Police chief shot dead at airport in Indonesia's Papua

Police chief shot dead at airport in Indonesia's Papua

2011-10-25 00:57:00 GMT+7 (ICT)

JAKARTA (BNO NEWS) -- A local police chief was attacked by two men and then killed at an airport in Indonesia's restive Papua province on Monday, police said. Separatist rebels were blamed by police.

Mulia city police chief Dominggus Awes was at the local airport when two men lunged at him and pinned him down before shooting him in the head, killing him. Police blamed the attack on separatist rebels although no arrests were immediately made, the Jakarta Post reported.

However, the Free Papua Organization (OPM) denied the allegations. "We are not responsible for that. I don't know about it; it must be crosschecked. They should not be making accusations like that," OPM coordinator Lambertus Pekikir said.

Lambertus said police should arrest the perpetrators and question them before making such accusations. He added that even if the individuals claim to be OPM members, the organization would not assume responsibility for their actions.

The incident comes less than a week after Indonesian security forces fired warning shots and tear gas to disperse a gathering of pro-independence activists in the town of Abepura. At least five people were found dead near the venue.

Police opened fire after a political declaration regarding the self-determination of the indigenous Papuan population was read out and activists raised the Morning Star separatist flag during the Papuan People III Congress.

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