Acts of terror leave bloody trail in Papua879227

September continues to be the bloodiest month in Intan Jaya district, West Papua province, this 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 nearby the Persiapan Hipadipa Military Sub-district Command’s compound within the district.

The fallen hero continues to be identified as First Private Dwi Akbar Utomo, in accordance with 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 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 an ambush laid with 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, based on Commander of 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.

Inside a 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, but they managed to survive the attack. The two 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 current shooting of Priest Yeremia Zanamban within the province, where the security situation has always been volatile due to its vulnerability to acts of deadly violence by armed separatists and their backers.