OPM attacks Indonesian military chopper in Papua

The separatist group, Free Papua Organization (OPM), shots at an Indonesian military helicopter in the province of Papua on Friday (22/02) as the crew was trying to evacuate the bodies of eight soldiers killed in the OPM’s attacks the day before.

Three crew members were wounded in Friday’s attack on the Super Puma helicopter, which was forced to abort its mission and rush the injured to a hospital, said Lt. Col. Jansen Simanjuntak, an army spokesman.

Eight soldiers and four civilians were killed in two separate attacks in the area on Thursday. The area is a stronghold of separatists who have battled Indonesian rule in the region.

In the deadliest attack Thursday, about 20 assailants armed with guns and machetes attacked a group of soldiers walking to Ilaga Airport in Puncak district to collect communication equipment, killing seven, Simanjuntak said.

Col. Agus Rianto, a national police spokesman said Friday, that four civilians were killed.

About an hour before that attack, OPM gunmen stormed an army post in Tingginambut, a village in neighboring Puncak Jaya district, and fatally shot one soldier and injured another before fleeing into the jungle, Simanjuntak said.

Simanjuntak identified the assailants as members of a local separatist group led by Goliat Tabuni.

Senior Security Minister Djoko Suyanto said the incidents were “very irresponsible acts by the OPM armed groups in Papua,” adding that “the government very strongly condemns such brutal incidents.” He said the perpetrators would be captured and prosecuted.

The former Dutch colony of Papua in the western part of New Guinea was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 following a U.N.-sponsored ballot.

Source: Associated Press

OPM kills 8 soldiers, 2 civilians in Indonesia

Free Papua Organization (OPM) killed eight soldiers and two civilians Thursday (21/02) in two separate attacks against the Indonesian army in the restive easternmost province of Papua, the military said.

About 20 assailants armed with guns and machetes attacked a group of nine soldiers walking to Ilaga Airport in Puncak district to collect communication equipment, killing seven, provincial army spokesman Lt. Col. Jansen Simanjuntak said.

He said two civilians working in a nearby farm were also killed in the attack.

About an hour earlier, gunmen stormed an army post in Tinggi Nambut, a village in neighboring Puncak Jaya district, and fatally shot one soldier and injured another before fleeing into the jungle, Simanjuntak said.

Indonesian military spokesman Rear Adm. Iskandar Sitompul said the same group was responsible for both attacks in the area, a stronghold of separatists who have battled Indonesian rule.

“They are believed to be old players who always try to disturb the situation there,” Sitompul said in Jakarta, the capital.

Simanjuntak identified the assailants as a local separatist group led by Goliat Tabuni.

The former Dutch colony of Papua in the western part of New Guinea was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 following a U.N.-sponsored ballot.

Source: Associated Press

Indonesia’s Papua councilors recommend revision in local election system

Politicians have called for elections in Papua to revert a parliamentarian system, out of fears that the current direct voting system, while more democratic, may trigger social violence.

“Many people have fallen as casualties in the lead-up to the elections in several regencies in Papua. I call from the respected [legislative] council for the violence to be brought to an end,” Papua Legislative Council Speaker John Ibo said while closing a council session on the budget in Jayapura on Friday (17/02).

“In order to prevent chaos in democracy, I appeal to the central government to consider revising the electoral system, both in the provinces and the regencies/municipalities,” John said.

Clashes among candidates’ supporters have been rife since July last year, killing 59 in Puncak regency, according to the police.

Violent clashes have also marred the build-up to the election in Tolikara regency, prompting a postponement of the poll from its originally scheduled date of Feb. 17.

The latest clash flared up on Friday, leaving one dead, tens of supporters from the opposing political camps injured, 30 buildings burned, two cars and a motorcycle vandalized. As many as 34 injured people were evacuated to hospitals in Jayapura and Wamena.

“One person was found dead, charred in one of the houses burned by the mob,” Papua Police deputy chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw told reporters.

The election features two candidate pairs John Tabo — H Edi Suyanto and Usman Wanimbo — Amos Jikwa.

Tensions mounted in the pre-election phase as the two pairs disputed the list of the District Election Committee membership released by the Papua General Election Commission (KPUD).

John Tabo said that the names would advantage his rival.

Yop Kagoya, the deputy speaker of Papua legislative council, called for restraint from the two sides.

“The election in Tolikara has been delayed for two years. If delayed further, development would be hampered and this would disadvantage the citizens,” he said.

He said realities on the ground did not yet match with the aspirations associated with a direct voting system, which sought to educate people in developing a mature democracy.

“The people are not mature yet, neither are the political elite. They are not ready to accept defeat, which results in them resorting to violence. Organizers of elections in the regencies are terrorized and intimidated. People are prone anarchic acts,” he said.

“The central government needs to reconsider the system of election used in Papua. It’s better to return it to the DPRD [regional legislative council]. While the cost is small, potential conflicts could be minimized,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Papua police have sent another 65 personnel from the Mobile Brigade Unit (Brimob) to help local police secure and maintain control over the situation in Tolikara.

Source: The Jakarta Post