No More Deployment of Troops! No More Intimidation, Torture and Murder Please!!
Update on Wamena after the 04 April 2003 Incident
AMP International Numbay Region Reporting, Tuesday, 22 April 2003.
WPNews
(Wamena) - Current condition in Wamena is becoming worrying. Deployment of
military personnel across the highlands of West Papua has threatened peace and
endangered West Papua as a Zone of Peace.
AMP contact in Wamena reported to WPNews today that thousands of troops have been deployed across the highlands of West Papua:
- Ilaga : 5000
- Kuyawagi : 300
- Sinak: 500
- Mbeoga 1200
- Tiom: 500
- Magime: 342
- Pirime
- Mbogondini: 572
- Karupaga: 786,
- Kelela: 764
- Kurulu: 1,465
- Wamena town: more than 7000
- Asologaiman: 1452
- Kurima 2000
WPNews received confirmation from AMP in West Papua that these details were
received from our informants in the field, from reliable sources.
The burning of 6 villages (other news reported 5 villages, but WPNews sources confirmed 6 villages) has caused internal displacement of villagers. Many have
fled to neighbouring villages for refuge, but they are also under serious operations, attacks, questioning and intimidation.
AMP Numbay report says, "The retaliation by the Indonesian armed forces (military and police) has not been directed to those who attacked the armoury and took the guns and
ammunitions, but to the innocent villagers and villages. Sweeping operations still continue against ordinary villagers.
Those who were arrested have been tortured brutally, one already died and others will die also if we do not stop them from killing these innocent people."
Torture, intimidation, terror, burning of houses and villages as well as killing continue as long as the
stolen guns and ammunitions are not found.
The military should go to the "enemy" that they regard has stolen their arms and
ammunitions, not to villagers. They have to be able to separate villagers and TPN/OPM members, if they blame TPN/OPM that carried out the attack. (an/wpnews)
Two civilians and one soldier named as suspects in Wamena weapons raid
Kompas, 16 April 2003
Abbreviated in translation
Jayapura, Rabu
Two civilians and a soldier have been named as suspects for the attack on the Wamena military command last week. Two soldiers were killed during the attack as well as one of the attackers.
Wamena chief of police, AKBP Agung Mackbul told Antara that so far, only two civilians have been named as suspects. Their names are Kanisius Murib and Nunggunya Talenggen. According to the police, the two men admitted that they had taken part in the attack.
Three others, Kimanus Wenda, Yapray Murib and Enos Lokobal, are undergoing intensive interrogation and may also be named as suspects. Those charged for this offence will be indicted under Articles 365 and 339 of the Criminal Code which relate to robberies resulting in death.
Meanwhile, military police commander at Trikora military command, Colonel Sutarna, said that four members of the army are thought to face charges.
One of them has already been named as a suspect, though his name was not made public. They may face charges of being negligent while on duty.
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PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 21/014/2003
16 April 2003
Further Information on UA 95/03 (ASA 21/010/2003, 9 April) and follow-ups
(ASA 21/011/2003, 11 April 2003 and ASA 21/012/2003, 14 April 2003) -
Fear of torture New concern: Medical concern
INDONESIA Yapenas Murib (m), aged 35
Elias Tabuni (m)
Wim Logo (m)
Kanius Murib (m)
Sam Telingan (m)
Around 15 other men, names unknown
Yapenas Murib reportedly died in military custody as a result of torture on 14 or 15 April. One other detainee, whose name is unknown, is said to be in Wamena General Hospital suffering from injuries, including knife wounds, inflicted through torture. According to the report he is being denied adequate medical attention.
According to a local human rights organization, Yapenas Murib and Kanius Murib, who were both arrested on 6 April, were taken by the military to Ilekma sub-village in Sinakma on 14 April. The two men were reportedly dragged the three kilometres from Wamena town to Ilekma. Kanius Murib was
handcuffed, while Yapenas Murib had two ropes tied around his neck which were pulled from different directions by soldiers so that he fell over. He allegedly fell on several occasions and soldiers kicked him each time he fell. He was seen alive in Ilekma on the evening of 14 April, but is said
to have died either that night or the following day in the Jayawijaya Military Command (Kodim 1702) in Wamena.
