Police Question Seven Witness on OPM Attacks

Jakarta - Police are questioning seven witnesses with regard to the attack by Papua separatists against police in Tanjakan Gunung Merah, Nafri, Abepura, Papua, on Friday. "We have examined seven witnesses who are residents around the location," National Police Spokesman Insp Gen Anton Bachrul Alam said here on Tuesday. He said that the number of witnesses who were questioned was likely to increase. "We are also sending a team of investigation from the Police Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim). We are not yet informed of the perpetrators," he said. Recounting the chronology of the incident, Anton said the incident happened at 7.20 local time when about 16 OPM members, five of whom carried riffles, came to a Papua TV tower construction site. "Brandishing a long-barrel fire arm, one of them approached construction workers Andi Laupe and Benediktus Brian and asked them to stop working," Anton said. The workers soon afterward reported to two police officers on duty at the Paniai district head's house, namely First Brigadier Solihin and Second Brigadier Kristianto. "Upon receiving the report, Solihin contacted the Paniai Police Resort chief who ordered a number of Paniai Mobile Brigade (Brimob) members to visit the scene," Anton said.