Schools And District Offices In Fakfak Burned, West Papua Police Intervene

West Papua Police Chief Inspector General Daniel Tahi Monang Silitonga (ANTARA)

MANOKWARI - The West Papua Regional Police conducted an investigation into a vandalism case accompanied by the burning of the district office and the 4 Kramamongga State Junior High School building in Fakfak Regency which was carried out by an unknown group of people on Tuesday.

"We have sent an investigation team to the Krambongga District, Fakfak, to collect all the evidence," said West Papua Police Chief Inspector General Daniel Tahi Monang Silitonga, quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, August 16.

The Kapolda promised to immediately reveal and arrest the perpetrators who had burned two public facilities and tortured the head of Kramamongga District to death.

He added that TNI and Polri personnel had also provided trauma recovery to the people in Kramamongga District who felt threatened by the incident.

"The National Police has picked up people who feel afraid so that teachers, district officials, and the community can return to their activities," added Daniel Silitonga.

Currently, he added, the West Papua Police Inafis Team together with the Fakfak Resort Police are conducting a crime scene investigation in the two buildings that were burned by an unknown person.

TNI and Polri personnel have been deployed to a number of points to restore the situation and condition of the region to be as conducive as before and at the same time anticipate similar incidents from happening again.

"If all the evidence is collected, we will immediately update it. We will investigate it thoroughly and there will be only one temporary death toll," said the Kapolda.

Head of Public Relations of the West Papua Police, Police Commissioner Adam Erwindi, said the alleged perpetrators numbered about 25 people with faces covered with cloth and carrying sharp weapons came to the Kramamongga District office on Tuesday (15/8) night at around 19.30 WIT.

Dozens of perpetrators then vandalized office facilities, abused the Head of Kramamongga District with the initials DH, and burned a dump truck unit parked in front of the district office.

After that, the perpetrators set fire to the stage of commemorating the 78th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia and the SMP Negeri 4 Kramamongga building.

"The perpetrator also damaged one pick-up car, two motorbikes, and one dump truck belonging to the community that passed in front of SMP 4 Kramamongga," added Adam.

He explained that Fakfak Police personnel immediately evacuated the people of Kramamongga District to St. Peter's Catholic Church, and closed city boundary road access in Bombaray District.

The closure of road access made it easier for the police to identify and arrest dozens of perpetrators who had burned and tortured, resulting in the death of a resident.

"The victim's district head received medical treatment at the Fakfak Hospital, but his life was not saved," said Adam.

The Head of Public Relations appealed to all components of society in Fakfak Regency to remain calm and not to be easily provoked by wild issues that deliberately spread certain elements.

Police officers need information support from the public if they know the identity and whereabouts of the perpetrators so that the disclosure of the case runs optimally.

"Trust this case to the security forces. Don't be afraid to report if you know the location of the perpetrator, the police guarantee the confidentiality of the identity of the reporter," said Adam Erwindi.