A local newspaper reports that the autopsy report on Yapenas Murib attributed his death to obstruction of the respiratory tract. It also quotes the Military Commander of Kodim 1702 as saying he died after suffering breathing problems while accompanying members of Kodim 1702 in a reconstruction of the 4 April attack on Kodim, in which two soldiers and one civilian died. The Commander reportedly said that members of Kodim 1702 attempted to provide medical assistance before taking Yapenas Murib to Wamena General Hospital, but he died before he reached the hospital. The
newspaper states that military personnel forced members of Yapenas Murib's family to sign a letter agreeing not to hold the military responsible for his death before they permitted the family to take his body away for burial.
The local human rights organization states that medical personnel at Wamena General Hospital have only been permitted to treat the wounds of an unnamed detainee with iodine, although there is no information on what further treatment is required. There is also no further information on the other detainees held in Jayawijaya Kodim
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Bahasa Indonesia, English or your own language:
- expressing grave concern at reports that Yapenas Murib was tortured to death by members of the military and that other detainees in Jayawijaya Military Command (Kodim 1702) have also been tortured;
- expressing concern that an unnamed detainee reported to be in Wamena General Hospital may be being denied adequate medical attention and urging that he is immediately provided with this;
- calling for assurances that detainees in Kodim 1702 will not be subjected to further torture or ill-treatment;
- urging the authorities to ensure that all detainees in Kodim 1702 are provided with immediate access to lawyers, relatives, and medical attention;
- calling on the authorities to transfer all detainees in Kodim 1702 to police custody immediately and charge them with a criminal offence, or release them;
- urging the government to take immediate measures, in accordance with its obligations under the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment which it has ratified, to undertake an immediate, effective and impartial investigation of the allegations of torture and to bring to justice anyone found to be responsible.
APPEALS TO:
Military Commander, Kodam VIII / XVII Trikora
Brig. Gen. Nurdin Zainal
Pangdam VIII/Trikora
Jl. Polimak Atas Jayapura
Papua
Indonesia
Telegram: Kodam VIII/XVII Trikora, Papua, Indonesia
Fax: + 62 967 531642/967 537743 (if someone answers ask for the
fax: ?osaya mau kirim fax?)
Salutation: Dear Brigadier General
Commander of the Armed Forces (Panglima TNI)
Lt. Gen. Endriartono Sutarto
Panglima TNI
Markas Besar TNI
Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat No 13
Jakarta Pusat
Indonesia
Telegram: Panglima TNI, Markas Besar TNI, Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia
Fax: + 62 21 845 6805 / 520 1636 (if someone answers ask for the fax:
?osaya mau kirim fax")
Salutation: Dear Lieutenant General
COPIES TO:
The Chairman
National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM)
Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara
Jl Latuharhary No. 4B
Menteng
Jakarta Pusat 10310
Indonesia
Fax: + 62 21 3925227
and to diplomatic representatives of Indonesia accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat,
or your section office, if sending appeals after 28 May 2003.
(See attached file: 32101403.rtf)
New Indication Emerged
Today, that Local Politicians used Mobile Brigade
and TNI / Kopassus to Create Conflict in Wamena
AMP International Desk Reporting
14 April 2003, 15:48 GMT
A reliable source of the AMP-Demmak in West
Papua confirmed a newly emerged unconfirmed proof
that the incident in Wamena happened due to power
struggle between the Regent of Wamena, David Huby,
BA, against his Deputy Regent, Budiman Kogoya, Sr,
BA.
The source reported that Budiman Kogoya was
using the Police Mobile Brigade and David Huby
using the TNI/Kopassus in their fight for the next
Regent of Jayawijaya (Baliem Valley)
regency.
Since the TNI/Kopassus were withdrawn from West
Papua, David Huby found it difficult to maintain
his position as his guards and helpers were
withdrawn. Therefore, creating this incident will
build path of the justified return of the TNI/Kopassus
troops, if not in West Papua, particularly into
Wamena regency.
