We suspect that the armed attackers belong to the KNPB-Maybrat Chapter that are still on the run after launching the September 2 attackSorong (ANTARA) - Second Sergeant Miskel Rumbiak, who lost his life in a deadly attack by armed Papuan separatist terrorists in Maybrat District, West Papua, on Thursday (Jan 20), was laid to rest in his hometown on Friday.
Rumbiak from Indonesia's army and belonging to the 20/PPA Combat Engineering Battalion was buried during a military funeral ceremony in Friwen Waigeo Village, Raja Ampat District, West Papua.
The military procession of this fallen hero was led by Commanding Officer of the 1805/Raja Ampat District Military Command Lt Col Stevie Joan Klots.
The fallen hero's family members and several hundred residents of Friwen Village were also present at the military funeral ceremony.
According to spokesperson of the XVIII/Kasuari Regional Military Command Colonel Hendra Pesireron, Miskel Rumbiak was the best soldier from Raja Ampat District, West Papua Province.
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To honor his dedication, service, and sacrifice, Rumbiak was given a posthumous promotion by granting him one rank higher than that he had held at the time of his death, he remarked.
Rumbiak was killed during an assault launched by several armed Papuans when he along with four other soldiers were building a bridge connecting the villages of Fan Khario and Kamat in Aifat Timur Sub-district on January 20, 2022.
The attackers might belong to the Maybrat National Committee of West Papua (KNPB) that were responsible for the attack on the Kisor military post in South Aifat Sub-district on September 2, 2021, he remarked.
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"We suspect that the armed attackers belong to the KNPB-Maybrat Chapter that are still on the run after launching the September 2 attack," Pesireron added.
In the wee hours of September 2, 2021, several members of armed Papuan separatist terrorists ambushed many soldiers while they were asleep at the Kisor military post.
Four soldiers -- 2nd Sergeant Amrosius, Chief Private Dirham, First Private Zul Ansari, and First Lieutenant Dirman -- died in the attack, while two others had sustained serious injuries.
Papua and West Papua have borne witness to a repeated cycle of violence, with armed groups targeting civilians and security personnel over the past few years.
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Translator: Ernes BK, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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