Members of the mass organization KNPB have again been targeted by security operations: two people have been killed and six others were detained
Wamena, ENS,- After the assault and arson at the Police Headquarters in the Sector of Pirime (27/11) by a group of armed men, the situation in the Regencies of Lanny Jaya and Jayawijaya is growing increasingly tense. The police are gradually deploying and adding more troops in their search for the perpetrators. The pursuit operations are carried around not only in the Lanny Jaya regency, but they also extend into the town of Wamena, the capital of the Jayawijaya Regency.
During the pursuit operations against those responsible for the attacks, several members and board members of the West Papua National Committee for the Baliem region (KNPB Baliem) have been targeted. It was reported that on Saturday (15/12) the police arrested Simion Dabi (25), Meki Kogoya, John Huby, Pie Huby and Herae Huby in the village of Kulagaima. A day later, on Sunday (16/12), the police arrested Wene Helagombo (28) in Pasir Putih, and Hubertus Mabel (30) and Natalis Alua (26) in the village of Milima. The security forces also shot two pigs belonging to villagers in Milima. ELSHAM sources in Wamena reported that Hubertus Mabel and Natalis Alua were shot dead. The two bodies were autopsied at Wamena General Hospital. The body of Natalis Alua was then escorted by the police to the victim's home in the village of Abusa in the Kurulu District, while Hubertus Mabel’s remains are still in the hospital in Wamena.
ELSHAM sources from the La Pago Customary Council reported that, at around 20:00 (16/12) a number of kiosks had been burned at Pasar Misi by a group of people who were under the influence of alcohol. As a result of this incident, at around 23:00 dozens of police officers led by the Deputy Chief of Police of Jayawijaya came down to the scene. The security apparatus started shooting and then they set fire to the building of the Secretariat of the La Pago Customary Council, located about 800 meters away from the scene. The number of casualties and the extent of the losses caused by these interventions by the security forces are not yet known. As this report is being issued, the situation in the town of Wamena remains very tense. © Elsham News Service