The deployment plan aims to strengthen regional security as armed Papuan rebels continue to pose threats to the region, Papua Police Chief Insp. Gen. Mathius Fakhiri remarked in Jayapura City on Wednesday.
The joint team of personnel have been on standby but they could not yet be deployed to Intan Jaya due to limited availability of mode of transportation, he revealed.
Two helicopters, frequently used by the Operation Peace Cartenz Task Force, are under maintenance, while the Indonesian military helicopter is being in Bovel Digoel District, South Papua, he remarked.
"May they soon be deployable to Sugapa to help secure the Intan Jaya region that continues to be disturbed by the armed rebels since Monday, April 29, 2024," he stated.
On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, separatists shot at the Homeyo police precinct, leading to the death a civilian. They then torched the Pogapa primary school in Homeyo Sub-district on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, he remarked.
Fakhiri noted that the Homeyo police station and school building are located in the same sub-district. To deal with security disturbances, Fakhiri underscored the need for security personnel to stay alert.
"The joint team of personnel can hopefully be deployed to make locals feel secure and safe," he added.
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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 stoke 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.
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 located at Kisor Village, South Aifat Sub-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.
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: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
