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iolence gripped Papua on Wednesday with a soldier killed and — in separate incidents — two people injured by gunshots.

Wamena, the capital city of Ja-yawijaya regency, was reported to be tense after soldiers ran amok, committing arson, vandalizing houses, throwing stones and shooting following the death of a comrade.

Jayawijaya Regent John Wempi Wetipo condemned the incident, saying that soldiers should serve
as citizens’ protectors and provide security.

First Pvt. Ahmad Sahlan was reported to have been attacked by a crowd at Honai Lama village.

“According to information, a funeral was being held when two soldiers rode by. They knocked down a child and the crowd turned on them furiously, leaving Sahlan dead,” John told The Jakarta Post, adding that the other soldier, First Pvt. Ahmad Saifudin, had been rushed to hospital in a critical condition.

Hundreds of soldiers later took to the streets but no fatalities or injuries were reported. John said he had not obtained details of damage caused by the rampaging soldiers only that a shopping mall seemed to have been the target of the shooting.

Colonel Hamdan Ali Bogra, the spokesperson of Cendrawasih military headquarters, denied soldiers’ burned houses in retaliation. “I don’t believe soldiers burnt residents’ homes. I got reports that two shops were burned but by the crowd not by soldiers,” he said.

Meanwhile, mysterious shootings continued with the latest victims a motorcyclist and a soldier in two separate incidents on Tuesday.

The first victim was shot in front of the Transportation Agency, just 20 meters from the police headquarters in Jayapura, while the second was shot in the Entrop area.

“Iqbal Rifai and Ardi Jayanto were riding a motorcycle when they were followed by a man on a bike,” Adj. Sn. Comr. Johanes Nugroho, spokesperson for the Papua Police, said on Wednesday. “Suddenly, gunshots were heard and Iqbal felt his stomach bleeding. They rushed him to hospital,” he said.

The other victim was First Pvt. Doengki, who was shot by unidentified gunmen on his return from accompanying fellow soldier Brig. Ida. He was shot in the face and was treated at Dok II hospital in the city.

Tuesday’s incidents have brought the tally of shootings to five in the past week.

In Jakarta, Presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said that recent shootings and stabbings in Papua were proof that the situation in the country’s easternmost region was still far from conducive.

“Separatist movements are still rampant both in Papua and West Papua provinces. We do not want this to happen all the time. Investigations are underway,” Julian told reporters at the State Palace compound.

Shootings by unidentified people have occurred frequently in Papua for years but until now, the police have yet to arrest any of the perpetrators.

 “That’s because the geographical situation in Papua is difficult,” Julian said when asked about the matter.

Julian did not rule out the possibility of deploying more police and troops to the region.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto said the incidents would undermine the government’s efforts to promote peace and development in Papua.