Jayapura, Jubi – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) rejected police allegations that a student who pointed a gun at an officer was a KNPB supporter.
The Police arrested the 20-year-old man for allegedly threatening Second Police Brigadier Ritonga with a gun in Sentani on Monday (1/2/2016).
“What is the evidence if he is KNPB partisan? We are not a criminal organization. Rather offending KNPB, the Police better to cover the violence cases. We all knew there are many cases of violence against Papuans that have not yet revealed by the police investigators,” the KNPB General Secretary, Ones Suhuniap said on Tuesday (9/2/2016).
He added it is clear those who have guns in the town are only the Police or Military personnel.
“Accusing without giving evidence is only reflecting the Police’s inability to reveal the roots of conflict and violence in Papua. I think it is connected with the attempt to criminalize the peace struggle of Papuan people, including to categorize this struggle into the act of terrorism,” said Suhuniap.
Earlier, Papua Police Spokesperson, Senior Police Commissionaire Patridge Renwarin told Antara News Agency the armed robbery was occurred when Ritonga slipped from his motorcycle at right behind the car carrying SL.
SL came out of the car and pointed his gun to Ritonga who’s officer of Jayapura Police, then ran away. The Police chased him and arrested him at Sentani Airport surrounding area. To reporters, Renwarin explained the interim investigation reported SL is KNPB partisan and now is still under further investigation to determine the origin of the gun. “The type of FN gun of perpetrator had three bullets,” added Renwarin. (Victor Mambor/rom)
