http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/police-launch-probe-security-force-killings-papua/
Jakarta. Indonesia’s National Police have launched an investigation following the fatal shooting of at least four teenagers at the hands of security forces in Papua.
Police dispatched a special team to the mountainous Paniai district on Tuesday to investigate the clash, which they say left four people dead, but a human rights monitor says killed five. Locals claim more than 20 others were injured in the incident.
There are conflicting reports about what happened on Monday. Police said the shooting was provoked after about 200 protesters attacked a police and military outpost in Ebarotali.
National Police Deputy Chief Comr. Gen. Badrodin Haiti has also suggested the alleged attack could have been orchestrated by the Free Papua Movement (OPM), which has waged a low-level insurgency against Jakarta for decades on behalf the mostly ethnic Melanesian population.
However, local community leaders and Andreas Harsono, a Human Rights Watch campaigner in Indonesia, have said security forces opened fire on a group of protesters angered by the alleged abuse of a teen.
Police and rights activists both said tensions rose when local teenagers confronted the driver of a vehicle late on Sunday. The driver was from a local military unit, according to Andreas, and returned later with a group of people who beat up the teen.
John N.R. Gobai, a local community leader, told the Jakarta Globe on Monday that residents of Ipakiye village then headed to the nearby security post in Enarotali where they torched a vehicle and begun to sing and dance. Police then allegedly opened fire on the demonstrators.
Police, however, say a “mob” first attacked the military base and then a nearby police post with rocks and arrows.
“The military members fired warning shots into the air to stop the mob,” Badrodin said. Windows were smashed, four cars were damaged and six security force personnel were injured in the confrontation, he said.
Badrodin said investigators would establish whether it was personnel from the police or armed forces which fired the fatal shots and promised the perpetrators would be “processed.”
But he also claimed the poorly armed OPM fighters, led by Leo Yogi, may have been involved.
“At around 8.30 a.m. local time, we heard gunshots coming from Merah Mount,” Badrodin said.
“We suspect that it was a code sent by Leo Yogi. Not long after, 200 men ran down the mountain and started the attack.”
Andreas said that as well as those killed, 21 people were injured, and they included women and children. He said that he interviewed six people in Papua.