Indonesia probes shooting of workers

WAMENA, Indonesia — Indonesia is investigating reports that 31 construction workers were shot dead by separatist rebels in restive Papua province, the public works minister said on Tuesday, as he halted construction in the area.

Later on Tuesday, officials said that an Indonesian soldier was killed during the investigation.

If confirmed, the killings would mark the deadliest bout of violence in years to hit the far-flung region.

Citing local police, Indonesian media reported late on Monday that the workers were shot dead on Sunday in Nduga, a district in the center of the region on the western half of New Guinea island, just north of Australia.

Police and military teams were sent to the area on Monday when they came under rebel gunfire with one soldier killed and another wounded in the firefight, authorities said.

The employees of state-owned contractor Istaka Karya were building bridges and roads as part of efforts to boost infrastructure in the impoverished region.

All construction work in the area would be temporarily suspended, the public works ministry said.

More than a dozen coffins were being readied in Wamena, the nearest major town to where the alleged killings happened.

“Some media are saying 31 workers are dead, some 24, so we really need to check ourselves,” said Papua military spokesman Muhammad Aidi.

A team of about 150 personnel would delay its operation until Wednesday morning, fearing a confrontation with rebels at night, the military said later on Tuesday.

“We think they’ll be expecting us,” local military chief Jonathan Binsar Sianipar said.

“This (the ambush) has a relation with the previous killing against road construction workers, perpetrated by Civilian Criminal Armed Band (or KKSB),” local media quoted Deputy Commander of Cendrawasih Military Command Dax Sianturi as saying on Tuesday.

Responding to the latest development in Papua, Indonesian President Joko Widodo stressed that efforts to develop the economy in the province must continue despite the challenging situation.

“We know that the process will be hard due to the extreme geographical condition and the security issue. Development in Papua must be expanded and carried on. It should not be stopped because of such an incident,” the president said.

The Trans Papua road project spans Papua’s northern city of Sorong to the easternmost city of Merauke and is expected to be completed next year.