Free Papua Movement denies involvement in shooting

15.7.09

Scoop:

Tuesday, 14 July 2009, 6:18 pm
Press Release: West Papua Media Alerts

Free Papua Movement denies involvement in shootings

Updated July 13, 2009 11:32:28

Some Papuan police sources are blaming the shootings on the Free Papua Movement, but one rebel representatives has denied involvement.

Papua Police say it is likely those involved used weapons belonging to the police or military. However, an Indonesian military spokesman says three rebels from the Free Papua Movement are being questioned about the shooting. They were detained in Yapen, 440 kilometres northwest of the scene.

Presenter: Sen Lam
Speakers: John Ondawame, tribal chief and exiled leader of the Free Papua Movement
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ONDAWAME: Not at all, OPM not involved in this attack as we recognise, we know that OPM have been involved in the earlier days 8th of July, in peaceful activities, raising the West Papua flag around the area. That happened in the two days before the killing of the Melbourne man, the Australian friend who was injured and killed.

LAM: But the OPM a few years ago were accused of, or were known to have staged these hit and run attacks on these American mines?

ONDAWAME: Not at all, it was said even if you go back to 2002 cases, says we can come clear that OPM is not involved in this attack.

LAM: This is the Tinika case you're talking about?

ONDAWAME: Yes, yes, it was a military, actually involved in attack and they blamed the OPM for the justification of their presence in the Freeport.

LAM: And yet John, three men were reportedly detained at Yapen helping local police there with investigations. Can you tell us who they are? They are apparently from the OPM?

ONDAWAME: They are member of the OPM, yes, that no doubt about, but these are far away from Tinika area. It is nothing [in] connection with them in Tinika area.

LAM: Well, this shooting comes just a few days off the burning of a Freeport bus, do you think the two evenets were linked?

ONDAWAME: There is that activities have been not linked at all, but separate activities from different organisations or factions within the FPM or member of the OPM, is that they would like to remind the world that what happened during the presidential election is not of benefit for the West Papuans. So it was common understanding that they should have, giving some international attention for their elections.

LAM: So do you think then that there might be some rogue elements of the Free Papua Movement, the OPM, that might be behind these attacks?

ONDAWAME: Which attack are you referred to?

LAM: The weekend attacks in Papua.

ONDAWAME: The killing of the innocent Australian man?

LAM: That's right, yes.

ONDAWAME: Not at all. Already said earlier said that OPM not involved in the attack of this man.

LAM: So are you saying then that the Indonesian military is blaming the OPM for something that it did not do?

ONDAWAME: Exactly, exactly, the same history repeat again when in the election 2002 case they blame the OPM to take the responsibility, but in fact the military of Indonesia was responsible for the killing. Now an innocent man, Anton Wamang, has to get back to prison, this is really wrong.