Indonesia boosts alertness in Papua after series of killing

Indonesian armed force has increased alertness in Papua and pursued the perpetrators of shooting and strikes that killed the local police chief more than ten civilians recently, minister said here on Tuesday. Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security Djoko Suyanto said that scores of people had been arrested and some of whom were being interrogated for investigation. "There is no a raise of security status, but the alertness (in Papua)," said Suyanto at the State Palace. A local police chief was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on Monday in Puncak Jaya of Papua and four employees of PT Freeport Indonesia have been shot by the gunmen while scores others got wounded after hit by bullets within weeks ago in Timika of Papua, local police and the firm official have said. "The fact that they (the perpetrators) dared to engage on a stealing (of weapons) and shooting of a local police. This mean that in every parts of Papua must be raised their alertness," said Suyanto. Seven other dead bodies had been found in Jayapura of Papua following the violence between the member of the third Papua Congress for independence and armed forces last week, most of them were killed by stabbings, but, it was not known yet who were the perpetrators, Ridha Saleh member of the Human Rights Commission has said. Nevertheless, the minister said that there had been a plan to send more troops to Papua. Papua in eastern parts of Indonesia has been long homed by the low-level armed separatist Free Papua Movement, which has often targeted civilians, Indonesian armed forces and mining firm of PT Freeport Indonesia, killing tens of people and wounding dozen others. The Indonesian government has allocated more funds for Papua in order to be able to decrease development gap with other areas in the country. The separatist movement has regularly conducted movement every year, including raising their controversial flag, low level diplomacy at the international fora and launching the strikes.