The vice president has coordinated with TNI commander (General Andika Perkasa) to handle (the case) properly in coordination with stakeholders, security agencies, and local governmentsBandung, W Java (ANTARA) - Indonesian Army Chief of Staff General Dudung Abdurachman led a military funeral procession for fallen soldier First Sergeant Rizal Maulana Arifin, 24, who was laid to rest at the Cikutra Heroes Cemetery here, Saturday.
Arifin was one of the three soldiers, who got killed in an ambush, launched by several armed Papuan separatist terrorists, on their military post in Gome Sub-district, Puncak District, Papua, on Thursday (January 27, 2022).
Arifin was laid to rest at the heroes cemetery to honor his services for the nation and state, General Abdurachman stated while leading the military procession for the fallen soldier.
Abdurachman expressed his deepest condolences over the passing of the three soldiers and donated Rp50 million to Arifin's family.
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The fallen hero's coffin arrived at the mourning house in Dayeuhkolot Sub-district, Bandung District, West Java Province, on Friday evening, after being transported from Papua.
Vice President Ma'ruf Amin responded to the deadly ambush on the military post in Bukit Tepuk, Jenggernok Village, Gome Sub-district, on Thursday morning that led to the deaths of the three brave soldiers.
Amin urged the Indonesian Defence Forces (TNI) to coordinate with the Papua provincial government and local social figures to ensure security.
"The vice president has coordinated with TNI commander (General Andika Perkasa) to handle (the case) properly in coordination with stakeholders, security agencies, and local governments," spokesperson for the Vice President, Masduki Baidlowi, stated on Friday.
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The deadly ambush had resulted in the deaths of Arifin and his two other colleagues, Second Private Baraza, and Private Rahman, and injury caused to First Private Syaiful.
Papua has borne witness to a repeated cycle of violence, with armed groups in the districts of Intan Jaya, Nduga, and Puncak targeting civilians and security personnel over the past few years.
Intan Jaya recorded its bloodiest month in September 2020, with armed groups launching a series of attacks in the area that claimed the lives of two soldiers and two civilians and left two others injured.
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The acts of terror have continued in 2021. On January 10, 2021, an Indonesian soldier died in a gunfight in the Titigi area of Intan Jaya District.
On April 25, 2021, Papuan separatists, operating in Beoga, ambushed State Intelligence Agency (Papua) Chief I Gusti Putu Danny Karya Nugraha and several security personnel during their visit to Dambet Village.
Nugraha died of gunshot wounds sustained in the attack.
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Translator: Bagus AR, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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