Papua Police Chief Reveals KKB Has Ruled Puncak Regency Since 2018

Dozens of residents in Beoga Village, Puncak Regency, Papua chose to flee to TNI and Polri posts. They felt threatened by the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) or the Free Papua Organization (OPM) after the shooting of two teachers and the burning of the PT Esra Air helicopter.

"So there are about 40 more residents who asked to evacuate from Beoga Village to the TNI-Polri post. We will evacuate these residents and they have approached military and police posts, ”said Papua Police Chief Inspector General Mathius Fakhiri, Monday, April 12, 2021.

According to Mathius, the residents in Kampung Beoga chose to evacuate because their location was small and had been controlled by the KKB which made the residents frightened.

"So it is quite vulnerable if these residents stay in that location. This is because they are always harassed and threatened, ”explained the Kapolda.

To deal with security problems there, he said, the Papua Police sent a Brimob platoon to the Beoga Police. "The Papua Police sent a Brimob platoon to Beoga to back up the Boega Police," he said.

Mathius also emphasized that his party together with the TNI would take action against the KKB led by Sabinus Waker who was acting up in Puncak Regency which disrupted community and government activities.

According to the Kapolda, Puncak Regency has been controlled by the KKB since 2018. They gathered in several areas, then entered villages and carried out security disturbances, including in the area of ​​PT Freeport Indonesia.

"We have done the insulation, but they were able to penetrate Intan Jaya to cause interference. After we handled Intan Jaya, they ran to Puncak, "he said.

Kapolda acknowledged that the main obstacle faced by the TNI-Polri apparatus in pursuing the KKB was the geographic location of the two districts which were frequently disturbed, the terrain was very difficult with steep mountains.

"Geographical conditions are our main obstacle in pursuing these actors. The mountains are very high and steep, while the people who live here have advantages, so we also have to be careful in taking steps for the safety of citizens and soldiers, "he said.

Mathius added that even government activities in Puncak and Intan Jaya Regencies began to gradually recover with security from the joint military-police apparatus.

SOURCE: https://www.viva.co.id/berita/nasional/1363982-kapolda-papua- disclosed-kkb-sudah-k controlled-kabamatan-puncak-sejak-2018