In mid-2002, when Koteka students approached
David Huby in Jakarta to ask for him to pay the
rent of Baliem Dormitory in Jakarta, his guard and
driver took his pistol in his pocket and
threatened the students. Later, on 31 December
2002, the Koteka students also saw him with
some guards from the Kopassus troops. He was fully
guarded. The AMP International Spokesperson was
presenting papers on Theys Eluay's kidnapping and
assassination and on Special autonomy, and he was
clearly present on these events with his Kopassus
guards.
During his term, David Huby has spent most of
his time in Jakarta and Port Numba (capital of
West Papua), neglecting various problems in his
own regency. While his deputy, Budiman Kogoya has
been complaining of his absence. Most of tribal
elders support Budiman Kogoya to as successor of
David Hubi.
Possibility of Horizontal Conflict
David HUbi is from the Grand Valley of Wamena,
and Budiman Kogoya is from the Western part of the
Lani Tribe. There have been a series of conflicts
among the two regions of Wamena regency. Important
positions in Wamena have been held by Lani tribes people
from the western Wamena, and David Hubi is the
first person to be the number one person in the
regency. Wamena town itself belongs to the Grand
Valley Lani clans.
Furthermore, David Hubi has built strong links
with the TNI/Kopassus, who also established,
trained, and armed the Red-and-White Militia in
Wamena Region. David Hubi and other Kopassus
personnel are the supervisors of the militia.
Using the Lani-Muslim clans in Walesi village,
David Hubi has been using the tension in his
politics in the name of political war between
Grand Valley Lani and Western Lani clans. Haji
Yalipele and Haji Aipon Asso are the leaders of
the militia in Wamena, while David Hubi is the
supervisor of Wamena region, with Supreme
Commander for West Papua Militia, Drs. AJ Djopari,
MA, Indoensian Ambassador to PNG.
Budiman Kogoya's political career has been
build when he was a student in Port Numbay. He has
been active in voicing the aspiration of his
people. He has a strong link with his people all
over the highlands of West Papua and supported by
them. David Hubi's absence most of the time while
the people suffer from Special Autonomy Law and
the partition of the Province has angered Budiman
and his people.
At the same time, David Hubi became worried
when his guards TNI/Kopassus were withdrawn from
West Papua after a series of incidents in West
Papua such as the kidnapping and assassination of
the late Ondofolo Dortheys Hiyo Eluay (11 November
2001) indicated Kopassus active involvement. This
incident is suspected fueled by David Hubi's
ambition to bring back his guards.
When the incident happened in Wamena, the
militia troops, under the command of Yalipele and
Asso were reported waging campaigns against the
"attacker" and declared war against
their own people. They then reported that they
found some of the guns stolen. Questions arise:
- How can they easily find those guns with
less than a week period?
- How can the militia wage war against their
own people without any proof whatsoever about
who did it?
- How can the Regent allow such a thing
happen? He knows that waging an open war in
convoys such as this can fuel tribal wars, but
how did he allow that happen? The
red-and-white militia are all from his clans
(Western-Lani) and this shows to the
Western-Lani clans that they are enemies, not
friends.
- If they can find the guns that easy in a
very short period, does it mean that they know
what actually happened and who did it?
A day after the incident, the Military
Spokesperson in Jakarta and the Chief of Staff did
not rule out possibility of TNI's involvement in
the attack. They arrested Corporal Marthinus Yikwa
(a Western Lani tribesperson and TNI member from
Kelela sub-distrit), tortured him and now he is
still detained.
Previous report on the
villages burnt down and people arrested have shown
an interesting signal. Villages across the South
Baliem Valley, where independence supporters are
based were burned down. Some were arrested. At the
same time, TNI troops patroled across villages
towards the western Lani region such as Pyramid,
Mbodlakma, Tagima, towards Tiom, Kelela, and
Mbogondini, arresting people who they suspected
and threatening them to be killed.
The military retaliation was done with full
support from the East Timor style militia
group.
This is not a new story for the Western Lani
clans. When the war happened in 1977, the
so-called Mukoko Clans (or right now they are
referred to as the militia gangs) waged war
against their own people. They showed the way
towards the jungles and villages. They were the
frontline fighters and they killed more people
than the Indonesian TNI did.
This knowledge or experience is still fresh
among the Western Lani villagers.
