Jayapura – The TPN/OPM [National Resistance Army/Papuan Freedom Movement] in Gurangi, Puncak Jaya has written to the Indonesian Red Crescent [PMI] [Indonesian Red Cross – JB.] in the District of Puncak Jaya apologising for shooting three PMI volunteers on 31 July, 2013. During this incident, a man called Heri Yoman was shot dead, while two other people were injured.

The letter which was sent on 15 August 2013 was also signed by the commander of general operations of the TPN/OPM, Ekki Wonda and the field commander Rambo Wonda who admitted that he was the peron who had fired the shots.

The letter said that during the incident, shots were fired at an ambulance at a time when troops from the TNI [Indonesian Army] were carrying out operations in Puncak Jaya. It was during the course of this operation that two local inhabitants were shot dead by soldiers who were using a vehicle which looked very much like a PMI ambulance. This is why the person who did the shooting thought that the vehicle belonged to the TNI. "We were the ones who did the shooting which killed two PMI volunteers for which we offer our sincere apologies," he said.

The chairman of the PMI in West Papua, Nelson Wonda, said that their investigation into the incident which they had undertaken after receiving a letter from those involved in the incident revealed what had happened during an operation which was being conducted by the TNI.

The ambulance being used by the TNI had been modified in such a way as to look exactly like ambulances which are used by the PMI. However, the vehicle was being used by the army during operations in the area, during which two members of the OPM were shot. The OPM members who did not fully understand what was happening thought that the PMI had given one of their ambulances to the TNI, although this was not true. This is why they fired at the ambulance in which there were two PMI volunteers.

"As a result of this misunderstanding, OPM members came to us to offer their apologies while at the same time, urging us to continue with our work in the area." said Wonda.

Personnel from the PMI subsequently had a meeting with the Military Commander of Pangdam XVII – Cenderawasih Military Command – and the Governor of Papua, suggesting that the modifications which had been made, in particular the colour of the vehicles, should not be used any more. However, the regional secretary of the administration in Puncak Jaya said that he did not have the "authority" to forward this request to the TNI.

[Translated by TAPOL.]