Christian Motte, Jayapura – The Papua Church Council is investigating the recent spate of violence in the province, especially near the PT Freeport Indonesia mining concession, the head of the council said on Tuesday. It also called for security and law enforcement to halt intimidation, arrests and violence against local residents.

"The church is launching an investigation into the incidents of violence in Freeport and is awaiting the results," council chairman Lipyus Biniluk said.

He added that the council wanted a complete cessation of violence in Papua, especially what it saw as acts against native Papuans by law enforcement officers following a series of armed attacks near Freeport's Grasberg mine this month.

"Immediately cease the intimidation, terror and arrest of innocent civilians, and stop the violence against native Papuans in Timika," he said.

Lipyus said the actions had alarmed the local populace, especially because they were targeted at civilians who were not involved in the Freeport incidents. "Reveal the mastermind of the violent incidents in Papua," Lipyus demanded.

The council also said it wanted the Papua Legislative Council to invite the governor of Papua, the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) and the commander of the local Cenderawasih military command to address the violence in Timika in particular, and Papua in general.

It also urged the Papuan people, especially those in Timika, to remain calm in the face of the ongoing tragedy.

Lipyus said the council wanted the central government to immediately open a dialog with the Papuan people – involving a neutral third-party mediator – to solve the region's problems in a dignified, just and humane way.

A series of attacks on Freeport vehicles in Timika have killed at least three people and wounded 13 since July 11.

The latest incident took place on Friday, when a Freeport convoy came under attack, leaving a police officer and a local Freeport employee with gunshot wounds.

On July 11, an Australian Freeport employee was killed when his vehicle was attacked. The next morning, an Indonesian security guard was killed in another ambush.

A Mobile Brigade officer who went missing on July 12 during a third attack was found dead the following day in a ravine near the ambush site.

Police have since arrested at least 15 men in connection with the attacks and have named seven suspects, including two Freeport employees. Six are expected to face murder charges.

All seven suspects are indigenous Papuans, and police have so far declined to discuss any of their alleged motives.