Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – The editorial office of Papua-based media Jujur Bicara, popularly known as Jubi, was thrown with Molotov cocktails in the early hours of Wednesday, October 16, 2024. Jubi's office is located on Jalan SPG Taruna Waena, Jayapura City, Papua Province.
"Two Jubi operational cars parked in the office's yard caught fire and were damaged," said Jubi's Editor-in-Chief, Jean Bisay, in a press release today.
According to Jean, two unidentified individuals hurled the Molotov cocktails from the side of the road in front of Jubi's editorial office. "The fire (caused by the Molotov cocktails) engulfed parts of the front side of the Toyota Avanza and Toyota Calya cars. Two Jubi staff and several eyewitnesses eventually extinguished the fire," Jean said.
Jean mentioned that the Heram Sectoral Police investigated the scene on Wednesday morning. The police, Jean went on, suspected that the explosives hurled at the office were Molotov cocktails, as the police found shards of glass bottles and remnants of cloth scraps used as the wick.
The Heram Sectoral Police Chief, First Pol. Inspector Bernadus, confirmed Jean's statement. "These were the Molotov cocktails thrown at the Jubi editorial office," he said on Wednesday, October 16. "For the materials used, we are awaiting the results of the team at the forensic laboratory."
Based on eyewitness accounts, before the Molotov cocktails were thrown at around 03:15 a.m. local time, the perpetrators were seen loitering in front of Jubi's office multiple times since Tuesday around 11:00 p.m.
"The two individuals rode a motorcycle and wore black trousers, jackets, masks, and helmets," said Jean.
Then, according to Jean, around 02:00 a.m., the two perpetrators stopped below a mango tree near Jubi's editorial office, observing the situation, and promptly left. At around 03:15 a.m., the two returned, stopped in front of Jubi's office fence, and threw two Molotov cocktails. The first object exploded, causing a blaze; the second one enlarged the fire.
"Both perpetrators panicked and had difficulty starting the motorcycle. But we were also afraid, so we did not approach. We then hit the electric pole and the fence to wake up surrounding residents," Jean repeated the eyewitness account.
Jean thanked the residents who helped extinguish the fire. "Luckily, the fire was swiftly extinguished by the two jubi staff and nearby residents," Said Jean.