Their presence is aimed at protecting refugees from acts of terror of armed Papuan terrorists, who brutally killed four soldiers during an ambush they launched in the early hours of Sept 2, an army officer stated.
On Thursday (Sept 9), Commander of the 1809/Maybrat District Military Command Lt Col Harry Ismail and Maybrat District Head Bernard Sagrim visited the refugees and urged them to return home.
On early September 2, 2021, members of an unidentified terrorist group had ambushed several soldiers while they were sleeping at the Kisor military post of South Aifat Sub-district, West Papua Province.
Four soldiers -- 2nd Sergeant Amrosius, Chief Private Dirham, First Private Zul Ansari, and First Lieutenant Dirman -- had died in the attack, while two others had sustained serious injuries.
The bodies of three soldiers were found at the post, while the body of another soldier was identified in the bushes in proximity to the post.
Related news: Four West Papuan army officers murdered, one missing following attack
Related news: W Papua: Soldier injured in ambush evacuated to Jakarta army hospital
According to Ismail, the Aifat Raya Sub-district areas had relatively been peaceful owing to the presence of army and police personnel in the aftermath of the recent fatal attack.
Hence, he called on locals currently taking refuge to return home. The same recommendation was also echoed by Sagrim as security personnel guarantee safety of the people.
To ensure the refugees' health, Sagrim spoke of having requested the district's healthcare workers to serve those in need of medical treatment.
Referring to the attack on Sept 2, West Papua Governor Dominggus Mandacan had earlier appealed to residents of Kisor Village to assist security personnel to capture the killers of the four soldiers.
Mandacan, who visited the crime scene on September 4, 2021, also called on Kisor villagers, who had fled their homes to take refuge in the forest to return back and resume their normal lives.
"The villagers do not need to panic or take refuge in the forest as the government works with the military and police to ensure public safety and security," he noted.
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.
Related news: Two suspects arrested in connection with Kisor attack: army
Related news: West Papua police chief condemns killing of Kisor soldiers
Translator: Ernes BK, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
