13 Soldiers Allegedly Involved In The Action Of Persecution Of KKB Members Put In Drums

Kadispenad Brigadier General Kristomei Sianturi (central) together with Pangdam XVII/Cendrawasih Major General Izak Pangemanan (left) during a press conference at Denma TNI Headquarters, Jakarta, Monday (25/3/2024). BETWEEN/Good Ahmad Rizaldi

PAPUA - Head of the Information Service of the Indonesian Army (Kadispenad) Brigadier General Kristomei Sianturi said as many as 13 soldiers were suspected of being involved in acts of violence against members of armed criminal groups / separatist and terrorist groups (KKB/KST) Devinus Kogoya in Puncak Regency, some time ago. According to him, the TNI AD Military Police had examined 42 soldiers and 13 of them were suspected of being involved. The soldiers came from the Raider 300/Bjw Infantry Battalion (Yonif) unit. "The Commander of the XVII/Cendrawasih Military Command himself has issued a temporary detention warrant," Kristomei said at Denma TNI Headquarters, Jakarta, Antara, Monday, March 25. He explained that the TNI AD Military Police were working with Pomdam III/Siliwangi to investigate the case. The Infantry Battalion Raider 300/Bjw itself is a troop unit under the Military Regional Command (Kodam) III/Siliwangi. Later these individuals will also be detained in maximum security military detention owned by Pomdam III/Siliwangi in Bandung City, West Java. The military police will also investigate the chain of command of these soldiers during acts of violence in order to find a relationship between cause and effect. "Check further whether this is on personal initiative, or if there is an order from his superiors to do that," he said. Meanwhile, Pangdam XVII/Cendrawasih Maj. Gen. Izak Pangemanan ensured that his party would be transparent about the legal process that would be applied to these military personnel. He said the public could see firsthand the military judicial process against these individuals. "We will continue to encourage the legal process. Compensation for the Papuan people is the justice they must get," said Izak. Previously, the TNI had investigated the contents of the video containing footage of the abuse of a man suspected of being a KKB by TNI soldiers in Papua.

Kites that have gone viral on social media in the past 24 hours have shown the actions of a number of men, one of whom is suspected to be soldiers, taking turns beating and molesting a man who was tied up and injured standing in a drum. In the broadcast, one of the perpetrators was suspected of being a TNI soldier because he was wearing a T-shirt that might refer to the unit name, namely the Raider 300/Brajawijaya Infantry Battalion (Yonif). The writing "300" in golden yellow is clearly printed on the chest of the Army green shirt.