The five victims were identified as Yuliana Dronggi, 35, Jelince Bugi, 25, Macen Kusumbrue, 26, Tolop Bugi, 13, and Hardius Bugi, 15. They are thought to have been shot by unknown assailants weeks earlier, according to a local resident.

Nduga youth leader Samuel Tabuni, who is a relative of the victims, said the killings were believed to have taken place on Sept. 21 as the previous day the victims, who were from Iniye, had left Wamena in Jayawijaya regency with others to return to Iniye with food supplies.

On the road to Iniye the party stored the food supplies at a place called Gua Batu on Mount Kanbobo, as they still had a long way to go before reaching Iniye, they then stayed overnight at the nearest village, Samuel said on Thursday.

"The next day, the five victims set off for Gua Batu to pick up the stored food supplies, with the others following later. While the later group were on the way, they heard shots from the Gua Batu area. At this the group decided not to proceed to Gua Batu but instead to go on to Iniye," Samuel said.

Upon their arrival at Iniye and discovering that the five were missing they contacted Samuel, who was in Jayapura at the time.

"That was around Sept. 28. They asked for my help to find out about the five victims' whereabouts," Samuel said, adding that according to reports from residents, military personnel were seen around the vicinity on Sept. 20.

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