Task Force for Coordination Related to the Closure of 11 Airports in Papua Following the Shooting of KKB

JAKARTA - The Cartenz Peace Operations Task Force (Satgas ODC) will carry out cross-sectoral coordination regarding the closure of 11 airports in Papua after a shooting case was carried out by the KKB which killed the pilot and co-pilot of the Smart Air plane.

"We have just received a letter regarding the closure of 11 airports (lapter) and will immediately coordinate in the field," said Kaops of the Peace Cartenz Task Force, Brigadier General Faizal Rahmadani in Jayapura, Wednesday, February 18, reported by ANTARA.

He said that the decision also needed to be reassessed because of the 11 airports that were closed, some of which were not very high in terms of vulnerability.

"For example, the Beoga Airport in Puncak Regency, which is included in the 11 airports closed, although the area is a KKB crossing, but so far the disruption to the aircraft is relatively small," he said.

"Therefore, it is necessary to have more coordinated activities between cross-sectors to discuss the problem considering that most of the lapter are a means of going in and out, both for logistics and residents," he said.

Previously, the Ministry of Transportation temporarily stopped the operations of 11 airports, service units, and airports related to security.

The 11 airports in Papua that were temporarily closed were Koroway Batu Satpel, Bomakia Airport, Yaniruma Satpel, Manggelum Satpel, Lapter Kapiraya, Lapter Iwur, Lapter Faowi, Lapter Dagai, Lapter Aboy, Lapter Teraplu, and Lapter Beoga.

In addition, there are five airports that fall into the category of vulnerable but can be controlled, namely Kiwirok Airport, Moanamani Airport, Satpel Sinak in Ilaga, Satpel Agandugume in Ilaga, and Illu Airport.