Jayapura, Jubi – Three police officers reportedly be killed in disputes with military personnel in Kasonaweja, Mamberamo Raya regency on Sunday morning (12/4/2020). Papua Police Chief Paulus Waterpauw stated that misunderstanding had triggered clashes.
“The incident sparked off the misunderstanding but already solved on Saturday evening, at around 11 p.m. (Papua time),” said Waterpauw.
It began, Waterpauw said, when two police officers and their other four colleagues left their base to Kasonawaja. Therefore, Waterpauw has made sure that the rest of the police members and their families must obey the order not to leave the post. He has also scheduled his visit to Mamberamo Raya with Cenderawasih Military Commander.
The circulating report said that the friction between the 755/20-3 Kostrad (Army) Infantry Battalion Task Force and the police in Mamberamo Raya started when a motorbike taxi driver had a hard argument with a police officer who did not pay the taxi rent as agreed. While the disagreement between them occurred, other motorbike taxi drivers reported to the military post. As a result, some military personnel came to the scene and beat up the police officer.
When Mamberamo Raya Police Chief Alexander Louw visited the battered police officer on Saturday (11/4/2020) at home, he also met other police members there. Therefore, he reminded them of not taking unnecessary actions because he already contacted the Military Post Commander of Yonif 755 to solve the disputes.
However, without acknowledgement of the regional police chief and other officers, some police members of Mamberamo Raya came to the military post in Kasonaweja on Sunday morning (14/3/2020) to resolve disputes between them that occurred two days ago. But, clashes between them were inevitable which later killed three police officers and injured two others.
The death victims are First Police Brigadier Marcelino Rumaikewi, First Police Brigadier Alexander Ndun and Second Police Brigadier Yosias Dibangga who are native Papuans. Some got shots on the neck, while others on tight,” said Police Commissionaire Anton Ampang, the Information Subdivision Chief of Papua Police.
Meanwhile, the injured victims are currently under intensive medical treatment. They are Second Police Brigadier Alva Titely with injury on the left tight, and Brigadier Robert Marien who suffered three gunshot wounds on his back.
Furthermore, The Information Subdivision of Papua Police Commissionaire Anton Ampang in the written statement to the press said the Papua Police and Cenderawasih Military Command had appointed a joint investigation team to investigate the incident involving their members in Mamberamo Raya.
“Cenderawasih Military Commander and Papua Police Chief have deployed a joint investigation team to the location for further investigation about the incident. They will collect information and check the actual chronology on the scene,” stated Anton Ampang in the written statement received by Jubi on Sunday (12/4/2020). (*)
Source: Antara
Editor: Pipit Maizier
