Three killed in jailbreak attempt<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Tension has plagued the outlying Irian Jaya town
\nof Merauke after police shot dead three members of the
\nproindependence civilian guards while they were escaping police
\ndetention on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Chief of Irian Jaya Police's operational and control affairs
\nSr. Supt. Kusnadi told The Jakarta Post by phone from the
\nprovincial capital of Jayapura on Sunday 18 other proindependence
\nactivists suffered gunshot wounds in the jailbreak.<\/p>\n
\"They tried to break out of detention and ignored police's
\nwarning shots. Some of them also attacked the officers in the
\nprocess,\" Kusnadi said.<\/p>\n
One officer had a slash wound and was flown to Marthen Indey
\nArmy Hospital in Jayapura. The wounded inmates were admitted to
\nMerauke Hospital.<\/p>\n
Kusnadi said the civilian guards, locally called Satgas Papua,
\nwere apprehended on Friday evening for allegedly inciting a
\nrampage at Ampera Market. Several kiosks were burned in the
\nincident, which reportedly was sparked by an argument over a girl
\nbetween one of the proindependence activists and a police
\nofficer.<\/p>\n
As of Sunday afternoon the situation in Merauke, some 750
\nkilometers south of Jayapura, reportedly remained tense. Police
\nwere seen heavily guarding most government buildings such as
\nstate electricity company PLN and telecommunication company PT
\nTelkom, offices, banks, market and business centers.<\/p>\n
\"The situation is gradually calming down but security
\npersonnel are put on alert in case of further disturbance,\"
\nKusnadi said.<\/p>\n
Merauke regent Benyamin Simatupang told Antara on Sunday the
\nthree killed would be buried later in the day at the Yobar public
\ncemetery in Merauke Kota district.<\/p>\n
He said a meeting between the local government officials and
\nPapuan Presidium Council (PDP) and Satgas Papua (Papuan
\ntaskforce) members on Saturday night resulted in a joint
\nagreement that nobody could evade legal measures if they violated
\nthe law.<\/p>\n
People in the province, also known as Papua, have made
\nincreasing calls for independence in recent years, and in a
\ncongress held by the Papua Council in June this year they
\ndeclared independence for their homeland.<\/p>\n
At least 30 people, mostly migrants, were killed last month
\nafter independence supporters ran amok in Wamena, some 290
\nkilometers southwest of Jayapura, following the police's attempt
\nto lower the Morning Star separatist flags. (edt)<\/p>",
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