TEMPO Interactive, Kaimana:Clashes between law enforcement agencies broke out again in Kaimana, West Papua, Sunday August 19, 2012, at about 18.00. In the incident, at least two police motorcycles were torched and the police's headquarters of the Sub-Military Police Detachment (Subdenpom) were slightly damaged.
The incident started from common bickering between a resident of Kaimana with a police officer in the city. The plainclothe policeman reprimanded a youth. Apparently, the young man was the brother of a soldier named Private First Class Robby. The soldier who served in Subdenpom was passing by and saw his brother in trouble with the police.
"Robby tried to intervene and request the problem be resolved between them on the spot," said Chief of Information, Military Command (Kodam) XVII/Cenderawasih, Lieutenant Colonel (Inf) Jansen Simanjuntak, Sunday evening, August 19, 2012.
Apparently the police was offended by Robby’s mannerisms. He invited nine of his colleagues to attack a military post in Kaimana. "They were shouting at our headquarters, looking for Robby," said Jansen. Two duty officers, First Sergeant Ady and Private Second Class Along, were beaten by the uninvited guests. Some parts of the building were damaged.
Ady and Along ran for help. Behind that military detachment post was the housing complex of the Military District Command (Kodim) of Kaimana. The soldiers who were resting immediately counter-attacked the policemen still busily searching for Robby. The situation was now reversed. It was the police’s turn to flee, leaving two motorbikes behind, immediately burned by the soldiers.
After the clash subsided, Commander of the Kaimana Subdenpom, First Lieutenant CPM Joko, met with the Traffic Unit Head of the Kaimana police at the scene. "It seems that the perpetrator was drunk," said Jansen. In the end the police and the military agreed to make peace.
Commander of Kodim 1713 of Kaimana Lieutenant Colonel (inf) Susilo says the clash was caused by a misunderstanding on both sides. "But this issue has been resolved amicably," he said.
JERRY OMONA