The armed criminals not only ruined our schools but they also did 'ruin' our daughters and houses
Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - Armed Papuan criminals in Beoga Sub-district, Puncak District, Papua Province, continue their acts of terror by not only killing teachers and burning houses and schools but also by harassing the villagers' daughters, a priest stated.

"The armed criminals not only ruined our schools but they also did 'ruin' our daughters and houses," Priest Jupinus Wama was quoted as saying in a Nemangkawi Task Force's press statement that ANTARA quoted here, Monday.

Consequently, several villagers are fearful of a recurrence of those notorious armed Papuan criminals' acts of terror in future, Wama was quoted as saying.

Hence, the presence of Indonesia's army and police personnel in Beoga has offered them a sense of security, Priest Wama remarked, adding that he would call his family members, who had escaped to the forest over security concerns, to return home.

After gunning down two teachers in Julukoma Village, Beoga Sub-district, on April 8-9, the notorious armed criminals continued their acts of terror on April 17 by setting ablaze houses and a school building in the Dambek area.

Beoga Police Chief 2nd Inspector Ali Akbar remarked that no fatalities were reported in this latest attack, and the villagers were able to extinguish the fire that ravaged the school building.

"Only the school's door caught fire, but the fire could immediately be put out," Akbar stated.

Papua Province has borne witness to a string of violent attacks by notorious armed Papuan criminals targeting civilians and security personnel in the past two years.

On April 8, 2021, several armed Papuan criminals opened fire at a kiosk in Julukoma Village, Beoga Sub-district, at about 9:30 a.m. local time.

The shooting incident resulted in the death of a Beoga public elementary school teacher, Oktovianus Rayo.

After killing Rayo, the armed attackers continued their acts of terror by torching three classrooms of the Beoga public senior high school.

On Friday (April 9), the armed Papuan criminals again assaulted another teacher, Yonatan Randen. This junior high school teacher was shot on his chest.

Several villagers attempted to save Randen's life by moving him to the Beoga public health center, but he died.

On Sunday evening (April 11), the armed criminals set ablaze nine classrooms of the Beoga public junior high school.

Papua Police Chief Insp. Gen. Mathius D. Fakhiri has vowed to trace and crack down on the killers of these two teachers.

"The TNI (Indonesian military) and police personnel will never retreat even a single step in enforcing the law against the killers," Fakhiri stated in Timika on Tuesday.
Related news: Papua deputy governor seeks resumption in public services in Beoga

Related news: Armed criminals torch homes of Papua tribal chief and teachers

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