The suspects have admitted their involvementSorong, W Papua (ANTARA) - West Papua police have arrested two suspects in connection with an attack on the Kisor military post in the early hours of Thursday, which resulted in the death of four soldiers, a senior army officer said.
"The suspects have admitted their involvement," Commander of the XVIII/Kasuari Regional Military Command, Major General I Nyoman Castiasa, said after paying his respects on the fallen soldiers on Friday.
Castiasa led a military procession to respect the fallen personnel before their caskets were transported to their hometowns for their funeral.
The two suspects have been placed under police custody for further investigation, he informed, adding that he has yet to know the exact number of perpetrators who are responsible for the deaths of the four soldiers.
Castiasa appealed to members of the community in West Papua who are still opposing the state to end the conflict and work together to develop the province for the sake of prosperity for all.
"If they are stubborn and continue their campaign of insurgency, they will be crushed," he said.
In the early hours of Thursday (Sept 2), members of an unidentified terrorist group ambushed several soldiers while they were sleeping at the Kisor military post.
2nd Sergeant Amrosius, Chief Private Dirham, First Private Zul Ansari, and First Lieutenant Dirman died in the attack, according to spokesperson for the XVIII/Kasuari Regional Military Command, Lt Col Hendra Pesireron.
The bodies of three soldiers were found at the post, while another was discovered in the bushes not far from the post, Pesireron informed, adding that another soldier, First Private Ikbal, had remained untraceable.
Meanwhile, West Papua police chief Inspector General Tornagogo Sihombing said two suspects have been apprehended, but police investigators are continuing their probe into the Kisor military post attack.
"The suspects are under the police custody at South Sorong Police precinct," he added.
The assault on the Kisor military post in West Papua has added to the list of cases of armed violence in Papua and highlighted the grave danger posed by Papuan separatist terrorists.
In the midst of the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Papua and West Papua, the two provinces have been reeling under armed violence over the past few months of 2021.
In April this year, two teachers in Julukoma village, Beoga sub-district, Puncak district, were killed by armed Papuan terrorists.
On August 22, 2021, a terrorist group operating in Yahukimo district attacked several construction workers of PT Indo Mulia Baru who were involved in erecting a bridge on Brazza River.
Two workers, identified as Rionaldo Ratu Roma and Dedi Imam Pamungkas, died in the attack, according to director of Papua Police's Criminal Investigation Unit, Sen. Coms. Faisal Rahmadani.
The attackers also set their bodies and their pick-up truck on fire, he informed.
Members of the terrorist group also attacked several personnel from the Indonesian Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) unit when they went to the site of the shooting to evacuate the deceased workers' bodies, he said.
Four Brimob personnel sustained minor injuries, he said, adding that several construction workers were evacuated to Dekai, the capital of Yahukimo district, for safety reasons.
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Translator: Ernes BK, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Sri Haryati
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