The Jakarta Post, April 05, 2004
Police shoot dead separatist in Papua ahead of voting day
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua
Police here said on Sunday that they had shot dead a suspected separatist in the
troubled province of Papua for allegedly trying to discourage people from voting in the
legislative election on Monday, while a policeman and an activist were reportedly
missing.
The shooting incident took place at 8 p.m. on March 30 at the Bokondini Police
station, Jayawijaya regency, Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Daud Sihombing
said.
He said the police killed Maryus Kogoya, a suspected member of the separatist Free
Papua Organization (OPM), as he allegedly attempted to flee with three other
suspects -- Wetinus Wenda, 45, Tepenar Wenda alias Step Wenda, 30, and Iperus
Wenda, 27.
Earlier, the four Papuans had been nabbed by police in the remote Bokondini area in
connection with leaflets they had allegedly distributed to local people, asking them to
abstain from voting on Monday.
During questioning at the interrogation room, Maryus threw a flashlight at a police
officer who managed to catch it.
However, Maryus renewed his attack and a kerosene lamp fell down throwing the
room into total darkness. The suspect then tried to seize Second Brig. Rudy
Mangasak's gun, who later fired the shot which killed Maryus, Sihombing said.
He said the police would continue to investigate the three other suspects.
Indonesians will cast their votes at poll booths throughout the country on Monday.
However, those in several remote areas of Papua and East Kalimantan will vote later
due to a lack of ballot papers.
Papuan separatists are opposed to the presidential and general elections and have
reportedly tried to prevent locals from voting.
Meanwhile, policeman Brig. Anwar Mosab and Asriadi Kani, a member of the
Merauke Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu), were reported missing after
they were attacked on Saturday by a group of 20 unidentified men in the Okaba area
of the remote town of Merauke.
Sihombing said the attack was launched at 3 p.m, when Anwar escorted Asriadi
aboard a boat after supervising the distribution of ballot papers in the hamlets of Yowid
and Dolip.
Upon their arrival in Okaba, they were unable to dock close to the nearby beach as
the tide was low.
When the officials transferred the electoral materials to a smaller boat, unidentified
men launched an attack on them, using traditional weapons, such as arrows and
machetes.
"Up until now, the fate of the two officials (Anwar and Asriadi) remains unclear. We
are sending some 200 police personnel to the scene to investigate the incident and
search for the attackers," Sihombing said.
However, a source in Merauke told The Jakarta Post that Anwar was killed after being
shot in the chest by arrows, while Asriadi was stabbed, although his fate is unknown.
The Papua Police have deployed some 9,500 personnel to ensure a peaceful and
smooth election in the province. They are guarding 6,312 poll booths in 20 regencies
and towns there.
The police are assisted by 1,234 soldiers who are stationed at district commands.
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