One dead, four injured after rebel attack

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua

Bangke, a construction worker, was shot dead in an attack on Tuesday by unidentified persons in the Ugimba subdistrict in Paniai regency, some 1,000 kilometers west of Jayapura.

Four other people were badly injured in the attack, allegedly perpetrated by the members of Papua rebel movement (OPM), said Brig. Gen. Tommy Jacobus, the deputy chief of Papua provincial police.

The attack began early Tuesday morning, when eight construction workers were asleep in a school building unit that was being constructed by them in the Ugimba subdistrict.

The workers were guarded by two police personnel from nearby Enarotali police subprecinct, who slept with the workers in the school building unit. They were Chief. Brig. Wardoyo and Chief. Brig. Hendrik Balalembang.

Surprisingly, at 5 a.m local time, some 10 unidentified people suddenly attacked them, and the two police personnel quickly fought back the attackers.

A fierce gun fight developed in the area, and lasted for five minutes. The gunfight claimed a sizable toll from the side of police personnel and the workers, as they were apparently not well-prepared for the attack.

Bangke, who hailed from the South Sulawesi town of Tana Toraja, was shot in the head and he died on the spot. Four others were badly injured, namely police officer Hendrik Balalembang and workers Panggalo, Kondo and Sulaeman.

"The fate of other construction workers are still uncertain as they went missing after the incident," said Jacobus.

The four were Yohannes, Sonda, Nuwung and Rangga.

The attackers fled the scene after the incident, which then allowed police officer Wardoyo to bring the dead and injured companions to nearby Nabire hospital for treatment, with the help of local residents.

Shells of used bullets were found at the scene, and from it can be concluded that the alleged Papua rebels used FN pistols and M-16 rifles in the attack.

Jacobus said that a robbery was likely the main motive behind the attack. "They took some food belonging to the construction workers during the attack. It seemed that they ran out of food while they were in the jungle, and they tried to get it from the workers down there," he said.

Jacobus suspected that the Papua rebels were members of a rebel group led by Titus Murib and Thadius Yogi, who operated in the Paniai regency.