The Joint Team Was Showered With Attacks During The Evacuation Of 6 Kopassus Soldiers Surrounded In Elelim Papua Mountains

A joint team of the TNI and Polri evacuated six Indonesian Army personnel from the Maleo Kopassus Task Force who were trapped behind the Maleo Task Force Post in Pirip Village/DOK ANTARA

SENTANI - A joint team of the TNI and Polri succeeded in evacuating six Army personnel from the Maleo Kopassus Task Force who were previously trapped behind the Maleo Task Force Post in Pirip Village, Elelim District, Yalimo Regency, Papua Mountains.

Head of Damai Cartenz Operations Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhani said the six personnel were rescued last Tuesday at around 18.16 WIT and immediately taken to the Yalimo Police Headquarters for medical assistance.

Three personnel were seriously injured, namely Sertu Nando Manurung, Sertu Kantum, and Letda Inf Supardi. They are currently undergoing intensive treatment at Er Dabi Hospital, Yalimo," said Faizal in a written statement in Sentani, Antara, Thursday, September 18.

According to him, the evacuation began at 17.26 WIT by deploying three units of six-wheeled vehicles and three four-wheeled vehicles. The operation was led by Ipda Abdul Azis from the Mobile Brigade Unit of the Papua Police together with TNI and Yalimo Police personnel.

During the evacuation process, the joint team had received mass attacks from various directions. However, the security forces managed to push back the attacking group so that the operation could be completed," he said.

Faizal explained that the riots that sparked the attack stemmed from a misunderstanding between students of SMA Negeri 1 Elelim. The clashes spread, causing around 500 residents to flee to the Yalimo Police Headquarters.

"The buildings were burned down, including shop houses, boarding houses, official houses, official offices, as well as TNI and Polri facilities," he said.

Deputy Head of Peace Operations Cartenz Kombes Adarma Sinaga added that a number of police officers were also victims, including Brigadier Fitrah H. Naing was injured in the face due to a stone throw, Brigadier Muh Aksa Almuthadin was hit by an arrow in the head, and Charles, a TNI soldier, was injured in the head.

The civilian casualties, namely Nasir Daeng Mappa (44) and his son Arsya Dafa (9) died on fire in the car. Another child, Atifa (10), suffered an incision wound to the neck, while Papuan student Sadrak Yohame died from a gunshot wound," he said.