Jayapura, Papua – Indonesia’s military and cops personnel will react to an open warfare if ever challenged by the armed Papuan criminal groups as long as innocent civilians are not associated with it, a top policeman specified.
” The TNI and National Authorities are all set (for the obstacle) however can the ‘KKB’ (armed criminal groups) be guaranteed to not get civilians associated with it (the war)?” Papua Authorities Chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw specified here on Monday.
Waterpauw made the declaration in response to ANTARA’s question on a difficulty of engaging in an open warfare with the Indonesian security workers as ever stated by several armed Papuan criminals in Nduga District, Papua Province.
ANTARA kept in mind that several armed members of the Free Papua Organization (OPM) challenged the Indonesian security workers to participate in an open warfare in Nduga District on a video uploaded on a YouTube channel in November 2020.
Waterpauw stressed that if the notorious armed lawbreakers could ensure to not involve innocent civilians in battles, the military and police officers would crackdown on them in a strong and quantifiable manner.
Waterpauw revealed his deep condolences over the demise of a soldier from the 400/ BR Infantry Battalion in a gunfight with numerous armed lawbreakers in Mamba Town, Sugapa Sub-district, Intan Jaya District, on Monday morning.
” We deeply condole the passing away of Private-2 Ginanjar in the gunfight, and we continue to carefully deal with the XVII Cenderawasih Regional Armed force Command and job forces to support the cops’s law enforcement-related duties,” he said.
Ginanjar’s casket was transported to Timika, the capital of Mimika District, Papua Province, to be sent to his home town for burial, he revealed.
The Indonesian province of Papua has borne witness to a persistent cycle of violence, with armed Papuan groups in the districts of Intan Jaya, Nduga, and Puncak targeting civilians and security personnel over the past two years.
In dealing with the Indonesian security personnel, the armed wrongdoers often perform hit-and-run strategies, while in developing public fear, they project acts of fear against civilians.
On February 9, 2021, a motorcycle taxi (ojek) driver was stabbed to death by six armed Papuans.
The 40- year-old chauffeur, identified as Rusman HR alias Aco, was reportedly stabbed on a street near Ilambet Town in Ilaga Sub-district, Puncak District.
The chauffeur sustained serious stab injuries on the back and died of exsanguination while trying to escape his assailants, according to the regional police.
On Feb 8, an armed rebel likewise shot a 32- year-old male at close range in Bilogai Village in Sugapa Sub-district, Puncak 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 Feb 9.
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Associated news: Six-member group kills Ojek chauffeur in Ilaga: Papua authorities
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