Indonesian Military in Papua Attacked
Tuesday, 11 April, 2006 | 15:12 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jayapura: A crowd of armed inhabitants attacked the Indonesian Military (TNI) on the border between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea in Wembi village, Arso district, Keerom regency. Two TNI members and two from the attackers died.

The group of around 30 struck at around 1pm local time. They used axes, cleavers, spears, and guns, said the Head of Information Military Area Command of the People’s Threefold Region, Major CAG G.T. Situmorang in Jayapura, yesterday.

Sergeant First Class Ahmad Basori died at the scene. His arm was severed and his neck cut by a cleaver. Private First Class Soekarno Hariadi died in an officer’s house because of a neck wound. Both TNI members were from Infantry Battalion 509 which was sent from Jember’s Army Strategic Command, East Java. They had been on duty in Papua for four months.

TNI did not know of the identity of the two victims from the attackers. According to Situmorang, the other TNI member, Corporal Second Class Susi Haryono, was in critical condition. Currently Susi is being treated in the Army Hospital in Aryoko, Jayapura. The victims were evacuated by Air Force helicopter.

A student of Jayapura Health Academy Polytecnic, Joseph, also became a victim. Joseph, who is still under treatment in Dian Harapan Wamena Hospital Emergency Room, Abepura, was shot in the chest. “He was brought here at around 4 pm,” said a nurse.

The Commander of the Jember Army Strategic Command 509 Brigade, Colonel Ahmad Fauzi said, two of his staff died when participating in attending medical treatment for the masses. The second body was flown to Jember today and surrendered to his family.

The wife of the late Ahmad Basori, Dyah Fitria Padmasari, said she had just heard the news of her husband's death yesterday evening. The teacher of school for special needs, and the mother of a child could only surrender. The wife of the late Soekarno, Kurniawati, cried while holding her 10-month old son on her lap.

LITA OETOMO