Indonesian Military soldiers take part in a ceremony at Sultan Iskandar Muda Air Force base in Blang Bintang, Aceh, on Dec 12, 2023, before travelling to Papua for deployment in security operations.- AFP
JAKARTA: The Indonesian Military (TNI) has formed a team to catch an armed group believed to be responsible for a fatal attack on a military post in Maybrat, Southwest Papua, on Monday (Dec 25), Christmas Day.
The assailants fired multiple shots at soldiers who were returning from regional Christmas services where they had been providing security.
One soldier, Second Corporal Hendrianto, died in the attack while another, First Private Frangky Gula, was severely injured.
“We are hunting down [the perpetrators],” said Praja Vira Tama Military Command spokesperson Maj. Bambang Triyono on Thursday, as quoted by Detik. He said the regional situation was under control and that the injured soldier had undergone surgery and was now recovering at hospital.
The military command had also increased security in critical areas after the attack. “No additional [personnel] deployment. [We’ve] just heightened security in the areas that we consider at risk. So far, there have been no significant reports,” said Bambang.
Papua has continued to see periodic attacks from armed separatist groups, or armed criminal groups (KKB) by the government’s designation. It is not certain whether the group responsible for the Maybrat attack supports Papuan separatism.
Earlier this year, the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), a rebel group, kidnapped New Zealand national Philip Mehrtens in Nduga, Papua Highlands. The 37-year-old pilot was captured after landing a small plane in the remote regency on Feb. 7. He is still being held
The group initially demanded that Jakarta recognise the region’s independence in exchange for Mehrtens’ freedom. The request was dropped a month later, with the group saying the pilot was “not our enemy" and that they would find a way to release him.
The government says it has prioritised negotiations with religious and community leaders to secure Mehrtens' release, noting the dangers of conducting a military operation in the rugged highland area.
The National Police have recorded a total of 199 KKB attacks in Papua in 2023. National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo said the figure had fallen from last year.
“Based on the 2023 evaluation results, there were 199 KKB attacks with 146 victims. Meanwhile, in 2022 there were 234 attacks,” said Listyo at a year-end press briefing at the police headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday.
According to data from the National Police, the 2023 attacks included 40 shootings, 20 firefights and 136 other incidents by KKB.
Among the victims, 64 lost their lives, 81 sustained injuries and one person was taken hostage.
The attacks were distributed across various regions, with Puncak regency recording 42 cases, Yahukimo regency with 36, Intan Jaya regency with 31, Pegubin regency with 27 and Nduga regency with 19 cases.
Additionally, Jayawijaya regency had 16 cases, Dogiyai regency had 12, Mimika and Fakfak regency had two cases each, while Teluk Bintuni regency had one. Listyo said his team had been conducting operations in Papua to counter KKB aggression. These operations included Operation Cartenz Peace, Operation Rastra Samara Kasih, Operation Soft Approach and Operation Pik Bintang 2023.
“The National Police will continue to protect [people] from KKB attacks in collaboration with all existing stakeholders,” Listyo said.
The police are also planning to deploy 21,500 personnel to additional stations at the district and subdistrict levels. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
