TEMPO Interactive, Timika:The Twin Otter Trigana PK-YRF airplane was shot yesterday morning by an armed group in Papua. The incident killed Papua Pos journalist, Leiron Kogoya, and injured four passengers and a pilot flying the Nabire-Puncak Jaya route. Based on the information gathered by Tempo, the incident happened shortly after the airplane landed at Mulia Airport. “The shooters were hiding in the hills located 30 – 50 meters from the airport,” Papua Police’s public relations head, Comm. Yohanes Nugroho Wicaksono, said yesterday. Due to the gunshot, the airplane lost control and hit a warehouse on the edge of the airport. Leiron was shot in the neck, Captain Pilot Bebi Astek, 40, was injured on the eye while copilot Willy Resubun, 30, suffered minor injuries. Up until yesterday afternoon, the police had not identified the perpetrators or the guns used in the incident. Yohanes estimated the shooter had used a M-16 or SS1. “We’re still studying what particular type of gun was used,” he said. Coordinating Minister for Political, Justice and Security Affairs Joko Suyanto condemned the incident and called on the Indonesian military and police to immediately catch the perpetrators. “Their actions must be stopped although it is difficult to do this because of the hills and dense forests,” he said. CUNDING LEVI | TJAHJONO EP | ABDUL MANAN