Vice President Ma'ruf Amin Talks About Violence In Papua, Emphasizes Welfare As The Government's Main Approach

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin (second right) inspects the availability of rice at the Bulog Kelapa Gading warehouse in Jakarta (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said the government chose the welfare path to solve the problem of violence in Papua.

"We still prioritize welfare, but our security issue is also at the defensive stage, but the dynamic defense is not static," said Vice President Ma'ruf Amin at the Cipinang Rice Main Market, East Jakarta, Antara, Friday, March 11.

Most recently, the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) attacked a gold pander to death in Yahukimo Regency on Monday, March 7 and a construction worker resulting in injuries to his neck in Intan Jaya Regency the following day.

Previously, there were attacks on employees of PT. Palapa Ring Timur Telematics at Tower B3 Kampung Jenggeran, Beoga district, Puncak district, Papua province on March 2, 2022.

The KKB gang of about 10 people entered the camp with sharp tools such as machetes, axes, even carrying firearms and killed eight PTT employees who were fast asleep, namely Bona Simanulang, Renal Pastia Tagasye, Bili Galdi Balion, Jamaludin, Sharil Nurdiansyah. , Eko Septiansyah, Bebei Tabuni and Ibo.

One survivor, Nelson Sarira, was successfully evacuated to Timika on Saturday afternoon by the Cartenz Peace Operation Team.

"What we have to prioritize is how there are no victims. It's not offensive but there are no victims. We take steps to protect the community so that this doesn't happen again," said the vice president.

The vice president said the government had also built a dialogue with various parties.

"We have had dialogue with all parties to resolve the problem, but our (way) is welfare, how to make the Papuan people prosperous and the second step is how to make the community safe, it doesn't happen again like yesterday, there will be next steps," added the vice president.

From the data that has been processed by the Office of the Presidential Staff, from January to early March 2022, there were at least 7 alleged criminal acts committed by the KKB in several districts in Papua province.

These incidents claimed a total of 18 victims, with details of 13 dead and 5 injured. The victims included members of the TNI and civilians.