Shots Fired at Susi Air Plane in Papua's Puncak Jaya District
Jakarta. A light aircraft operated by Susi Air was forced to make an emergency landing at Kota Mulia Airport in Puncak Jaya district, Papua, on Friday morning (17/06) after an unidentified group opened fire, hitting one of its tires and the fuselage.
Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar confirmed reports that the plane was carrying police officers and election organizers from Lumo subdistrict.
"However, the plane was able to land safely in Mulia subdistrict," Boy said in the provincial capital, Jayapura, on Friday, as quoted by Beritasatu.com.
He added that a similar incident occurred previously with an aircraft transporting soldiers to Mulanikime subdistrict.
"There were no casualties in the [latest] incident," Boy said.
A re-vote is scheduled to take place at 72 voting stations in Puncak Jaya's Dagai, Lumo, Yamoneri, Mulanikime, Ilamburawi and Yambi subdistricts, involving 31,240 voters.
Papua Police spokesman Comr. A. M. Kamal said they do not yet know who was responsible for the shooting.
"The group fired on the plane while it was on its way to deliver voting materials, striking the aircraft's tire and the rear of the fuselage," Kamal said, as quoted by Beritasatu.com.
He said a second flight scheduled to transport voting materials to the area was canceled following the incident.
Meanwhile, three police officers had to receive medical treatment after they were struck by arrows during a clash between supporters of rival candidates participating in the local election in Puncak Jaya. The incident took place during voting in Yamoneri subdistrict on Thursday morning.
The clash broke out after supporters of one of the candidates claimed that he had won the election by 8,827 votes. This prompted supporters of the rival candidate to attack them with stones and arrows.
"The police chief and the General Elections Commission [KPU] were able to restore calm, but clashes are inevitable," Kamal said.
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