Jakarta – The Indonesian cops on Thursday stated Rufinus Tigau, who was killed in a weapon fight with security personnel on October 26, 2020, had reportedly signed up with an infamous armed group based in Intan Jaya district, Papua province a year back.
” Rufinus Tigau is an armed criminal group’s member. His group has actually ended up being a primary target of a joint group of Indonesian Military (TNI) and Police workers,” National Authorities representative, Brig.Gen. Awi Setiyono, informed journalists here on Thursday.
The Nemangkawi Task Force targeted the armed Papuan criminal group because its members, including Rufinus Tigau, who reportedly joined the group a year back, had actually repeatedly bothered homeowners of Jalai town in Sugapa subdistrict, Intan Jaya district, he stated.
” These armed wrongdoers even robbed the villagers’ properties and did not think twice to eliminate them,” he said adding, according to Tigau’s step-father Antonius Abugau, Tigau matured in a pious Catholic household.
He, however, changed considerably after signing up with the armed criminal group, Abugau informed Nemangkawi Job Force’s detectives, who interviewed him just recently, Setiyono stated.
” Based on Abugau’s statement, his step-son looked altered after joining the armed criminal group. His group had consistently robbed locals’ residential or commercial properties, threatened local youths, and even eliminated a tribal leader last August,” he notified.
Related news: Reality excitedly awaited behind Intan Jaya’s current fatal shootings
Related news: Intan Jaya probe: Minister to share findings on Oct 19
The tribal leader was reportedly killed for trying to safeguard ‘mama-mama’ (Papuan females) merchants at a regional standard market from the criminal group’s oppressions, Abugau informed task force personnel, Setiyono stated.
Rufinus Tigau’s step-brother, Juius Abugau, told the task force’s investigators that he had concerned terms with his elder step-brother’s death, Setiyono added.
The cycle of violence in the Indonesian province of Papua has stayed unbroken with armed groups in the Intan Jaya and Nduga districts continuing to target civilians and security personnel over the previous two months.
Intan Jaya district recorded its bloodiest month in September this year, with armed groups mounting a string of attacks in the area, which left 2 soldiers and 2 civilians dead and two others injured.
The infamous armed groups in the Indonesian province have actually continued their acts of terror in October.
On October 9, 2020, for instance, an armed group assailed a joint fact-finding group (TGPF) set up by the government to penetrate a recent shooting in Mamba village, Sugapa subdistrict.
The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) verified it lagged the attack on the members of the TGPF. One of the fact-finding group’s members and a soldier were injured in the attack.
The TGPF member– Gadjah Mada University (UGM) speaker Bambang Purwoko– was shot in the leg, while TNI soldier Very first Sgt Faisal Akbar of the Hitadipa Task Force sustained injuries on his waist.
According to the records of the Papua authorities headquarters, over the previous nine months, armed groups operating in Intan Jaya have actually been involved in 17 cases of violence versus civilians and security personnel.
The increasing acts of deadly violence have cost six individuals, including TNI personnel, their lives, Papua police chief, Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw, exposed recently.
Armed bad guys have actually not only targeted civilians and security personnel, however likewise set ablaze a number of excavators and kiosks.
In the past, armed groups used to cross Intan Jaya’s areas en path to several mountainous areas, consisting of those in Tembagapura sub-district, Mimika district. However, at present, they have made the district their base.
Waterpauw exposed that six armed groups are presently active in Intan Jaya’s locations, consisting of Hipadipa sub-district. They are led by Sebinus Waker and apparently possess 17 rifles.
They supposedly took the weapons throughout raids versus TNI and police workers, including a Steyr rifle, which they had grabbed in 2015, he stated.
Related news: Freeport security officer deals with trial for armed group involvement
Associated news: Joint team warded off gun sell Papua’s Nabire: Cops
