The violent acts of the armed Papuan criminals are brutal
Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - Several residents taking refuge at a military post in Beoga Sub-district, Puncak District, Papua Province, for security reasons would be evacuated to Sugapa in Intan Jaya District, a police officer said.

Evacuating them to Sugapa considers the sub-district's closer distance to Beoga, Papua Police Chief Insp.Gen Mathius Fakhiri said in a statement that ANTARA quoted here Sunday.

The locals fled their homes to take refuge to the military post after several armed Papuan criminals gunned down two teachers in Beoga Sub-district on Thursday and Friday.

Besides killing Oktovianus Rayo and Yonathan Randen, they also torched some junior and senior high school buildings in Julugoma Village, Beoga Sub-district.

"The violent acts of the armed Papuan criminals are brutal," Fakhiri said, adding that some 25 personnel of the police's elite Mobile Brigade unit, stationed at the Beoga police precinct, joined efforts to secure and protect the refugees.

Security disturbances have been reported sporadically from several areas, such as Puncak and Intan Jaya Districts, where armed Papuan groups operate.

Intan Jaya recorded its bloodiest month in September, 2020, with notorious armed groups launching a series of attacks in the area that claimed the lives of two soldiers and two civilians and left two others injured.

These notorious armed Papuan groups have continued their acts of terror during the new year.

On January 6, 2021, some 10 armed Papuans vandalized and torched a Quest Kodiak aircraft belonging to the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) at the Pagamba Village airstrip.

The armed groups often employ hit-and-run tactics against Indonesian security personnel, while they unleash acts of terror against civilians to instill a sense of fear among the people.

On February 8, 2021, an armed rebel reportedly shot a 32-year-old man at close range in Bilogai Village, Sugapa Sub-district.

The victim, identified by his initials as RNR, sustained gunshot wounds on the face and right shoulder and was taken to the Timika Public Hospital in Mimika District on February 9.

On February 9, 2021, six armed Papuans fatally stabbed a motorcycle taxi (ojek) driver.


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Translator: Evarukdijati, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2021