Jakarta, CNN Indonesia – The National Police’s deputy chief, Comr. Gen. Gatot Eddy Pramono, has mentioned four regencies in Papua as prone to armed conflict as the police were pursuing members of the West National Liberation Army (TPNPB). The four regencies are Intan Jaya, Mimika, Puncak, and Nduga.
“We have also mapped the armed groups in each regency,” Pramono said on Thursday, May 27, 2021.
He said that in Intan Jaya Regency, there are three TPNPB groups, namely the Sabinus Waker group, the Undius Kogoya group, and the Lewis Kogoya group. In Puncak Regency, there are four TPNPB groups, namely the Goliath Tabuni group, the Lekagak Telenggen group, the Peni Murib group, and the Ando Waker group.
“Meanwhile, in Mimika and Nduga there is one group respectively, namely the Joni Botak group in Mimika and the Egianus Kogoya group in Nduga,” Pramono said.
Pramono further said that this year, the police recorded at least 26 cases of attacks, shootings, and gunfire by the TPNPB in the four regions, resulting in several death tolls and injured victims.
“Fourteen people have died including the Papua Spy chief, one policeman, six TNI soldiers, and six civilians. Meanwhile, 19 people were injured, namely five policemen, 13 TNI soldiers, and one civilian,” he said.
According to Gatot, the police have killed 22 TPNPB soldiers, shot one soldier who managed to escape, and arrested eight TPNPB soldiers. He said there were also 24 members of the TPNPB who turned themselves in to the police.
On Thursday, the TPNPB declared war against the security forces, asking the TNI and police to come to Muara Puncak in Ilaga District to fight.
