A Papuan, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, was killed after a soldier in Wamena, Papua, opened fire to defend himself after being chased by a group of allegedly drunk local residents, according to a military spokesman.
Anton Kogoya, 27, was killed on Saturday evening at 10:43 p.m. local time (8:43 p.m. Jakarta time).
“He [the soldier] was already cornered and he had issued a warning shot but the residents kept chasing him with machetes. He had no other choice but to shoot at them, and he hit the victim,” the Cenderawasih Military Command chief spokesman, Col. Jansen Simanjuntak, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
He said the incident started when three off-duty soldiers, Second Pvt. Haryono, First Pvt. Sitanggang and Second Sgt. Agung, left their Napua post and headed downtown on motorcycles to play futsal (indoor soccer).
The soldiers, members of the 756th Infantry Battalion Winame Sili, were unarmed and were not wearing uniforms.
After playing futsal, they stopped at the Wonogiri 3 food stall to buy some food before being approached by five drunken residents who asked for money.
The three soldiers refused, which led to a quarrel.
One of the residents was carrying a machete and tried to stab Second Pvt. Haryono, who fled the scene and took refuge at the Wamena Military District Command (Kodim).
Simultaneously, Second Sgt. Agung called Chief Pvt. Simanjuntak and requested reinforcements from the Napua post. The post then sent seven soldiers to the scene.
Upon the arrival of the reinforcements on Jl. Yos Sudarso, the drunken residents were still chasing the plainclothes, off-duty soldiers, while wielding machetes. The reinforcements were also then pursued.
A soldier fired warning shots but to no avail, as the residents kept on giving chase to the soldiers.
“Feeling threatened, the soldier then shot the victim and the victim died at the scene,” Jansen said.
Although the shooting was carried out in self defense, the soldier would still be brought to a military tribunal, Jansen went on.
“Cenderawasih Military Command chief Maj. Gen. Christian Sebua has issued a clear order to bring the case to justice,” he said.
“Self defense does not have to kill or hurt other people. There are many other ways.”
After the incident, members of the public gathered in front of the Wamena Kodim headquarters demanding justice, with the authorities calling on the public to remain calm and not resort to violent acts as the soldier would face the law.
Earlier on May 1, two people were killed and five others injured during a clash between security personnel with supporters of the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM) in Aimas district, Sorong regency, in neighboring West Papua province. A third rebel, Selomina Kalaibin, died on May 6 after being treated for her injuries.
A local OPM leader, Isak Kalaibin, has surrendered to the Sorong Police for instigating the clash.
Recent violence in Papua
• Feb. 22
Eight soldiers are killed in two separate incidents in Puncak Jaya regency. Unknown gunmen shoot at a helicopter trying to evacuate the dead soldiers.
• March 26
Unidentified gunmen fire shots at a helicopter carrying two missionaries in Puncak Senyum, Puncak Jaya, Papua. There were no fatalities in the incident, but two bullet holes were found in a window near the cockpit.
• April 27
One police officer is killed and two of his relatives are injured when unknown assailants attack their home in Yapen, Papua, at 1:30 a.m. local time. Chief Brig. Jefri Sesa dies from a stab wound to the stomach in the attack, which occurred when he was asleep at his residence in the Angkaisera police substation housing complex.
• May 1
Demonstrators and police clash in Aimas district, Sorong regency, West Papua. Two people are killed and five others are injured. A third OPM rebel dies on May 6 after being treated for her injuries.
• May 4
A 19-year-old fisherman, La Bila, is reportedly killed on a fishing boat after being shot by local sea patrol officers in Raja Ampat waters in Sorong, West Papua, at around 3 p.m. local time. Local sea patrol officers spotted the fishermen and approached them as they were suspicious that the men were fishing illegally.