The Chief of Papua Police, Inspector General of Police Tito Karnavian (Jubi)
Jayapura, 5/2 (Jubi) – An armed group involved in military exercises on Yapen Islands Papua was not part of the Puncak jaya-based Goliath Tabuni network, Papua police chief Tito Karnavian said.
“The two groups are not related at all. Goliath Tabuny only have a network of two groups, namely Leka Telenggen in Puncak Jaya District and Tenny Kwalik in Mimika District,” he told reporters at the Papua Police Headquarters, Kota Jayapura, on Tuesday (4/2).
The armed group on Yapen Islands has been reliant on three persons: Rudi Orari, Fernando Worabai and Erik Makatori.
“The regeneration system in this group is not strong because it relies on the three leaders. If they were arrested, this group would be disbanded,” he said.
Tito also said there are two major groups in addition of the groups in Puncak Jaya and Yapen Islands. The first group is led by Puron Okino Wenda, who has a network in the district of Lanny Jaya and Tolikara while the second is led by Hans Ricard Weni, who operates in Depapre, Jayapura District.
“Lanny Jaya group is led by Eni Wanimbo. They are those who attacked the Pirime Police Station on 27 November 2012,” he said.
Tito also said he had urged the indigenous figures of Puncak Jaya including the Chairman of People’s Representative Council of Papua Province, Deerd Tabuni and the Governor of Papua Province, Lukas Enembe, to immediately facilitate a dialogue with the armed group leaders in that area.
“We are still adopting a persuasive approach to addressing security issues in Puncak Jaya. If these figures say dialogue efforts fail, we will recommend that law enforcement be carried out immediately,” he said.
The police have already had a wanted list of armed group leaders.
“We know Goliath is in Kampung Tinggineri, but he’s just hiding among women and children so it’s difficult for us to arrest him. There is always high risk in search operations because an exchange of gunfire between the police and this group can happen,” he said.
So far the police have sent 75 additional personnel to secure the area of Puncak Jaya during the legislative elections.
“Forty-five personnel come from the Papua Police and the rest are from the Indonesian Police Headquarters,” he said.
Four people are accused as a suspect.
Meanwhile, four of 10 people arrested during a gunfight between an armed group and the Indonesian Army-Police in Sasawan area, Yapen Island, Papua, on the Saturday morning (1/2) have been named suspects.
“All four who have been named as suspects are SYW (48), JYK (28), KW (50) and RB (30). They will be charged under Emergency Law No. 12 Year of 1951 on the Ownership of Illegal Weapons,” Senior Commissioner Pudjo Sulistyo Hartono, the Head of Public Relations Department at the Papua police, said on Wednesday (5/2). ((Jubi/Indrayadi TH/rom)
