The joint task force, which comprises military as well as police personnel, arrested the rebel, identified as MT, on A Yani street, Timika late on Thursday, Mimika district police chief, Adjunct Senior Commissioner IGG Era Adhinata, disclosed here on Friday.
MT had been on the Mimika police's wanted list over his involvement in several crimes in Tembagapura sub-district since 2017, he said.
"He was arrested after a long investigation process," he added.
Police picked up MT after he arrived in Timika by bus from Tembagapura, Adhinata said adding, he was staying in Kwamki Narama subdistrict.
MT has claimed that he is a member of an armed Papuan group led by Guspi Waker, which operates in Ugimba, Intan Jaya district, Adhinata said.
He told police he joined the group in 2017 at Nua Waker's invitation, he added.
Since then, he has been involved in several crimes in Tembagapura, including kiosk arsons behind the Tembagapura Police dormitory and excavator arsons in Utikini village on November 7, 2017, Adhinata said. He was also allegedly involved in the shooting of a PT Freeport truck convoy on April 11, 2020.
On March 8, 2020, MT took part in the shooting of a police patrol vehicle in Tembagapura, which left one officer injured, Adhinata said.
MT was active on his social media account and shared information about his actions, he added.
Mimika district police said it will continue to monitor and investigate the possibility of there being more armed rebels in the district and also persuade them to surrender.
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Translator: Evarianus S, Sri Haryati
Editor: Gusti Nur Cahya Aryani
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