Police-Regency Government Efforts To Repatriate Refugees 5 Districts In Tambrauw, Southwest Papua Post-OTK Information

JAKARTA - Efforts to repatriate refugees from five villages in Bamusbama District after several incidents of attacks by unknown people (OTK) in December 2024 in Tambrauw Regency, Southwest Papua are being pursued.

Tambrauw Police Chief AKBP Aries Dwi Chayanto explained that the coordination of efforts to repatriate refugees was carried out by his party with the Tambrauw Regency Government.

"We are trying to hold a meeting with Forkopimda, the district head, and the village head to send the refugees back to their hometowns," said the Police Chief in Sorong, Southwest Papua, Wednesday, January 8, which was confiscated by Antara.

The five villages consist of Bamus Waiman Village, Bunton Village, Bamus Bama Village, Babak Village, Syarwom Village and Bano Village in Bamusbama District.

He also mentioned that the efforts to coordinate the repatriation of the refugees had been carried out twice as a form of concern for the safety and welfare of the community.

"Of course, with this effort, we hope that refugees in Sorong City or other areas can return immediately and carry out their activities properly," he said.

Based on the results of the coordination meeting, he said, it had been planned that January 13, 2025, the refugees had been returned to the five villages and later received directly by the Acting Regent of Tambrauw Engembertus Kocu accompanied by the Dandim and the Tambrauw Police Chief.

According to him, the security situation and conditions in Tambrauw Regency, especially in Bamusbama District, have returned to normal and safe and conducive, so that the refugees' repatriation must be carried out.

"Because in Bamusbama there are already tactical posts of the TNI and Polri, so we guarantee the safety of the refugees when they return to their hometowns," he said.

He also has not confirmed the number of people who have fled, but he ensures that soon the refugees have been returned to five villages in Bamusbama District.

Aries also hopes that the public will not be influenced by hoax information about the security situation in Tambrauw, especially in Bamusbmawa, because the situation is under control.

"I guarantee that the situation in Tambrauw Regency is safe. People can carry out their activities as usual, especially now that we have built TNI and Polri tactical posts in Bamusbama District," he said.

Previously, on December 1, 2024, OTK burned the Bamusbama District Office. Then in the same month, there was a stabbing of two motorcyclists in Tambrauw Regency on December 26, 2024.

Until now, joint TNI/Polri personnel continue to pursue the perpetrators of the attack in Tambrauw Regency.

"I hope the perpetrators surrender, our team continues to hunt down the perpetrators," he said.