Jayapura, Jubi – President of Republic of Indonesia Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has ordered Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto and National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo to chase and arrest all members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) after the group shot dead Papua spy chief Brig. Gen. I Gusti Putu Danny on Sunday, April 25, 2021.
“I order the TNI commander and the National Police chief to chase and capture all members of the armed criminal group,” Jokowi said during a press conference in Merdeka Palace, Jakarta on Monday.
He emphasized that there was no place for armed criminal groups in Indonesia land including Papua. “I emphasize there is no place for armed criminal groups in Papua land and all across Indonesia,” he said.
The president also expressed his condolences upon the passing of Brig. Gen. Danny and raised the late general’s rank into Maj. Gen. Anumerta IGP Danny for his dedication and sacrifice for the country.
“On behalf of the nation, the people, and the country, I would like to express my deep condolences to the families and those being left,” he said.
Read also: Jokowi says ‘stop violence in Myanmar’. ULMWP says how about in West Papua, too?
House speaker Puan Maharani also expressed her condolences. “My deepest condolences upon the passing of the Papua spy chief. We must strengthen our coordination in addressing the conflict in Papua so that there will be no more casualty,” Maharani said on Monday.
She said that the problems in Papua could only be solved with a complete and in-depth identification of the triggers and motivations of the TPNPB to carry out attacks and threaten the safety of civilians.
However, Puan said that a legal proceeding was necessary to punish the perpetrator who had been proven guilty for committing armed violence which resulted in the loss of life.
“We must protect the civilians from the armed criminal group’s action. Therefore, law enforcement is an important part of solving this problem,” she said.
Maj. Gen. Anumerta IGP Danny was killed in a crossfire between the TNI and the TPNPB when he inspected Dambet Village in Beoga District, Puncak Regency. The TPNPB reportedly burned schools and the house of tribal chief Eber Tinal in Dambet the day before.
Editor: Angela Flassy
