Fifteen killed, 11 hurt as officer runs amok in Irian

JAKARTA (JP): Fifteen people were killed and 11 others injured, some seriously, when a military officer suddenly opened fire on fellow officers and others at the Timika airport in Irian Jaya yesterday.

A military spokesman said yesterday that the incident took place at 5 a.m. local time after the officer, a second lieutenant, became involved in a dispute with a fellow officer.

"The lieutenant suddenly picked up a machine gun and shot the second lieutenant, other officers and civilian workers," said Brig. Gen. Amir Syarifudin, chief spokesman for the Armed Forces (ABRI), at a press conference at the Armed Forces headquarters here yesterday.

It was not immediately known why the officer had committed the crime and what the two were quarreling about.

He said that the victims, who were yet to be identified, consisted of ten officers, five civilian workers and a foreign helicopter pilot of PT Airfast Indonesia.

ABRI Chief of General Affairs, Lt. Gen. Soeyono, said the pilot is Michael Findlay, whom he believed to be a New Zealander.

Both Soeyono and Amir declined to mention the identities of the other victims, saying that the report had to be further confirmed.

Amir said the injured consisted of ten soldiers and three civilian workers.

"ABRI will thoroughly investigate the case," Antara news agency quoted him as saying yesterday.

Soeyono said ABRI headquarters has dispatched a special team to Timika to investigate the case. The team consists of five officers, he said.

Amir said that a preliminary report from Irian Jaya had listed a lieutenant colonel, a major and a captain among the dead.

"We are still studying the case and waiting for a complete report on it from Irian Jaya," Amir said.

Depression

Gen. Soeyono confirmed the incident yesterday, saying it was committed by a mentally depressed soldier.

He said that all the victims, along with the officer, would be brought to Jakarta.

"The dead soldiers were part of the security team of joint- forces which had been sent to Timika since rioting broke out there last month," Amir said.

The riot was sparked by a rumor concerning the death of an Irianese after being hit by a car belonging to PT Freeport Indonesia. Four local people were killed in the riot, but there was no serious damage to property or facilities belonging to Freeport.

The mining company was forced to shut down operations for a few days after the rioters attempted to return to its facilities.

PT Airfast Indonesia is an airline company under contract to the gold and copper mining company for its operation in Timika.

Airfast Indonesia officials were not available for comment. (rms/imn)