4 killed after gunmen attack bus in Indonesia's Papua

[News_Editor]

4 killed after gunmen attack bus in Indonesia's Papua

2011-08-02 06:32:56 GMT+7 (ICT)

PAPUA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- At least four people, including an army officer, were killed on Monday in an ambush by suspected separatists in Indonesia's easternmost Papua province.

Unidentified assailants opened fire on a small bus around 3 a.m. local time in Abepura district, injuring dozens and killing four people, including an army officer. The attackers then reportedly chased down the panicked passengers with machetes and axes, according to the Jakarta Globe.

The attack came after at least 17 people were killed on Sunday in a clash between supporters of rival politicians in Papua's district of Puncak. Papua Police spokesman Wachyono said that, based on initial information, the brawl was between supporters of the political rivals, Elvis Tabuni and Simon Alom.

Sunday's incident was the first to hit the newly established district, which is holding its first election this year. Elvis and Simon are both contending for the post of district head, which has been vacant since May after Recky Ambrauw was arrested over allegations of falsifying a gubernatorial decree on his appointment as head of the district.

The police chief of the provincial capital of Jayapura, Imam Setiawan, blamed Monday's attack on the Free Papua Movement (OPM). Forkorus Yoboisembut, chairman of the Papua Traditional Council (DAP), however, claimed that there was more to the incident.



"This could be the work of people who do not want to see stability in Papua," he told the Jakarta Globe. "Mysterious shootings always occur ahead of peaceful demonstrations."



He was referring to rallies that were planned for Monday across cities in Papua and West Papua to support a pro-independence discussion organized by the Free West Papua Campaign and International Lawyers for West Papua in England. 

The DAP said that nearly every pro-independence event in Papua has been preceded by acts of violence.



The OPM is a small militant organization that was established in 1965 to overthrow the governments in the Papua and West Papua provinces. Papua became part of Indonesia in 1964 after a UN-sponsored referendum.

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