Banggai, Central Sulawesi (ANTARA) - First Brigadier (posthumous) Alfando Steve Karamoy, who died after sustaining gunshot wounds during an armed clash with separatists in Central Papua, was laid to rest at Tanjung Tuis Heroes Cemetery, Banggai district, Central Sulawesi, on Monday.

The funeral procession for the fallen police officer was led by the commander of Regiment III of the National Police's elite Mobile Brigade (Brimob) Rangers, Senior Commissioner Wahyu.

Karamoy was a Brimob ranger assigned to the Operation Peace Cartenz Task Force in Central Papua province.

He died at Intan Jaya Public Hospital after suffering gunshot wounds in a gunfight with members of an armed Papuan separatist group operating in Intan Jaya district, Central Papua, on January 19, 2024.

Wahyu said that the funeral procession was conducted at the heroes' cemetery for Karamoy as a mark of respect for his service and dedication to the nation.

ANTARA has earlier reported that over the past few years, armed Papuan groups have often employed hit-and-run tactics against Indonesian security personnel and mounted acts of terror against civilians in the districts of Intan Jaya, Nduga, and Puncak to instill fear among the people.

The targets of such acts of terror have included construction workers, motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers, teachers, students, street food vendors, and even civilian aircraft.

On December 2, 2018, a group of armed Papuan separatists brutally killed 31 workers from PT Istaka Karya who were engaged in the Trans Papua project in Kali Yigi and Kali Aurak in Yigi sub-district, Nduga district.

On March 2, 2022, several members of an armed Papuan group operating in Beoga sub-district, Puncak district, killed eight Palaparing Timur Telematika (PTT) workers, who were repairing a base transceiver station (BTS) tower belonging to state-owned telecommunications operator Telkomsel.

The workers were identified as B, R, BN, BT, J, E, S, and PD, according to Papua Police spokesperson, Police Chief Commissioner Ahmad Kamal. Another worker, identified by his initials as NS, survived the assault, he added.

On February 7, 2023, New Zealander pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens was taken hostage by the Egianus Kogoya-led armed group. He was piloting an aircraft belonging to Indonesian airline Susi Air when he was captured by the armed group. The members of the group set his aircraft on fire shortly after it landed in Nduga district.

On October 16, 2023, Papuan separatists attacked several traditional gold miners in Yahukimo district, Papua Pegunungan province, killing seven of them.

On November 25, 2023, four soldiers were killed in a gunfight with Papuan rebels in Paro sub-district, Nduga district, Papua province.

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Translator: Nur AA, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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