Gunfight Breaks Out In Mountains Papua, 1 KKB Member Suspected Of Underlying Egianus Kogoya Dies And Falls Into Abyss

The bodies of KKB members who were evacuated by officers after falling into a ravine (DOK of the Cartenz Peace Operations Gakkum Task Force)

JAKARTA - One member of the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) was reportedly killed in a firefight with the Cartenz Peace Operations Gakkum Task Force in Pugima Village, Wealelama District, Jayawijaya Regency, Papua Mountains, last Monday night.

The armed contact occurred when a joint patrol team from Gakkum and the Action Task Force were carrying out an insulation from Kurima landslides to Jalan Tembus Pugima.

"At around 21.18 WIT, there was another shootout between the Gakkum 2 Task Force Team led by AKP Budi Basra and about seven KKB members in the Maima Village area, Asopio District," said Head of Cartenz Peace Operations Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhani, in a statement received in Jakarta, Tuesday, June 10.

The victim's body was found falling into a ravine and has been evacuated to Wamena Hospital for further identification.

The results of the initial identification showed that the body was strongly suspected of being a member of the KKB led by Egianus Kogoya, based on the physical characteristics, face, clothing, and visual documentation that had been circulated.

"We are still exploring the complete identity. But from the initial characteristics it is very important to Egianus Kogoya's subordinates," explained Faizal.

Meanwhile, Head of the Cartenz Peace Operations Public Relations Task Force Kombes Yusuf Sutejo stated that the security forces continued to increase patrols in the Central Mountains area of Papua, in order to prevent an escalation of armed conflict.

"We continue to increase the intensity of patrols and take measured and directed law enforcement steps, to ensure the situation remains conducive," said Yusuf.

The Damai Cartenz operation is an integrated operation carried out by joint TNI-Polri officers in the Papua region to overcome the armed threat from armed separatist groups who often carry out acts of violence in the areas of the Central Mountains and its surroundings.