I insist there is no deployment at all of additional police officers from TimikaTimika, Papua (ANTARA) - A high-ranking police officer confirmed no additional policemen were deployed from Mimika to Intan Jaya to bolster efforts to crack down on armed Papuan criminals behind a string of attacks over the past few weeks.
"I insist there is no deployment at all of additional police officers from Timika," Mimika Police Chief Adjunct Sen. Coms. IGG Era Adhinata notified local journalists in Timika, the capital of Mimika District, Papua Province, on Thursday.
Adhinata remarked that several armed criminal groups that had operated in the Tembagapura Sub-district area in Mimika District returned to their areas of origin in the districts of Intan Jaya, Puncak, and Puncak Jaya.
"The armed criminal groups from Ilaga in Puncak District have moved from Tembagapura. Of course, they pass by the areas of Intan Jaya District, including the Yambi group, which is led by the Lekagak Telenggen and Murib military group," he remarked.
The armed criminals, led by Sabinus Waker, had also moved from Tembagapura Sub-district to the areas of Intan Jaya District. Currently, those still operating in the Tembagapura Sub-district areas might be the group of Kali Kopi or Timika, led by Joni Botak, he revealed.
Escalating acts of deadly violence took place in Sugapa, the capital of Intan Jaya District, over the past few weeks, claiming four lives.
On Wednesday (Sept 23), several armed criminals exchanged fire with security personnel near the Intan Jaya district head's office building and Sugapa market, though no fatalities were reported in the gunfight.
According to Commander of the 1705 Paniai District Military Command Lt Col Benny Wahyudi, the armed criminals firstly opened fire in downtown Supaga to de-stabilize the security situation, to which the army personnel responded promptly.
Papua Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw stated earlier that five armed criminal groups that earlier operated in Tembagapura Sub-district's areas had stayed in the Hitadipa Sub-district areas in Intan Jaya District.
"They usually use the local people as their human shields," he pointed out.
September was the bloodiest month in Intan Jaya District this year, with armed criminals mounting a spate of attacks that left two soldiers and two civilians dead while inflicted injuries on two others.
On September 19, 2020, an Indonesian soldier died in a gunfight with several armed Papuan criminals near the Persiapan Hipadipa Military Sub-district Command's compound in the district.
The fallen hero was identified as First Private Dwi Akbar Utomo, XVII Cenderawasih Regional Military Command spokesperson, Lt. Col. Reza Nur Patria, noted.
On the same day, armed separatists also reportedly gunned down Priest Yeremia Zanambani in Hitadipa Village, Hitadipa Sub-district.
The priest died of gunshot wounds after he was shot by armed criminals on September 19, 2020, Joint Regional Defense Command (Kogabwilhan) III spokesperson, Col. IGN Suriastawa, noted in a recent statement.
On September 17, 2020, another soldier, Chief Sergeant Sahlan, was reportedly killed in an ambush laid by a group of armed criminals.
In a separate incident on September 17, 2020, armed Papuan rebels reportedly tortured and killed a 49-year-old Ojek motorcycle taxi driver, identified as Badawi.
In another incident on September 13, 2020, armed separatists opened fire at two Ojek drivers in Sugapa area, but they managed to survive the attack.
The two drivers are currently undergoing treatment in Timika, the capital of Mimika District, Setiawan stated.
Related news: Five armed Papuan criminal groups active in Hipadipa subdistrict
Related news: Acts of terror leave bloody trail in Papua EDITED BY INE
Translator: Evarianus S, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
