Cartenz Peace Operation, TNI-Polri Raid 30 KKB Headquarters and 19 Killed

Cartenz Peace Task Force (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo stated that the National Police and TNI have killed 19 members of the armed criminal group (KKB) in the 2024 Cartenz Peace Operation in Papua. The authorities also managed to take over 30 KKB headquarters and confiscated eight firearms.

This was conveyed by National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo when explaining the public order and security conditions in Papua in a working meeting with Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, yesterday, Monday.

"We are also preparing a centralized Cartenz peace operation to deal with the KKB group, there are 19 KKB that we have paralyzed, we are processing 98 cases, we have secured eight firearms, 633 rounds of ammunition, seven magazines," said Listyo.

In addition, the authorities also confiscated 79 communication devices used by the KKB during the 2024 Cartenz Peace Operation.

The National Police Chief stated that Papua is a vulnerable area, especially in the 2024 Pilkada, because there is still KKB interference.

According to him, there are 24 KKB networks in Papua with a total strength of around 1,438 members. "They have 361 firearms spread across 14 districts, especially in the mountainous areas," said Listyo.

Listyo explained that there were 217 KKB disturbances during 2024, consisting of 39 shootings, 38 gunfights, and others. There were 104 victims, 56 of whom died.

"Then there is the KKB group that is politically active, they carried out 205 actions," said Listyo.

According to him, there are four KKB groups that are politically active, including KNPB, ULMWP, and GRPWP.

"The various actions they carry out range from raising issues of marginalization and discrimination, the history of integration and political status, human rights violations, and the failure of development in Papua," said Listyo.

"This is their effort to continue to voice independence in the Papua region, this is certainly a challenge for us regarding programs for the welfare of Papua."

Listyo emphasized that the National Police support the formation of new autonomous regions in Papua. The National Police have received approval from the Ministry of PANRB for the formation of two new regional police, namely the Central Papua Regional Police and the Southwest Papua Regional Police.

"We are currently fulfilling the personnel needs for these regional police, including the readiness of facilities and infrastructure," said the National Police Chief.