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)