26 Nov 2020

Young Papuans killed in attacks in Puncak Jaya

8:27 pm on 26 November 2020
Indonesian security forces in a Highlands  village as they pursue independence fighters in West Papua's Puncak Jaya regency.

Photo: Supplied

Reports from Indonesian's Papua region say a West Papuan teenager was shot dead in a mystery attack in the central highlands.

Another male student who was with the victim was also shot in last Friday's attack but survived and later found help to reach a medical clinic.

According to the Indonesian state Antara news agency the pair shot in Ilaga sub-district of the Puncak Jaya regency were both 16 years old.

It reports the Puncak police chief, Decky Saragih, saying unidentified armed attackers shot the two students.

But according to Tabloid Jubi, another fatal shooting attack took place later that day in the same region, with three Papauns reported to have been killed.

It said ground witness reports identified assailants in the uniform of Indonesian paramilitary forces.

The Puncak Regency government has been urged by the victims' families to allow the bodies to be retrieved.