The Government Will Form An Investigation Team To Investigate The Shooting Of The Pastor In Intan Jaya, Papua

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD said the government took action on the shooting incident in Intan Jaya Regency, Papua which killed two people, one of which was Rev. Yeremias.

There are two actions taken by the government. First, ordering the police to disclose the case in a professional manner according to the applicable law. Second, the government will form a joint investigation team.

"So the police are ordered to continue to disclose this case in a professional manner according to the applicable law and the government will form a joint investigation team that can be more objective in exploring this," Mahfud said in an online press conference, Thursday, October 1.

The investigation team, said Mahfud, would later consist of related officials by involving religious figures, community and traditional leaders, and academics. They will be tasked with digging up facts and reporting the results to Mahfud to be forwarded to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

Currently, Intan Jaya Regency is called Mahfud safe and under control. Activities of civil society and the apparatus are also running as usual.

Mahfud said the shooting incident by an armed separatist group in Papua had been predicted by the government. This kind of event is predicted to continue until December 1.

"That every September to meet December 1, the anniversary of the separatist armed group in Papua, there is always a commotion like this. Last year too, now it's happening again," he said.

According to Mahfud, the recurrence of these violent incidents occurred because of a group of people who wanted to separate from Papua and cooperate with provocateurs living in other countries. The government, he continued, would be ready to face this because Papua and West Papua are part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

"It is final and there is no more way, there are no negotiations for independence, for secession. The UN has conducted a referendum in 1963 and it has been endorsed by the United Nations. There is no rejection from the UN and the referendum results are valid and there is no way for Papua anymore. certain people in Papua to ask for independence, "he said.

Previously, the TNI and Polri groups were shot at by an armed criminal group (KKB) in Hipadipa, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua on Friday, September 25. The shooting took place of the group that carried out the crime scene (TKP) of the shooting case that occurred in Hipadipa, including to uncover the case of the death of Pastor Yeremias Zanambani.

Police estimate that there are six KKB groups in the area. They are suspected of possessing 17 firearms that were confiscated from the TNI-Polri.

The police previously suspected that Pastor Yeremias Zanambani was shot by an armed criminal group (KKB) in Bomba Village, Hitadipta District, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua. This shooting resulted in Pastor Jeremias passing away.

“Rumors are circulating that the shooting case resulted in Pastor. Yeremias Zanambani was carried out by TNI officers, it is not true. The KKB (Armed Criminal Group) through its spokesperson is currently spreading slander again by saying that the TNI was the perpetrator of the shooting. The KKB is currently looking for a moment to attract attention at the UN General Assembly at the end of this month, ”said Head of Public Relations of the Papua Police, Kombes AM Kamal, Monday, September 21.