Robert Vanwi Subiyat, Jayapura – The Indonesian Military (TNI) said on Friday that a shooting that left dead two civilians and injured four in Papua early on Friday indeed involved one of its soldiers, but added that only "two to three" shots were fired, in self-defense.

Brig. Gen. Supartodi, a local military commander, claimed the shooting occurred as a beleaguered sergeant tried to defend himself against a mob of locals. "The service member shot two to three times, and hit local people," Supartodi told journalists.

Two local men were killed, with a further four sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. The incident took place in Koperaoka village, some 50 meters from the Gorong Gorong checkpoint in Timika.

"[The sergeant] saw there was an argument near the [Gorong Gorong] post... Local people ganged up on the other service members and this [sergeant] wanted to help but was also swarmed with locals even trying to grab his gun."

Supartodi said he would visit Timika to meet with local leaders in an effort to defuse the situation.

Meanwhile, Cenderawasih military command spokesman Lt. Col. Teguh Pudhi Rahardjo named First Sgt. Ashar as the one responsible for firing the shots. Teguh explained Ashar had been looking for Chief Sgt. Makher, who had been surrounded by local people. Ashar was then also crowded by the mob, he said.

"Ashar was swarmed by local people. He fell and was covered in blood. As Ashar was pushed, he loaded his gun and shot upward twice. Then some of the people backed out and some came close to get his gun. Ashar told us that he shot toward at the people but aimed for their legs," he said.

Teguh said Ashar was being held by military police. "The Cenderawasih military command has apologized to the families of the victims and we will help them. We will proceed with a legal process against the [sergeant] and also help the surviving victims," the military spokesman said.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/tni-apologizes-papua-shooting-says-two-three-shots-fired/