Four dead in shootings in Aceh, Papua

Hotli Simanjuntak and Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh/Jayapura | Fri, 05/18/2012 8:38 AM

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A series of fatal shooting incidents have hit Aceh and Papua over the last several days, leading to the deaths of four people — two in Aceh and two in Papua, as well as leaving several others injured.

The Aceh Party urged the Banda Aceh Police on Thursday to thoroughly investigate and apprehend the perpetrators of the shooting in Bireuen, North Aceh, on Tuesday evening, which left two people dead, including Syukri Abdullah, 35, also known as Gamkuek, the party’s secretary for Lhokseumawe.

Gamkuek, was shot dead along with Cut Yetti, 40, when they were driving home in a Honda CRV from Banda Aceh. A boy named M. Yasir, 15, who was also in the car, was slightly injured and will be questioned by the police as a witness in the case.

As Gamkeuk’s car passed through Paya Rangkulueh, Bireuen at around 8 p.m., it was shot at from another vehicle. Gamkuek’s car then overturned into a ditch.

“We ask and have high hopes that the police will be able to arrest the perpetrators. And we are convinced the police will act professionally to solve the case,” the party’s spokesman, Fachrul Razi, said.

The Aceh Party itself had no idea as to the motive behind the shooting. It expressed concern over the incident, which took the lives of innocent people, Fachrul said, adding that he did not want to speculate and trusted the police’s investigation. “Hopefully, the case can be solved as soon as possible as the victim’s relatives are eager to know the motive,” he said.

Fachrul urged the public not to connect the shooting with any political problems in Aceh following the recent gubernatorial election.

The Aceh Police said they were thoroughly investigating the case. “Let’s await developments. We’re compiling evidence and hope that the case can be settled soon,” Aceh Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Gustav Leo said.

Meanwhile, in Mulia, the capital of Puncak Jaya regency in Papua, a motorcycle taxi driver named Arkilaus Refwutu, 48, was shot dead on Thursday by an unidentified group of people at Yalinggua subdistrict.

Puncak Jaya Police chief Adj. Comr. Marselis said in Mulia that the victim had died at the scene. “The victim sustained gunshot wounds to his head,” Marselis said, adding that neither the motive nor the perpetrators behind the attack were known to the police.

Despite at least five people being killed in shooting incidents by unknown groups in Mulia so far this year, not a single case has yet been solved.

In an unrelated incident, Melianus Kegepe, was shot dead by a member of the Papua Police’s Mobile Brigade (Brimob) at Location 45 in Nomowodide Distriogobaida village in Paniai regency in Papua on Tuesday evening.

The shooting occurred when Melianus and four of his friends were involved in an altercation at a billiard lounge. Despite there being a queue of patrons waiting their turn to play, the five apparently forcibly took over a table. As they continued insisting on playing, the lounge-owner’s wife reported the incident to the nearby Brimob post.

Three Brimob members went to the lounge and ordered the five friends not to cause a commotion.

Instead of abiding by this order, however, the group allegedly attacked First Brig. Ferianto Papa, one of the three Brimob officers, with a billiard cue knocking him to the ground, Paniai Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Anton Diance said.

“When Melianus attempted to seize Ferianto’s rifle, First Brig. Edi shot him and when Melianus’ friend Lukas [Kegepe] tried to attack Edi with a knife, Edi shot him, too,” Anton said.

“Melianus died at 1 a.m. the following day,” Anton said, adding that of Melianus’ three other companions, Amos Kegepe was shot in both feet, Alpius Kegepe in his right hand and Markus in the chest.

Paniai Customary Community Institute chairman John Gobay demanded an investigation into the incident as, according to him, whether or not the five men actually tried to seize weapons from the Brimob officers was a matter of dispute.

“They just wanted to play billiards, but when their rowdiness was reported to the Brimob post, the officers came and then the shooting started,” he said.