TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian National Police (Polri) announced the initial investigation on the death of three Papuan university students during Monday’s fiery protest, which was caused by rubber bullets.

“The initial presumption is due to rubber bullets,” said Polri public information Head, Brig. General Dedi Prasetyo on Tuesday. However, police will conduct a full autopsy to confirm this.

This incident happened after hundreds of Papuan exodus students gathered at the University of Cenderawasih to establish a make-shift post accommodating Papuan students intending to return to Papua. Police claimed that their plan was curbed by the university’s rector and students as it would disrupt college activities.

Campus management then requested police assistance to help disperse the group by directly contacting the Papuan Police Chief who immediately mobilized a team to negotiate with the students, which successfully persuaded the students to leave campus facility and return to Taman Budaya Ekspo Waena in Jayapura riding on a military and police truck.

Dedi claimed everything went smoothly until the truck nearly reached its destination when the students suddenly attacked the Military and police members who accompanied them in the journey. This attack by the students killed a soldier after being struck by a machete to his head.

Seeing the escalating situation, other police and military members immediately fought back by firing several shots which killed three students and injured 20.

“Their actions were legal under Perkap 1/2009 and Perkap 7/2009 in neutralizing students that are extremely anarchic,” said Brig. General Dedi.

ANDITA RAHMA