Police Reveal Struggle in Investigating the Death of Papuan Pastor
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2 October 2020 14:00 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Papua Police Chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw on Friday said that the joint investigation team from National Armed Forces (TNI) and Police are currently digging into the death of pastor Yeremia Zanambani who was killed in a shooting incident at the Intan Jaya district.
“Investigators continue to gather eyewitness testimony and other pieces of evidence,” said officer Paulus to Tempo on October 2.
However, the police inspector general revealed that the team had met difficulties in investigating the case as the crime scene is located in a remote area.
"It is located in a black zone where nobody can easily pass through, but we will continue [to hunt the perpetrator]," he assured.
Based on the reports from the leader of the Kemah Injil Church and Papuan media, pastor Yeremia was believed to have been shot by a TNI squad in a military operation on Saturday, September 19. At the time, they said, Yeremia was heading to his pigsty.
Due to this, up to eight local Churches have been abandoned by congregates who are shaken by the incident and have reportedly fled to the woods.
However, this testimony was refuted by the national police and they claimed that there were no TNI - Police activities in the region at the time of the incident.
Read: Mahfud MD: Papua as Part of Indonesia is Non-negotiable
ANDITA RAHMA