The tension for power between Budiman Kogoya
(from Western Lani) and David Hubi (from Mukoko
Clan) clearly indicates a worrying future for the
peace in Wamena regency. If West Papua already
declared as a Zone of Peace, and if we want to
ensure that to prevail, we should act:
- By Phoning the Police, Regent and Army
commanders in Wamena about our concern
- By Phoning the Police, Governor and Amy
commanders in West Papua and Jakarta
- By facilitating talk and dialogue between
the Indonesian government and Papuan people in
order to bridge the gap of views and opinions
between Indonesians and Papuans.
The CEB - of DoOPM
Reports on Arrests, Torture, and Detention in
Wamena per 14 April 2003
AMP Numbay Report
14 April 2003, 14:54 GMT
Translation by AMP International Desk, Rep. of Ireland
This is the report of a serious of arrests by the Indonesian TNI/Polri in Wamena
1. Soleman Hesegem
2. Oak kepelek yelipele
3. Tanius Murip
4. Iniapit Murib
Arrested and badly beatun up.
4. Mrs. Paulina Itlay tortured, put her into naked body (tearing her clothes), taking her money Rp.11,321,500 (Equiv. US$1,300), tortured with guns, knife, hands, and ciggartte fire was put on all over her body and mainly her genitals. She is under arrest (being detained) in naked body in the police custody.
5. Eli Tabuni
6. Panus Wonda
7. Ruben Yelemaken
8. Kimanusi Wonda.
Villages where houses were burned down totally:
1. Yilakma
2. Gunung Susu
3. Sinalima
4. Woma bawa
5. Woma atas
6. Potikele
7. Hom-hom
8. Lokasi III
9. Napua
10. Molopak
11. Yalekamak
This report directly coming from Demmak's Elders in Wamena, on 13 Arpil 2003m, in the evening of today.
Regards
AMP International Numbay Region
Iringgame Tabuni
--------------------------
Email: koteka@westpapua.net, amphq@westpapua.net, amp@westpapua.net
Phone: +353 (0)863 746 379, Fax +353 404 46400
News Updates: http://www.melanesianews.com
Campaign Updates: http://www.westpapua.net
Our Organisations: http://www.melanesianews.org
Info on Papua: http://www.infopapua.org
Thursday, 10 April 2003 06:53 WIB
Members of the army may have been involved in Wamena Incident
JAKARTA--MIOL: The army's chief of staff for general affairs, Lt.General Djamari Chaniago has confirmed suggestions that members of the army may have been involved in the attack on the military command in Wamena, 1702/Jayawijaya. by an armed separatist group last Friday
'I have received preliminary reports,' he said, 'but I dont know how many were involved or what they did.'
He said army headquarters is awaiting further reports from the Trikora military commander, Major-General Nurdin Zainal. Two officers were killed and one was injured in the attack; one of the attackers was killed.
He also said that two companies (SSK), about 200 men, have been sent to Papua, to assist in security and in investigating the incident.
Last Saturday, the Trikora military commander said there were strong indications of the involvement of 'insiders'. Military police were conduting investigations. If such involvement is proven, these people will be seen to be as criminal as the OPM which launched the attack.
29 weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition were seized, but sweepings in the location has resulted in the return of ten of the weapons, leaving 19 weapons still in the hands of the attacking group.
TNI IS USING ITS RED-AND-WHITE MILITIA IN ITS REPATRIATION AGAINST THE INCIDENT IN WAMENA ON 04 APRIL 2003
WPNews,
AMP Reporting from West Papua
The impacts of the 04 April 2003 incident is now threatening peace in Wamena region. More than 11 villagers were arrested, some of them were released as they found no proof of their involvement in the incident.
Previously, they arrested 11 villagers, including rev. Yosa Murib, Rev. Elias MAtuan and Lukas Murib, with other villagers, but three of them were released due to no proof of their involvement. However, there were a number of arrests recently. When we report this news, we do not know yet the names of those who were arrested.
Our informant, Mr W (via phone) reported:
There were some arrests at 04:00 AM today, including Yairus Gwijangge (primary scholl teacher), Dinus Kogoya (local health worker), and Nih Wasareak (farmer). They have been beaten up and according to the phone, they are under serious threat of death in the cell.
