Threatened To Shoot Dead KKB, Chief Of The Kimak Tribe Papua : Don't Be Afraid, TNI-Police Guard Papua

Noken Polri Binmas Task Force personnel with Abelom Kogoya, the Chief of the Kimak Village Tribe (Photo: ANTARA / HO)

PAPUA - Abelom Kogoya as the head of the Tribe in Kimak Village, North Ilaga District, Puncak Regency, Papua invited and urged its citizens not to be provoked by Armed Criminal Groups (KKB) or terrorist groups in the area recently.

When met by the National Police Noken Task Force Team in Kimak, Abelom admitted that he was threatened with being shot dead by a KKB gang led by Numbuk Telenggen. However, that did not discourage Abelom.

"The community must remain calm, not be influenced or provoked by the actions of the KKB because the TNI/Police is always ready to maintain the security of citizens in Papua", Abelom said as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, May 4.

On Tuesday afternoon some of the personnel from the National Police's Noken Binmas Task Force visited Kimak Village, Ilaga District, Puncak Regency and held face-to-face meetings with residents.

Kampung Kimak is known to have been attacked by KKB which is now categorized as a terrorist group.

A local religious figure, Pastor Menaser Labene, said that the KKB had also disturbed the tranquility of residents who live in the Muara area, North Ilaga District, Puncak Regency.

As a result of the KKB's presence, the residents of Muara Village left their homes to take temporary refuge at their relatives' houses in nearby villages, such as Kampung Paluga, Kampung Kimak, and Kampung Kago.

On Sunday, May 2, a terrorist group reportedly set fire to the Mayuberi Elementary School building, teachers' housing, the old Public Health Center building, and damaged road and bridge facilities connecting the closest villages.

Papua Police Chief Inspector General Mathius D. Fakhiri, who was asked for his response regarding the information on the displacement of residents in Puncak Regency, said that his party would check the accuracy of the information.

"We first check the accuracy of the information. Do not let the information be a lie or hoax. Because previously there were photos of displaced residents on social media, it turns out that they were old photos of the displacement of Banti and Kimbeli Tembagapura residents in 2017 because their village was occupied by KKB", said Inspector General Fakhiri in Timika, Tuesday, May 4.