Dian Maharani, Jakarta – National police criminal investigation bureau chief Commissioner General Sutarman says that perpetrators of violence in West Papua could be charged under Law Number 15/2003 on Terrorism.

According to Sutarman, the national police will also not hesitate to use the articles under the law against armed perpetrators that cause loss of human life.

“If someone in Papua shoots an innocent person or migrant, or creates fear, we cannot rule out the possibility of using the articles on terrorism”, said Sutarman at the national police’s Bhayangkara Field in South Jakarta on Wednesday December 19.

In previous shooting incidents that have occurred in Papua, perpetrators have not been indicted under the Terrorism Law. Sutarman denied that the articles on terrorism had not been applied because of the existence of the Free Papua Organisation (OPM).

“It’s not because [of the OPM]. It is Indonesian territory. The law [will be applied] based on the articles that are violated and the evidence that we find. It is Indonesian territory, even though [West Papua] has special autonomy”, he explained.

Mysterious shootings have occurred frequently in the Land of the Cenderawasih (Bird of Paradise, West Papua). In the most recent incident, a sectoral police post in Pirime, Lany Jaya regency, was attacked and burnt down by an armed group on Tuesday November 27. Three police officers including sectoral police chief Ipda Rofli Takubesi were shot dead.

A shoot out also occurred on Wednesday November 27 between a group led by Papua police chief Inspector General Tito Karnavian and an armed group at the Indawa village located between the district of Makki, Jayawijaya regency and Tiom district, Lany Jaya regency.

[Pelaku Penyerangan di Papua Dapat Dikenakan UU Terorisme – Kompas.com. Rabu, 19 Desember 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]