OPM Gang On A Run With Bullets By The Yudha Sakti Task Force In The Maybrat Forest

The 133/Yudha Sakti Infateri Battalion Task Force when it took control of the OPM headquarters in Maybrat after a firefight. ANTARA/Paulus Pulo

MANOKWARI - Task Force (Satgas) Infantry Battalion 133 / Yudha Sakti returned to a shootout with the Free Papua Organization (OPM) group in the forest of South Aifat District, Maybrat Regency, Southwest Papua. The commander of the Battalion 133/YS Task Force, Lt. Col. Inf. Andhika Ganessakti, said that there were no casualties as a result of gunfire. His party managed to secure a number of items belonging to the OPM. "The task force ambushed the location of the OPM's hiding place when Yudha Sakti's troops patrolled the interior of the forest, resulting in a firefight. After the OPM shooting contact, they ran for a long ride because they saw the alertness of Yudha Sakti's troops while hunting for the OPM," said Ganessakti as quoted by Antara, Monday, May 20. Yudha Sakti's troops found the nest where they were hiding in the form of huts and other evidence such as two Android cellphones, five polyponic cellphones, one strand of shirt with a picture of "free West Papua", one HT and an air rifle munisy box. Furthermore, five books with the words mantra, one cellphone charger, four flashlights, two hats, three bracelets with the picture of "free West Papua", one strand of flag with the picture of "free West Papua", two strips of striped clothes, dozens of arrows, two solar cells, one box of welded wire, cooking utensils and groceries. "Members managed to control and occupy the OPM Sorong Raya hiding place, and managed to find various kinds of evidence," explained Ganesakti. "When the patrol was carried out, our members found indications of OPM's presence around the patrol area and gave chase followed by gunfire, and our members managed to control and occupy one of the OPM's headquarters," said Ganessakti. "Security forces, in this case Yudha Sakti's troops, who are on guard in the Aifat Raya District area, continue to carry out proactive steps to secure the local area from various kinds of OPM disturbances. One of them is through patrols in every inch of Maybrat land," said Ganessakti. He admitted that his party was intensely conducting security patrols after several OPMs launched attacks in the Aifat Raya-Maybrat District area.

"We continue to ensure and maintain security in the Papua region very seriously," said Ganessakti.