Acts of terror leave bloody trail in Papua9019001

September may be the bloodiest month in Intan Jaya district, West Papua province, this season with armed separatists mounting a spate of attacks which have left two soldiers and 2 civilians dead and two 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 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 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 in the Sugapa area while 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, a member of the 1404 Pindrang Military District Command in South Sulawesi province, have been tasked with backing up 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, however they managed to survive the attack. Both drivers are 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 inside the province, in which the security situation has stayed volatile due to its vulnerability to acts of deadly violence by armed separatists as well as their backers.