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Alleged stabbing by soldiers in Papua investigated
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Mining workers stage a demonstration in Timika, Papua, during the commemoration of Labor Day on May 1. (Antara/Wahyu Putro A)
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t. Col. Yusman Mandayun, the chief of staff of the Praja Wirabraja Military command in Biak, Papua, has been assigned to lead the team set up to investigate the alleged stabbing of two civilians by soldiers in Paniai, Papua, on May 1.
“The team has been deployed to Paniai. If military personnel are found to be responsible, they will certainly face punishment,” Cendrawasih Military Command spokesman Col. Teguh Raharjo said on Wednesday.
The incident reportedly took place at a kiosk in Uwibutu village.
The two men were suspected of stealing from the kiosk, whose owner then reported it to a nearby military post. Two soldiers went to the scene and were involved in a struggle with the men, Teguh said.
But Teguh brushed off reports that the victims had been stabbed. According to him, the soldiers in question did not carry bladed weapons. “The victims were injured because they ran off and were injured by sharp roof tiles,” he said.
(Read also: Police shooting of Freeport workers in Timika under investigation)
Paniai Customary Council head John Gobay had a different version of the incident.
According to his statement sent to The Jakarta Post, the two civilians whom he identified as Yustinus Degei, 32, and Yosia Degei, 27, left the kiosk because they were not being served but the owner accused them of stealing soap.
Yustinus, said John, suffered stab wounds from the chin to his right ear while Yosia was stabbed in the back.
“I hope the perpetrators are held to account,” John said. (bbs)
