Papuan Church Leaders to Meet Military Commander over Shooting of Pastor

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Leaders of the Indonesian Evangelical Christian Church (GKII) in Papua planned to meet the Cenderawasih Military Commander on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, over the shooting of priest Yeremia Zanambani that was allegedly committed by the military personnel in Hitadipa, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua.

“Leaders will meet the regional military command tomorrow (Sept. 22). We will report our findings in the field,” said the GKII chairman Daniel Ronda to Tempo on Monday, September 21.

Daniel said the GKII received information from witnesses regarding the fatal shooting that the pastor was allegedly shot by the military personnel who were carrying out operations in the Hitadipa district.

The incident, he added, occurred on Saturday, September 19, when the pastor was on the way to his pig pen 300 meters from his house. At that time, the district had been quiet because of the military operation.

According to Daniel, the TNI carried out the military operation after an officer was reportedly shot and had his gun confiscated the day before. The Cenderawasih Military Command spokesperson Lit. Col. Reza Nur Patria claimed in a statement that his member was shot by the criminal armed group (KKSB).

The GKII then urged the TNI to investigate the incident transparently. Daniel said the authorities and the government must fight for the people of Hitadipa who were hiding due to fear of returning to their village.

The TNI spokesperson for the Joint Regional Defense Command III in Papua, Col. Suriastawa, said pastor Yeremia was shot dead by the separatist group who spread a slander that the military committed the shooting.

“They are looking for a moment to steal an attention at the UN General Assembly that will be held at the end of this month," Suriastawa said in a written statement on Sunday, September 20, 2020.

Read also: Pastor Zanambani Gunned Down by Armed Papuan Criminal: TNI

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