May our men be able to capture SS as soon as possible to expose the motives behind their violent crimes
Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - Papua Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw confirmed that a National Committee of West Papua (KNPB) member, involved in several deadly crimes, was arrested in Dekai Sub-district, Yahukimo District, Papua Province, on Wednesday.

"The suspect, only identified by his initials as KY, is currently held in custody at the Yahukimo police precinct," he notified local journalists in Jayapura, the capital of Papua Province, on Thursday.

The local police investigators alleged KY of involvement in a string of violent crimes, including an assault on Indonesian police personnel and setting ablaze an automatic teller machine facility, Waterpauw remarked.

In August 2020, KY, along with his gang members, committed crimes that resulted in the deaths of three civilians, he stated, adding that SS, another suspect, remains at large.

"May our men be able to capture SS as soon as possible to expose the motives behind their violent crimes," he noted.

In August 2020, three innocent civilians were assaulted and killed in Yahukimo District, with the most recent murder being committed on Aug 26 that resulted in the death of Yausan, Papua Police’s spokesman, Sen. Coms. A. M. Kamal, stated

Yausan, who boarded a pickup truck loaded with batako bricks along with two other residents, was assaulted by a group of local residents armed with spears, machetes, and logs on Aug 26 at around 4:10 p.m. local time.

The 31-year-old victim was seated at the back of the open L-300 pickup truck to secure the loaded batako bricks, while a woman, who had purchased the bricks, and a man named Bayu sat in the car's cabin in front.

A fortnight ago, two other civilians murdered were identified as a member of Yahukimo District's General Elections Commission (KPU) Office and a carpenter, Kamal revealed in his recent statement.

They were attacked when the pickup truck passed by the bridge at Gunung Street in Kedai Sub-district's neighborhood. Yausan died during the assault, and his body was sent to the Dekai Public Hospital for a post-mortem examination, he remarked.

Several personnel of a joint team from local law enforcement agencies tracked down the armed attackers shortly after receiving a report on the deadly assault on the three innocent civilians.

During the chase, the culprits attacked the security personnel with spears. However, they were saved from the attacks. Nonetheless, local police officers managed to successfully arrest two of the notorious attackers, he revealed.

The security situation in Papua remains volatile owing to the province’s susceptibility to acts of deadly violence by notorious Papuan separatists.

The rebels were engaged in frequent 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 during the period 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.


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Translator: Evarukdijati, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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