Papuan group opens fire on gov’t fact-finding team

Terror by Papuan criminal group

Intan Jaya regency is marked with the red line. The Jakarta Post/Asian News Network

The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) has confirmed it was behind an attack on members of the government’s joint fact-finding team (TGPF) in Mamba village, Sugapa district, Intan Jaya regency, Papua, on Friday.

TPNPB spokesperson Rimba Lawingga said one of the group’s fighters opened fire on the fact-finding team, which includes Indonesian Army (TNI) personnel.

“For us, the TNI killed Pastor Yeremia [Zamambani]. We oppose a Jakarta-sanctioned investigation team that will only make us the scapegoat. That is why we shot,” Rimba told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

According to the TNI’s Joint Defence Area Command III (Kogabwilhan III), the shooting occurred on Friday afternoon as the fact-finding team was returning to Sugapa after conducting an investigation in Hitadipa district.

The team, led by Benny Mamoto of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), was established by the Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Ministry on October 1.

It was tasked with probing recent alleged unlawful killings in Intan Jaya regency, including the killing of Papuan pastor Yeremia Zamambani.

“The shooting took place at 3:45pm local time on Wagonopone road in Mamba village. The team were suddenly under fire from the right and left sides of the road. We didn’t expect the attack,” Kogabwilhan III spokesperson Colonel I Gusti Nyoman Suriastawa said on Friday.

Gadjah Mada University (UGM) lecturer Bambang Purwoko, also a member of the investigation team, was shot in the leg, while TNI soldier First Sergeant Faisal Akbar of Hitadipa Task Force sustained injuries to his waist.

Both victims were immediately taken to Sugapa General Hospital. They were evacuated to Jakarta on Saturday, said Sugeng Purnomo, TGPF deputy head and law and human rights undersecretary at the Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister.

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Terror by Papuan criminal group