Jakarta (ANTARA News) - National Police Chief Gen. Timor Pradopo said police were now hunting the perpetrators of the shooting of police officers during the observation of the OPM (Free Papua Organization)`s anniversary on December 1.

"In connection with a number of incidents in Papua in which police were attacked, we are now hunting the perpetrators," the Police chief said in a joint press conference with Chief Political, Legal and Security Minister Djoko Suyanto and Head of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) Marciano Norman here on Thursday.

Timur said that in a series of OPM activities on Thursday, a number of incidents took place where several police personnel were injured.

At 1.0 am Eastern Indonesia Time (WIT), First Brigadier Ridwan suffered a serious injury in an incident after he and a colleague of him headed to a location where according to residents` report the separatist OPM`s Morning Star flag was raised.

Before arriving in the location, both of them were ambushed by 15 men. Ridwan suffered a serious injury and was now admitted to the Jayapura hospital.

And then, he said, at 1.00 pm WIT in Timika, about 4,000 people held a rally where one of them raised the morning star flag. After persuasive approaches were made, the police arrested four of them with a star flag as evidence.

"The other incident took place at the end of the Wamena airport, Jayawijaya at 1.20 pm WIT where they also held a rally, and we also made arrests with the same flag as evidence," Timor Pradopo said.

He said that in general, the security situation in Papua remained guaranteed and under control. "Residents continue to do their daily activities," he added.
(Uu.A014/HAJM/H-YH)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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