Police opens four different cases in Tolikara incident

From Antara News, Selasa, 21 Juli 2015


Jayapura - Papua Police Command has opened four different cases in connection with the Tolikara incident that occurred in Karubaga district, Tolikara, Papua, on Friday morning, July 17, Head Public Relations Papua Police Senior Commissioner Patrige stated.

The four cases were related to alleged incitement, assault, arson, and the misuse of firearms by security officers on duty when the incident occurred, Patrige stated here on Tuesday.

"Until now, we have investigated 31 witnesses, 22 of which are civilians, and nine are the witnesses from the police," he remarked.

Former chief of Merauke Police Resort Station later revealed that Papua Polices investigators will continue to collect evidence and statements from the five other witnesses in connection with the Tolikara incident in four separate cases.

Patrige noted that the police will continue its investigations and has appealed to all parties to exercise restraint and cooperate with the police to ensure that the investigation process runs smoothly.

Meanwhile, Pater Neles Tebay, a public figure in Papua who is also the coordinator of the Papua Peace Network (JDP), assessed that the response to the issue of intolerance in Karubaga, Tolikara, Papua, proves that all empathize and are sentient to the religious life in Papua.

"The Tolikara incident has triggered several reactions and responses from across the nation. It all shows the publics sympathy and attention, and in this regard, I hope that the attention would help prevent such unfavorable incidents from recurring in future and would encourage peace," Tebay urged.

Tebay, who is the chairman of Jayapuras Fajar Timur School of Philosophy and Theology (STFT), commended the various responses being widely circulated through news and social media, as it shows increasing concern for the religious life in the land of Papua.

In order to prevent the recurrence of unfavorable incidents, he hoped that all Indonesians will pray for the peace and safety of the people in Tolikara and throughout Papua.

"Do not forget to pray for peace for all people in Tolikara and Papua," he added



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