Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Papua and two of its regencies, Nduga and Puncak Jaya, where deadly shootings by unknown assailants occurred last week in the wake of the gubernatorial election, are now safe and stable, National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian has said.

Tito, along with Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, was in Jayapura on Sunday to monitor security after the simultaneous regional elections.

"The situation in Papua is under control now. Police and military personnel stand ready to maintain security," Tito said.

The election in Nduga was postponed to last Thursday after a Twin Otter aircraft carrying election material and police personnel was fired at by unidentified assailants last Monday shortly after it landed at Kenyam Airport. The pilot suffered a gunshot wound to his back, and three residents died in an ensuing firefight between the gunmen and security personnel, the authorities have said.

"The Papua Police have deployed additional personnel to secure [Nduga]. The vote count is ongoing there," Tito said.

Another incident took place on voting day last Wednesday in Puncak Jaya, during which Torere district head Obaja Froaro was killed by unknown armed assailants who allegedly shot at a speedboat he was on while transporting boxes of filled-out ballots.

Two police officers, who were on board the same speedboat and in charge of guarding the election materials and securing the Papua gubernatorial election, went missing in the ambush.

The police are still pursuing the attackers and searching for their two missing members. (stu/ipa)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/07/01/papua-safe-after-deadly-shootings.html