The deployment of soldiers from the Siliwangi Regional Military Command's infantry battalion is aimed at replacing their counterparts, who had been on duty for 10 months.
Those having accomplished their duties in safeguarding Papua Province, which still experiences security disturbances, will be withdrawn and sent back to their units.
The departure of KRI Banjarmasin-592 was flagged off by Commander of the Siliwangi Regional Military Command Maj. Gen. Nugroho Budi Wiryanto and witnessed by navy officers.
According to Lt Col Nur Rohmad Ibrahim, who commands the landing platform dock, the 400 soldiers will disembark at the pier of Merauke Port.
Over the course of the past five months, Papua has borne the brunt of a string of violent attacks by armed separatist terrorist groups targeting security personnel and innocent civilians in districts, such as Puncak, Intan Jaya, Yahukimo, and Pegunungan Bintang.
The armed groups often employ hit-and-run tactics against Indonesian security personnel while unleashing acts of terror against civilians to trigger fear among people.
Ojek drivers, teachers, students, and street food vendors, among others, have fallen victims to their terror acts. Civilian aircraft too have been the targets of such attacks.
In reinforcing law enforcement operations against the armed terrorist groups in the districts of Yahukimo and Pegunungan Bintang, the Papua Police recently dispatched two platoons of mobile brigade (Brimob) personnel.
Each of the platoons were deployed to Dekai Sub-district in Yahukimo and Oksibil Sub-district in Pegunungan Bintang respectively following the deaths of two soldiers and injuries to four others during separate attacks last week.
Following this deployment, Dekai received two platoons of Brimob personnel, while Oksibil has got one platoon, Papua Police Chief Inspector General Mathius D. Fakhiri noted.
On May 18, 2021, a group of armed Papuan terrorists ambushed 12 soldiers in Pegunungan Bintang District, resulting in leg injuries to four of the army personnel.
On that day, they also assaulted two members of Indonesia's elite unit of Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) -- M. Alif Nur Angkotasan and Ardi Yudi Ardianto -- while they were safeguarding the construction process of Dekai Airport's security fencing system.
The 12 soldiers went to Oksibil, the capital of Pegunungan Bintang District, for shopping. On their way back to Serambakon Sub-district, their car's engine suddenly malfunctioned while passing through a wooden bridge of Yapimakot Village.
While checking the car's engine, the soldiers were suddenly attacked by Papuan separatists. A gunfight broke out in which four soldiers suffered leg injuries.
The injured soldiers are identified as Master Sergeant Dian Hardiana, Master Private Kuku Ismail, 2nd Sergeant Sukrisdianto, and 1st Private Romi.
Related news: Two platoons of Brimob personnel dispatched to Papua's Dekai, Oksibil
Related news: SOP followed in crackdown on armed Papuan terrorists: police
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Syaiful H, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