They are under very critical condition and asking the world community to help. Most possibly, they will not survive from the ongoing and heavy torture they are facing at the moment.
Meanwhile, in a separate vent, the Papua Military Commander Brig Gen. TNI Nurdin Zainal said, "There were some bad experiences during the hostage crises in 1996. The area was not easy to penetrate. Therefore, the way forward is to force the locals to get invovled in the search for the stolen arms and
ammunitions." They are forcing religious leaders and tribal elders to be responsible for the incident. If they refuse, they are threatened to be arrested and killed.
Haji Jimi Asso, the Coordinator of the Red-and-White Militia group for Jayawijaya (Wamena) region responded to arrest and detain anyone they suspect of being
involved in the independence movement. He is assisted by his colleague, Haji Hiepon Yalipele.
They are forcing the villagers to gather, and then force them to agree that they will make sure that the weapons are
returned to the TNI troops. Those who refuse or do not want to get
involved in this military operations are regarded as an action against the TNI.
This action of gathering civilians and asking them to act on behalf of the TNI/Polri (Army and police of Indonesia) creates tensions among the villagers.
The professional army and police (TNI/Polri) should do their job themselves, without forcing villagers to get involved, which will eventually create tensions among the tribal people.
We do not want war anymore, no bloodshed anymore. We want peace. This is the demand and aspiration of all Papuan people.
Please the world knows, and all our supporters, and human rights NGOs that the situation in Wamena is leading to a horizontal conflict among the villagers. We do not want to see
from this happening.
AMP Numbay Reporting
Translation by CEB- DoOPM of WPNews Online
http://www.westpapua.net
.
(The Australian) Soldiers killed in guns heist [OPM seizes weapons of mass destruction from TNI in Wamena]
Soldiers killed in guns heist
Sian Powell, Jakarta correspondent and agencies
April 05, 2003
GUNMEN believed to be separatist rebels shot dead two soldiers yesterday while stealing weapons from a military post in Indonesia's Papua province, the military said.
At least 10 people, believed to be Free Papua Movement (OPM) rebels, staged the attack in the highland town of Wamena, stealing 29 weapons, including 13 M16s, and thousands of bullets, district military chief Lieutenant-Colonel Masrumsyah said.
He said a skirmish broke out after the gunmen opened fire on soldiers who caught them breaking into the armoury. A first sergeant died on the spot while a first lieutenant died in hospital, AFP reported.
"I still don't know for sure who is behind the attack," Lieutenant-Colonel Masrumsyah said. "TNI (the Indonesian military) will comb through the city and the surrounding areas, especially the hiding places of OPM, such as Habema and Koyawage."
He said the attack was believed to have been carried out by an OPM splinter group led by Titus Murib. The military says Wamena is a stronghold of the separatist group, which has several factions.
The district military chief said his troops wounded one rebel and managed to stop them from taking all the weapons. He said troops already in the area, and a helicopter, would be used in the search.
Since it was annexed by Indonesia in 1963, resource-rich Papua, formerly known as Irian Jaya, has simmered with resentment and separatist feelings.
In October 2000, dozens of people were killed in bloody riots when the Indonesian armed forces pulled down the Morning Star independence flag.
Rebel leader Kelly Kwalik has operated in both Wamena and Timika, where two Americans and an Indonesian were killed in an attack on a convoy of cars. Papuans claim the Indonesian military was behind the attack, while the military insists it was the work of separatists. The FBI is conducting
its own investigation into the deaths.
The executive director of Papuan human rights group Elsham, Johannes Bonay, said his group would investigate the Wamena incident.
The Indonesian armed forces announced recently that troop numbers in the province would be increased, while there have been reports of covert pro-Indonesian militias, which some claim are funded by the military.
Elsham News Report, 4 Maret 2003
and various press reports
Wamena 4 March 2003
The peace campaign in Papua has been damaged by an unidentified group which launched an attack very early on Friday, 4 April on the military command in Wamena, just 200 metres from the office of the Wamena district chief.
