Army Chief Accuses Free Papua Organization of Shootings

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Indonesian Army chief of staff Pramono Edhie Wibowo, has accused the Free Papua Organization of shooting the Indonesian Armys MI-17 helicopter MI-17 at Tingginambut, Puncak Jaya, Papua. The helicopter was shot when evacuating wounded soldiers, Pramono said after visiting the casualties at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital in Jakarta yesterday.The shooting happened on Wednesday. So far, no one has admitted responsibility for the incident. Pramono said the helicopter was evacuating soldier Fana Suhandi to Wamena. He was shot in the hand during duty the day before. The helicopter was piloted by Maj. Capt. Kadek and Copilot Lt. Fandi and shot when it was flying low due to dark clouds.Fana Suhandi was shot on the back. The bullet went through his heart, killing him instantly. Shots also hit the wheels and body of the helicopter. There were no other casualties. The helicopter maintained flight and Fana was buried in Papua, said Pramono. Cenderawasih Military Command chief Maj. Gen. Erfi Triassunu, said his personnel had been instructed to pursue the perpetrators. The group consisting of 10 15 people often caused disorder in Tingginambut, he said. He said the shooting happened because the armed separatist group felt cornered by the police.The group does not want to join the Indonesian Republic. They hoist the Bintang Kejora flag instead of the Red and White flag, Erfi told Tempo yesterday.After the shooting incident, he added, no more soldiers had been deployed in Puncak Jaya. There are currently 2,000 personnel assigned there to help the local people in four sub districts.Army Commander Admiral Agus Suhartono said that many guns had been stolen by the group and were used to attack the soldiers. ALWAN RIDHA | KARTIKA CANDRA | CUNDING LEVI | EKO ARI WIBOWO