Papua Police Chief Deploys Helicopter To Evacuate Residents From Beoga

Papua Police Chief, Insp. Gen. Pol. Mathius Fakhiri. (Evarukdijati/Antara)

JAKARTA - Papua Police Chief, Insp. Gen. Mathius Fakhiri said he will deploy the National Army-the National Police helicopters to evacuate residents from Beoga, Puncak Regency, to Sugapa, Intan Jaya Regency.

"There is a plan for residents to be evacuated from Beoga to avoid violence committed by armed criminal groups (KKB)," said Fakhiri, as reported by Antara, Monday, April 12.

According to him, Sugapa was chosen because it is closer than to Ilaga and Timika.

He said the National Army-National Police helicopters to be deployed were those under operational control (BKO) to Nemangkawi Task Force.

Regarding how many residents will be evacuated, Fakhiri claimed not to know for sure considering the communication to Beoga is rather difficult.

"But regardless of the number we will try to evacuate so that residents are no longer gripped by fear, let alone two people who are victims are teachers who have served in the area long enough," Fakhiri said.

Fakhiri admitted, in addition to planning to evacuate residents will also be done law enforcement to the perpetrators of the shooting who are also members of the KKB.

Nemangkawi Task Force will conduct pursuits and crackdowns or law enforcement, Fakhiri said.

He revealed a platoon of Mobil Brigadier would be sent to Beoga to strengthen existing personnel.

Regarding the information of Beoga airport controlled by KKB, Fakhiri stated that a clean-up will be carried out.

"Therefore other units such as District Police, District Military Headquarter, and Task Force Pamrahwan focus on security only and are not provoked to conduct pursuits to minimize casualties because it could be a KKB trick to cause casualties and get additional ammunition and firearms," he said.

KKB since Thursday, April 8, carried out a shooting that killed two teachers who served in Beoga District, Puncak District, namely Oktovianus Rayo (42 years old) and Yonatan Randen.