Banjir Ambarita, Jakarta – Six people were reportedly killed while several others remained in a critical condition after a group of police officers and soldiers allegedly opened fire on demonstrators in restive Papua province on Monday morning.
John N.R. Gobai, a local community leader, said the security forces in the capital of Paniai district, Enarotali, opened fire at 10 a.m. on Monday to disperse a group of people angered by the alleged abuse of a child.
"There are four people who died, four others are in critical condition and 22 more suffered [other] injuries after being shot by the police and soldiers," John said. "Those who were injured are currently being treated at Madi hospital in Enarotali, while those who died are still at the field with people surrounding them."
The death toll was later reported to have risen to six. The chief of Papua Police, Insp. Gen. Yotje Mende, confirmed that there had been a shooting, but declined to provide details.
"The shootings were triggered by an attempt to attack the Ebarotali Police office and our officers were only trying to secure the perimeter," Yotje said.
He added that information was still being gathered about the incident. "I am communicating with Paniai Police headquarters to establish the chronology of the events," he said.
'Child beaten'
According to John, the incident started when a Toyota Fortuner SUV was passing Togokotu hill in Ipakiye village, East Paniai, on Sunday night with its lights off.
Some teenagers guarding the local security post stopped the car and asked the driver to turn the car's lights on.
An argument ensued and the SUV left the location and headed to a military post in Uwibutu. The SUV driver later came back to the security post with some other men and assaulted a 12-year-old boy at the post.
"This is what triggered the anger of Ipakiye villagers and made them walk for five kilometers to Enarotali to seek an explanation from law enforcement officers," John said.
SUV torched
After arriving in Enarotoli, the angry mob torched a Fortuner SUV suspected to be the one that passed the village the previous night, and started to dance and sing.
Then suddenly, John said, police and soldiers started to shoot into the crowd. "The team opened fire at the crowd to disperse them," he said.
The four people who died were identified as Habakuk Degei, Neles Gobai, Bertus Gobai and Apinus Gobai. "The situation in Ebarotali is still very tense because more and more people started to arrive," John said.