Residents Of Soanggama Village Help TNI Find Used Weapons Owned By OPM

This is the OPM weapon that can be confiscated by the TNI/ANTARA/HO-Habema Operations Task Force

JAKARTA - Commander of the Habema Koops Media Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel InfantriIwan D Prihartono, said that his party managed to overthrow the headquarters of the Free Papua Organization (OPM) in Soanggama village.

TNI soldiers confiscated the organization's weapons and equipment. Meanwhile, local residents also helped find OPM weapons to be confiscated.

The incident occurred after Operations Command Habema Kogabwilhan III managed to get rid of OPM which previously occupied the village and took the local community hostage, Wednesday (15/10).

"The public also provides additional information regarding the whereabouts of several other weapons that are currently in the process of being searched by the authorities," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, October 16.

Thanks to the help of the local community, the TNI confiscated several items belonging to OPM members from firearms to various OPM attributes.

"We confiscated one homemade firearm and four air rifles, a munisist of various calibers one, a screenshot of Simons, a Newcon binoculars," he explained.

"We also confiscated documents from the OPM organization, the attributes of the Morning Star, communication equipment, and various field equipment belonging to the separatist group," he said.

It didn't stop there, he also admitted that residents gave a positive response to the success of seizing the Soanggama District from the OPM.

The form of the positive response was devoted by residents by providing some of their land for use by the TNI as a tactical post.

His party also appreciated the positive response and ensured that his party would continue to increase security in Soanggama village so as not to be attacked again by the OPM group.

Chronology

Previously, the shootout began when Operations Command Habema Kogabwilhan III moved to Soanggama Village, Tuesday night (14/10).

The task force then arrived at the village area the next day at around 05.30 WIT. When the task force arrived, the OPM immediately attacked so that the armed contact with the TNI could no longer be avoided.

After a few hours of armed contact, the TNI finally managed to reduce the attack by OPM members.

"At 12.00 WIT the situation was successfully controlled and the OPM group was successfully beaten back," he said.

Of the 30 OPM members who have been in control of the village, 14 people have been declared dead, the rest are suspected of running away after gunfire.

After confirming that the gun battle was completed, the task force immediately moved into the village to ensure the safety of the residents inside.

He also ensured that no civilians were victims after the gun battle.

After checking the safety of residents, the TNI then examined several parts of the village to confiscate OPM's belongings.

With this action, he emphasized that the TNI again proved their dedication in maintaining state sovereignty and protecting the community.