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