Police shoot dead separatist in Papua ahead of voting day

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua

Police here said on Sunday that they had shot dead a suspected separatist in the troubled province of Papua for allegedly trying to discourage people from voting in the legislative election on Monday, while a policeman and an activist were reportedly missing.

The shooting incident took place at 8 p.m. on March 30 at the Bokondini Police station, Jayawijaya regency, Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Daud Sihombing said.

He said the police killed Maryus Kogoya, a suspected member of the separatist Free Papua Organization (OPM), as he allegedly attempted to flee with three other suspects -- Wetinus Wenda, 45, Tepenar Wenda alias Step Wenda, 30, and Iperus Wenda, 27.

Earlier, the four Papuans had been nabbed by police in the remote Bokondini area in connection with leaflets they had allegedly distributed to local people, asking them to abstain from voting on Monday.

During questioning at the interrogation room, Maryus threw a flashlight at a police officer who managed to catch it.

However, Maryus renewed his attack and a kerosene lamp fell down throwing the room into total darkness. The suspect then tried to seize Second Brig. Rudy Mangasak's gun, who later fired the shot which killed Maryus, Sihombing said.

He said the police would continue to investigate the three other suspects.

Indonesians will cast their votes at poll booths throughout the country on Monday. However, those in several remote areas of Papua and East Kalimantan will vote later due to a lack of ballot papers.

Papuan separatists are opposed to the presidential and general elections and have reportedly tried to prevent locals from voting.

Meanwhile, policeman Brig. Anwar Mosab and Asriadi Kani, a member of the Merauke Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu), were reported missing after they were attacked on Saturday by a group of 20 unidentified men in the Okaba area of the remote town of Merauke.

Sihombing said the attack was launched at 3 p.m, when Anwar escorted Asriadi aboard a boat after supervising the distribution of ballot papers in the hamlets of Yowid and Dolip.

Upon their arrival in Okaba, they were unable to dock close to the nearby beach as the tide was low.

When the officials transferred the electoral materials to a smaller boat, unidentified men launched an attack on them, using traditional weapons, such as arrows and machetes.

"Up until now, the fate of the two officials (Anwar and Asriadi) remains unclear. We are sending some 200 police personnel to the scene to investigate the incident and search for the attackers," Sihombing said.

However, a source in Merauke told The Jakarta Post that Anwar was killed after being shot in the chest by arrows, while Asriadi was stabbed, although his fate is unknown.

The Papua Police have deployed some 9,500 personnel to ensure a peaceful and smooth election in the province. They are guarding 6,312 poll booths in 20 regencies and towns there.

The police are assisted by 1,234 soldiers who are stationed at district commands.