Jakarta – The Indonesian Miliary has confirmed that an armed Papuan civilian group known as Cosmas Makabori was responsible for the shooting death of a military officer in Namuni Kampong, Papua, on Monday.

The victim, Maj. Inf. Jhon E. de Fretes, was accompanied by 2nd. Crp. Simon Sopakua and 2nd. Crp. Afan to monitor the area ahead of the Dec. 9 simultaneous regional election, according to Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesman Maj. Gen. Tatang Sulaiman.

They were traveling by boat and "came under attack immediately after disembarking. Maj. Inf. Jhon was shot in the abdomen," Tatang told CNN Indonesia on Tuesday.

The surviving officers claimed they were surrounded by about 20 armed civilians who opened fire. Jhon was shot four times as they attempted to escape. His body was left at the scene and evacuated by TNI officers on Tuesday morning, after the crowd had dispersed.

Jhon's body will be flown from Papua to Magelang, Central Java, for burial, Tatang said. Afan and Simon both suffered minor injuries in the skirmish.

The TNI and National Police are currently working together to locate members of Cosmas Makabori.

Indonesia is set to hold its first simultaneous regional elections on Dec. 9, which will see residents of more than 250 districts, cities and provinces across the archipelago heading to the polls to choose their next regional leaders.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/tni-officer-killed-armed-civilian-group-papua-spokesman/