Indonesia police and military brass are reportedly distancing themselves from blame for the shooting of the five young West Papuan civilians in the highlands region of Paniai.
This handout photo taken on December 8, 2014 and released by Indonesian Human Rights Watch shows residents tending to victims after a shooting in Enarotali, Paniai Regency in Indonesia's Papua province. Photo: AFP Indonesian Human Rights Watch
Four men were killed and over a dozen injured when security forces, both police and military, allegedly opened fire on a crowd on Monday that was protesting at the Karel Gobai field located near the Paniai District Military Command.
A fifth man died from the bullet injuries a few hours later in hospital.
The Age online reports that Jakarta-based leaders of both the army and police are denying responsibility for the shooting.
The national police chief Sutarman said on Wednesday it was not the police.
A Jakarta-based military counterpart, army chief of staff Gatot Nurmantyo, speculated that, instead of being fired by the armed soldiers and police officers in front of the protesting crowd, the fatal shots came from the top of a hill behind them.
He said he had heard from from the Papuan police and military that shots were coming from the top of the hill.
Mr Nurmantyo said he was certain there were no members of the military or the police on the hill.
Meanwhile, an investigation has been launched and will be run by a team headed by the Detective Head of the Papuan police, senior commissioner Dwi Iriyanto.