Speaking from Jayapura on Friday, Papua Police Chief Insp. Gen. Fakhiri stated that Brimob rangers had arrived to help local police officers safeguard the post, restore security conditions, and hunt down the attackers.
The attack on the police post was launched by armed criminals operating in Central Papua on Wednesday morning, resulting in the deaths of two police officers and a civilian, Fakhiri said.
He stated that the attackers, believed to belong to the Aibon Kogoya-led armed group, also grabbed two AK-47 rifles.
Security disturbances always recur in the area where the Ndeotadi 99 police post is situated, he added.
Hence, local police officers need to be reinforced by the presence of Brimob rangers to help maintain security in the area, he emphasized, adding that the Papua police continue to probe the case.
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, Puncak, and Maybrat to incite 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, for instance, a group of armed Papuan separatists brutally killed 31 workers from PT Istaka Karya engaged in the Trans Papua project in Kali Yigi and Kali Aurak in Yigi Sub-district, Nduga District.
Early in the morning of September 2, 2021, several members of a Papuan separatist terrorist group operating in Maybrat District ambushed soldiers while they were asleep at the Kisor military post. The post is located at Kisor Village, South Aifat Sub-district.
On March 2, 2022, many 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.
On February 7, 2023, New Zealander pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens was taken hostage by the Egianus Kogoya-led armed group.
Philip was piloting an aircraft belonging to Indonesian airline Susi Air when the armed group captured him. Members of the group set his plane on fire shortly after it landed in Nduga District.
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Translator: Evarukdijati, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Anton Santoso
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