"They have arrived in Sugapa, Intan Jaya District, Central Papua Province. Their presence will hopefully be able to restore the area's security and order within one or two days," he remarked.
Speaking to ANTARA here, Thursday (January 25), Fakhiri underscored the need to deploy more personnel to assist those who have been in Sugapa, as the area has experienced security disturbance from armed groups since January 19.
According to reports he received, members of the armed groups operating in Intan Jaya still opened fire until January 24, but their shootings did not occur as frequently as before, he said.
As a result, business activities get disrupted and locals' daily activities have yet to return to normal while security personnel stationed in the area continue to stay alert, Fakhiri noted.
"Sugapa's security and order must immediately be restored, and election logistics must also be distributed to all areas of Intan Jaya prior to the polling day, scheduled on February 14," he stated.
ANTARA reported earlier that on January 19, a gunfight broke out between the Indonesian security personnel and members of an armed separatist terrorist group operating in Intan Jaya District, Central Papua.
A Brimob ranger named Alfando Steve Karamoy sustained gunshot wounds in the gunfight. He then died at Intan Jaya Public Hospital.
First Brigadier (posthumous) Alfando Steve Karamoy was laid to rest at Tanjung Tuis Heroes Cemetery, Banggai District, Central Sulawesi, early this week.
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.
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 also civilian aircraft.
Related news: Military confirms death of Papuan terrorist in Sugapa's gunfight
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Translator: Evarukdijati, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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