Acts of terror leave bloody trail in Papua8321070

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

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

The fallen hero has been 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 can be 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 a ambush laid by way of a group of armed separatists. He was going back to the Persiapan Hipadipa Military Sub-district Command in Intan Jaya district with food supplies in the Sugapa area when he was attacked.

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

Sahlan, associated with the 1404 Pindrang Military District Command in South Sulawesi province, have been tasked with burning the Village Supervisory Non-Commissioned Officers (Babinsa) of 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 defined 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 presently undergoing treatment in Timika, the main city of Mimika District, Setiawan stated.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) has condemned the recent shooting of Priest Yeremia Zanamban in the province, the location where the security situation has remained volatile owing to its vulnerability to acts of deadly violence by armed separatists in addition to their backers.