Five days after the deadly shooting of senior intelligence authorities Maj. Gen. I Gusti Putu Danny Karya Nugraha, the Indonesian government has actually stated armed Papuan criminal groups, also called “KKB”, as “terrorists”.
The choice was revealed by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, at an online press conference in Jakarta on Thursday.
In stating the armed groups as “terrorists”, the government has described the arrangements of Law Number 5 of 2018 on Amendments to Law Number 15 of 2003 on Stipulation of Government Laws in Lieu of Law Number 1 of 2002 on the Removal of Crook Acts of Terrorism.
The law defines terrorists as people who plan, initiate, and arrange terrorism, and terrorism as any act motivated by ideology, politics, or security that involves violence or threats of violence, creates a sense of fear or extensive worry, and causes mass casualties or damage or destruction to important strategic objects, the environment, and public or international centers.
” Now, based upon the definition specified in Law Number 5 of 2018, acts of the KKB and all the names of its companies and individuals affiliated with it belong to terrorism,” Mahfud announced.
The Indonesian federal government’s decision, which takes cognizance of a string of violent attacks on unarmed and innocent civilians by KKB members in districts such as Puncak and Intan Jaya over the previous few years, is justifiable.
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Over the previous couple of years, armed Papuan groups have actually typically used hit-and-run techniques versus Indonesian security personnel and mounted acts of horror against civilians in the districts of Intan Jaya, Nduga, and Puncak to impart worry amongst individuals.
The current targets of such acts of terror have consisted of building and construction employees, bike taxi (ojek) chauffeurs, instructors, trainees, street food suppliers, and even civilian airplane.
On December 2, 2018, a group of armed Papuan rebels completely eliminated 31 workers from PT Istaka Karya, who were engaged in the building and construction of the Trans Papua task in Kali Yigi and Kali Aurak in Yigi sub-district, Nduga district.
The very same day, the armed assaulters likewise eliminated a soldier, recognized as Handoko, and hurt two other security workers, Sugeng and Wahyu.
Such acts of violence have continued this year. On January 6, 2021, a minimum of 10 armed separatist terrorists vandalized and torched a Quest Kodiak airplane coming from Mission Air travel Fellowship (MAF) on the Pagamba village airstrip.
On February 8, 2021, a 32- year-old male was contended close range in Bilogai village, Sugapa sub-district.
The victim, identified by his initials as RNR, continual gunshot wounds on the face and right shoulder and was required to the Timika Public Health center in Mimika district on February 9.
In a separate incident on February 9, six armed Papuans fatally stabbed a motorbike taxi (ojek) motorist.
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On April 8, 2021, a number of armed Papuan rebels opened fire at a kiosk in Julukoma town, Beoga sub-district, Puncak district.
The shooting led to the death of a Beoga public primary school teacher, identified as Oktovianus Rayo.
After killing Rayo, the armed enemies torched 3 classrooms at the Beoga public senior high school.
On April 9, 2021, armed separatists reportedly fatally shot another teacher, Yonatan Randen, on the chest.
2 days later, 9 classrooms at the Beoga public junior high were fired by an armed group.
And hardly four days later, Ali Mom, a trainee of the Ilaga public senior high school in Beoga sub-district, was extremely killed by armed attackers.
On April 25, 2021, Papuan separatists operating in Beoga assailed State Intelligence Company (Papua) chief Nugraha and numerous security personnel while they were going to Dambet town.
Following Nugraha’s deadly shooting, President Joko Widodo has ordered the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) and the National Cops to hound and jail all members of armed separatist and terrorist groups running in Papua, stating there is no location for them within Indonesian territory.
Associated news: President orders military, cops to hound all armed Papuan groups
All separatist terrorist groups should be rooted out from the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua as they present a major security risk, deputy head of Commission III Overseeing Legal Affairs of the House of Representatives (DPR), Ahmad Sahroni, concurred.
Nevertheless, while carrying out police operations versus the armed groups, security personnel must appreciate human rights, he included.
” The well-known armed Papuan separatist terrorists should be rooted out however, in crushing them, do not abuse human rights since human rights violations can harm Indonesia’s track record,” Sahroni cautioned.
The TNI and National Cops can conduct police operations versus Papuan separatist terrorists throughout Papua and West Papua, however they need to observe human rights guidelines, he restated.
Following Nugraha’s death on April 25, 2021, a joint team of army and authorities personnel from the Nemangkawi Task Force have actually heightened law enforcement operations against separatist terrorists in Puncak district.
On April 27, 2021, nine Papuan separatist terrorists were killed in a shootout near their Olenski hideout in Makki town, Ilaga Utara sub-district.
The existence of armed Papuan groups is recognized by the Free Papua Motion (OPM) as part of its National Freedom Army of West Papua (TPNPB), an armed wing established to combat versus Indonesia for attaining its political goals.
The OPM-TPNPB has actually repeatedly declared responsibility for deadly shootings of unarmed civilians and security workers in different parts of Papua and West Papua provinces.
OPM-TPNPB representative Sebby Sambon has actually declared his company was accountable for Nugraha’s killing, according to a CNN Indonesia report.
Sambom’s claim has stimulated the Indonesian government to brand the OPM-TPNPB and its affiliates as terrorists. (INE)
Associated news: Armed criminal groups in Papua classified as terrorists: Federal government
EDITED BY INE
