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Timika bishop condemns deadly shootings
Timika bishop John Philips Saklil has condemned the shootings by military personnel that killed two people and wounded several others in Mimika regency, Papua, early Friday
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imika bishop John Philips Saklil has condemned the shootings by military personnel that killed two people and wounded several others in Mimika regency, Papua, early Friday.
'The Church condemns violence, even more so when it causes deaths. Any act of violence will never solve problems,' the Bishop was quoted by tempo.co as saying.
Saklil, however, called on the people of Papua to calm down, telling them not to take revenge because fresh violence could cause harm to more innocent victims. He called on people to entrust the case to law enforcers.
A pastoral officer at Timika Church said that the incident occurred when local people organized a Tifa (Papuan drum) beating festival to celebrate the success of a Catholic resident in earning a doctoral degree in the Philippines.
Two drunken men reportedly wanted to join the event, but residents rejected them because they were drunk. The two men, who were later found to be soldiers, left the scene before returning with a gun and bayonet.
Previously, a resident said that the incident occurred when two soldiers opened fire in Timika Baru district, Mimika. Kompas.com reported that people who were partying on the road scolded the soldiers for driving fast, resulting in the soldiers challenging the group. The soldiers reportedly opened fire when they felt they were cornered. (bbn)
