Noise Of Night Eruption In Tembagapura Papua, Police: Not From Firearms

Mimika Resort Police Chief, Papua AKBP IGG Era Adhinata/ Antara

TIMIKA - Mimika Resort Police Chief, Papua AKBP IGG Era Adhinata, confirmed that the eruption that was heard in the vicinity of mile 64, Tembagapura, Wednesday, August 25, did not originate from a firearm eruption.

"It is true that four explosions were heard, but not from gunfire. We have conducted an investigation of the crime scene. There were no gunshot marks or bullet casings found at the location," he said, in Mimika, Papua, as reported by Antara, Thursday, 26 August.

At this time, he said, the authorities were still analyzing where the source of the eruption sound came from, whether it was related to efforts to disrupt security in the PT Freeport Indonesia area, which were orchestrated by armed gangs.

"We are still analyzing whether it has something to do with interference by the KKB or for other reasons. We are currently investigating these things," he said.

In connection with the incident, the Mimika Police are currently coordinating with the joint task force of the TNI and the police to secure the area of PT Freeport Indonesia's national vital object.

During the period of 2021, it is almost unheard of for security disturbances by armed gangs to invade the mining area of PT Freeport Indonesia, both in Tembagapura and other highlands as well as in lowland areas.

On the contrary, the officers have several times captured alive and even shot dead the group's leader.

The peak of security disturbances by the KKB occurred from February to March 2020 when the armed gang entered the central office area of PT Freeport Indonesia in Kuala Kencana and shot and killed one New Zealand employee and several other employees were injured.