KKB Terrorist Action In Nduga, Palace: President Jokowi Has Not Confirmed A Civil Emergency In Papua

President Joko Widodo looked at Raja Ampat's tourist area in a series of visits to West Papua, Friday (1/1/2015). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Regarding acts of terrorism by armed criminal groups (KKB) in Paro District, Nduga Regency, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has not issued an order for a civil emergency determination in Papua.

"Until now, there has been no determination of a civil emergency by the President in the Papua region," said the Palace through Deputy V of the Jaleswari Presidential Staff Office, Pramodhawardani, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, February 14.

He explained that the determination of a danger situation, including a civil emergency as one of the gradations of this hazard situation, has a formal-procedural mechanism that has been regulated in the laws and regulations.

Jaleswari also said that the determination of a civil emergency could only be carried out on the orders of the president.

"Given this, the steps in taking action against the KKB still refer to law enforcement measures in a measured manner and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations," he added.

Previously, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Lodewijk F. Paulus said that currently Papua had a civil emergency status due to attacks carried out by the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) at Paro Airport, Nduga Regency, Papua Mountains.

Lodewijk said that with the civil emergency status, the responsibility of the civilian emergency authorities in Papua is the police. The DPR also fully supports the operations carried out by the police there, including priority efforts to find Susi Air pilots who are still under the control of the KKB.

The Susi Airfall Porter PC 6/PK-BVY lost contact on Tuesday 7 February at 6.35 WIT at the Paro District Airport while carrying out flights on the Timika-Paro-Timika route.

Susi Air found the aircraft's emergency transmitter transmitter (ELT) in an active position at 9.12 WIB.

The airline then responded with an emergency via another plane delivery to check the position of the plane which was later found on fire on the runway of the Paro District Airport. Five passengers of the plane have been evacuated from Paro to Timika.

TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono said that his party's priority is currently looking for the whereabouts of the Susi Air Pilot Captain Philip Max Marthin.

According to Yudo, the pilot was not held hostage by the OPM West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), but fled after being threatened when the manned plane was allegedly burned by the group.