Banjir Ambarita is being monitored in intensive care after his surgery, as police begin their investigation into his attack.
Banjir, a local journalist who often contributes to the Jakarta Globe, was stabbed in the chest and stomach by two unknown assailants on Wednesday night while he was riding his motorcycle in front of the Jayapura mayor's office.
He went into surgery on Thursday morning to treat the stab wound to his stomach, which had penetrated his intestines.
Viktor Mambor, the chairman the Alliance of Independent Journalists' (AJI) Papua branch, said it was expected that Banjir would remain in the intensive care for the rest of the day.
“If his condition is pronounced as stable tomorrow, he will be removed from ICU and treated at the ward,” Viktor said.
He said that the Papua Police and Jayapura Police had set up a joint investigative team, which had already started working on the case.
“Jayapura Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Imam Setiawan told me that they have processed the crime scene and are looking for potential witnesses,” Viktor said.