The attackers killed two military command soldiers, including one who was guarding the ammunition dump. Another soldier was seriously injured. One of the attackers was killed in the fighting. The attackers also succeeded in seizing more than three dozen weapons and a lot of ammunition.
ELSHAM contact in Wamena reports that troops are patrolling the town, the markets are open as usual but government offices and schools are closed.
According to press reports, mainly from Antara and Kompas Online, the military in Wamena have mounted a major manhunt to find the group involved in the attack, when 29 weapons, including automatic rifles and pistols were seized. Troops from Kostrad 413 Solo are spearheading the search for the attackers, supported by a helicopter brought in to the area from Timika. It is believed
that ten men were involved in the attack.
'We will hunt down and arrest those responsible,' said Trikora military commander in Jayapura, Major General Nurdin Zainal.
According to military sources, a traditional string bag (noken) full of bullets was found near the site, as well as the Laskar Papua membership card of Mikael Murib, and the identity cards of Nugagas Murib and Alpius Murib. The names of six persons were also found, allegedly the names of those who took part in the attack. These sources say that, based on the evidence found so far, the
military believe that the attack was launched by a group under the command of Kelly Kwalik and Titus Murib who are thought to be based not far from Wamena.
The body of the unidentified member of the attacking group has been transfered to the local hospital for an autopsy.
Speaking in Jakarta following the attack, army chief of staff General Ryamizard Ryacudu said everything must be done to crack down on the OPM because they are a danger to the Unitary State of Indonesia. He pledged that the men responsible would be tracked down and the seized weapons restored. He said he was sure that the OPM was responsible.
''Just see, Kopassus has been ordered to leave and they go wild again,' said Ryacudu.
Also speaking about the incident, Indonesia's chief of police Police General Da'i Bachtiar said they had information that the OPM was involved. There had been indications of their activities in the area since January, he said. 'They are after weapons,' he said, adding that there were no plans at present to send additional Brimob (police elite corps) troops to Papua. He confirmed that a
number of weapons had been seized and said OPM units could hide in the jungle. 'We in the police will increase our coordination with the army,' he added.
It is also reported that the military in Wamena are questioning several employees of the state electricity company, PLN, because shortly before the attack, there was a power cut and the lights went out. 'We're not accusing them of involvement,' the Trikora commander said, 'but we want to establish why there was a power cut just before the attack.'
Received from Joyo Indonesia News
Dow Jones Newswires
April 2, 2003
Gunmen Attack Military Compound In Indonesia's Papua
JAKARTA (AP)--Gunmen trying steal weapons during a nighttime raid on a military post exchanged fire with government troops early Friday, killing two soldiers in Indonesia's remote Papua province, the military said.
At least 10 unidentified men were involved in the raid on the armory at a military post in Wamena at 1 a.m. local time (1600 GMT), Lt. Col. Marsyumsyah, the military's district regional commander, told the Associated Press by telephone.
Marsyumsyah, who like many Indonesians uses a single name, declined to speculate which group was responsible.
However, the military said Wamena is known as a stronghold of the separatist Free Papua Movement, which has several factions. Rebel leader Kelly Kwalik operates in Wamena and Timika, near the central highlands of the vast mountainous region.
Wamena is a hill town about 3,700 kilometers (2,300 miles) east of Indonesia's capital, Jakarta.
Soldiers were asleep when the gunmen entered the military compound but soon woke up and the two groups clashed, Marsyumsyah said.
A first lieutenant and a first sergeant were fatally shot, he said.
It was unclear how many and what type of firearms the gunmen took, but they failed to take all of the weapons.
Indonesia occupied the former Dutch colony in 1963, on the western side of Papua New Guinea. Papua's sovereignty was formalized in 1969 through a U.N.-sponsored referendum. Rights groups claimed the ballot was a sham, and a loosely organized guerrilla band has been fighting for independence since then.
The rebels mostly fight with bows and arrow and other homemade weapons. In the past, the military has accused them of stealing government soldiers' firearms to boost their weapons cache.
Even though the mineral-rich province is home to one of the world's largest gold mines - run by New Orleans-based Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. - the indigenous people, who live a stone-age like existence, see little of the wealth gained from their natural resources.
