapan Hipadipa Military Sub-district Command, Setiawan noted.

In 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, but they managed to survive the attack. The 2 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 recent shooting of Priest Yeremia Zanamban inside the province, in which the security situation has always been volatile because of its vulnerability to acts of deadly violence by armed separatists as well as their backers.