I work and coordinate with the commander of the Mimika District Military and district administration to find ways to serve our community members coming from Tembagapura to TimikaTimika, Papua (ANTARA) - Several shootings by armed Papuan criminals broke out outside the areas of the mining sites of PT Freeport Indonesia, Tembagapura Sub-district, though the gold and copper mining firm’s operations continued unhindered, a police officer revealed.
"This mining company's operations continue to run normally," Mimika Police Chief Adjunct Sen. Coms. I Gusti Gede Era Adhinata informed journalists here on Wednesday.
Existing security units have further secured the Tembagapura District’s areas. He noted that they continued to coordinate with one another, adding that the gold and copper mining firm's areas are safeguarded by personnel of the Amole Task Force.
The police in Mimika District, Papua Province, also support the law enforcement units' endeavors to stop the armed Papuans from disrupting PT Freeport Indonesia's mining activities, he explained.
"I work and coordinate with the commander of the Mimika District Military and district administration to find ways to serve our community members coming from Tembagapura to Timika," he stated.
The armed Papuan criminals' shootings often erupted in the area of Utikini Village. On March 15, 2020, an exchange of fire broke out between the Indonesian military and police personnel and armed Papuan criminals in the Wini area of Tembagapura District.
The gunfight, which ended with the deaths of four armed separatists and gunshot wounds to two others, occurred in an area detected to be the hideout of an armed Papuan group, led by Seltius Waker, he revealed.
The security situation in Papua remains vulnerable to acts of deadly violence committed by notorious Papuan separatists.
The rebels were engaged in repeated exchanges of fire with the Indonesian military and police personnel. The rebels also launched deadly attacks on civilians over the past years and killed several of them.
The Papua Police recorded that from early January to December 28, 2019, a total of 23 shooting and criminal cases involving armed Papuan groups had claimed the lives of 10 members of the Indonesian police and military as well as 10 civilians.
The armed Papuan criminals committed such criminal acts in the administrative areas of the districts of Puncak Jaya, Jayawijaya, Mimika, and Paniai in 2019, Papua Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw remarked on December 28, 2019. Related news: 800 villagers evacuated to Timika City to evade rebels' terror
Related news: Minister urges TNI, Police to bolster security in Papua
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Evarianus S, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
