Investigate Shooting Of The Araba District Post In West Papua, TNI Task Force Secures 1 Sympathizer Of KST

Illustration (Photo: Antara)

PAPUA - The TNI Task Force (Satgas) arrested Pamtas Region Infantry Battalion 407/PK successfully arrested Marthen Iba, who is a sympathizer of the West Papua Terrorist Separatist Group (KST).

This arrest was the result of a sweeping carried out by the TNI and local police officers, after an attack had previously occurred on the TNI post in Aroba Teluk Bintuni, West Papua, Sunday, September 24.

"One person can be arrested on behalf of Marthen Iba as a KST sympathizer," said Head of Information for the Joint Defense Area Command (Kapen Kogabwilhan) III Col. Czi Ign Suriastawa in his statement, Sunday, September 24.

In addition to securing KST sympathizers, his party also found evidence of three homemade weapons, 8 cellphone units, one bag to a TPN West member card in the name of Marthen Iba with the position of Operations Staff.

"(In addition, it was also secured) a number of evidences of 3 homemade weapons, KTP a.n Marthen Iba, West Papua TPN Member Card in the name of Marthen Iba with the position of Operations Staff, 8 HP, 2 Telkomsel Initial Cards and 1 Bag," he said.

As previously known, there have been shootings 8 times in two disturbances from unknown persons (OTK) against TNI Post in Aroba Teluk Bintuni District, Papua Barar. It is known, each shot four times in the disturbance on Friday, September 22, at around 19:00 to 19.25 WIT.

"Reports from members in the field, there was a disturbance to the Aroba Post from OTK twice with a total of eight shots, but there were no victims, members were safe," said Dansatgas Infantry Battalion 407/PK Lt. Col. Inf. Hermawan Setya Budi.

On that basis, Dansatgas 407/PK ordered Danpos Kamundan, Danpos Aroba, Danpos Sumuri and Danpos Tomage to increase alertness and carry out perimeter patrols around the post, kiosks selling foodstuffs to OTK.

"(Then) sweeping around the port which was carried out together with the Bintuni Police Baboo Police and the activities carried out were sweeping Kampung Air Falls and patrolling the beach using a Long Boat," he said.