Papuan rebels attack civilians

JAYAPURA, Papua: A group of Papuan rebels attacked on Tuesday night a minibus pickup in Ilu district, some 750 kilometers southwest of Papua, but no fatalities were reported in the armed attack.

The attack happened when two construction employees Hendri and Sutjipto, who were passengers in the minibus pickup, were on their way home from Ilu to Mulia city, the capital of Puncak Jaya regency.

The vehicle was shot at several times by a group of people, believed to be Papuan rebels, but they escaped the attack. The only damage was to the vehicle's front windscreen, which was shattered, said the deputy regent of Puncak Jaya regency, Lukas Enembe. -- JP