-Edited by Genevieve I. Soledad
Irian News Service
April 4, 2003
There are reports of an attack on an army post in Wamena Friday morning. Details are sketchy but KI has been told by a reliable Wamena source that two soldiers are dead and one attacker dead. KI has been told that the attacker killed was a Murib from either Nabire or Kurima (family name - Dani)
It was said that the electricity was turned off for the incident suggesting some inside action there. Apparently the attackers came once for the guns and returned for the ammunition.
The below is an ealier item from ELSHAM which we have given a rough translation.
Elsham News Service / Jayapura
April 4, 2003
2 Soldiers killed and one injured
Wamena 4 March 2003
The peace campaign in Papua was torn apart this Friday morning (about 1 am) by a group who have not acted responsibly and are unknown. They attacked the KODIM compound which is about 200 meters from the Wamena Bupati's office.
During this incident 2 KODIM members were killed [Ltnt AD Napitupulu and soldier Ruben Kana from Nusa Tinggara Timur who was guarding the weapons store - the uncle of the ELSHAM News service moderator], and one was critically injured and in emergency care at the Wamena hospital.
One attacker was killed. They broke into the weapons storage and stole 37 rifles (KI editors note: M16's some reports say) 4000 rounds of ammunition. Only one soldier was guarding the weapons storage.
As this report was written soldiers/police are patrolling Wamena with most services such as the market, stores remaining open. Schools and government offices are closed. ELSHAM will continue following the stroy and reporting details as we have them.
The Jakarta Post
April 5, 2003
Army to 'enforce law' after Papua arms raid
Nethy Dharma Somba and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Jayapura
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu ordered the military in Papua to quell the Free Papua Movement (OPM), which was blamed for a deadly burglary at the Jayawijaya military district arsenal early on Friday.
He also instructed a thorough investigation into the alleged involvement of the military district's personnel in the arms theft.
"The military in Papua must hunt the rebels until they are captured and quell the separatist movement which has weakened the government. The military must enforce the law in the province," he said after Friday prayers.
Ryamizard expressed regret that the separatist movement in Papua had been "intensifying their activities" following the pullout in February of Army's Special Force (Kopassus) personnel.
At least three, including two Army soldiers, were killed in a gunfight when at least 15 suspected OPM members broke into an Army arsenal in Jayawijaya, Papua.
First Lt. A. Napitupulu and First Sgt. Ruben Lena were killed in Friday's clash and their bodies were taken to the Wamena General Hospital, while one rebel, identified as Islae Murib, was handed over to the local people for burial.
The spokesman for the Trikora Military Command overseeing Papua, Maj. E. Situmorang, told The Jakarta Post by telephone that the rebels succeeded in taking 13 M-16 rifles, 13 SP-1 rifles, three PM rifles, along with thousands of rounds of ammunition.
He explained that the incident began when the two military personnel became suspicious during an electrical blackout in the Jayawijaya Military District headquarters' arsenal at 1:30 a.m. local time.
"The two on-duty officers went to guard the arsenal and were greeted with several rounds fired by the thieves, leaving both dead. Several other officers ran to the site and were involved in a gun battle with the rebels who later fled to the adjacent forest area," he said, adding that Murib was
killed and another rebel was wounded in the clash.
"Our personnel also found three jackets, two bags of medicine, two machetes and 10 spent M-16 shells," he said.
Situmorang said the local military would first investigate the military district's personnel who were suspected of aiding and abetting the burglary.
"It would be impossible for the rebels to cut off the electricity and break into the arsenal, unless they were in collusion with the local military personnel," he said.
Trikora Military Command Chief Brig. Gen. Nurdin Zainal, who flew in to Jayawijaya shortly after receiving the report, has ordered the military in the regency to hunt for the rebels.
He said he was considering a deployment of more combat personnel to sweep the forest areas where the rebels were believed to be holed up.
Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsuddin, spokesman for the Indonesian Military (TNI), said the Trikora Military Command would set up a team to carry out the investigation.
"Since the attackers were armed, we believe that OPM members were responsible for the break in. But we (the TNI) are not ruling out the possibility of whether some of our personnel were also involved in the incident," Sjafrie said.
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