After 5 Days Killed By Armed Criminal Group, Eight Corpses Of PT PTT Employees In Beoga Papua Evacuated By Cartenz Peace Team

Nelson Sarira being evacuated. He became the only employee of PT. PTT who survived the KKB massacre (ANTARA/HO/Pendam XVII Cenderawasih)

JAKARTA - The Cartenz Peace Operations Team finally evacuated the bodies of eight victims of the attack by the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) against employees of PT Palapa Timur Telematika (PTT) in the interior of Beoga District, Puncak Regency, Papua Province.

Papuan Police Chief Inspector General Pol. Mathius D. Fakhiri said the evacuation process was carried out through the Sugapa District in Intan Jaya Regency, before being flown to Timika.

"Hopefully the weather and other factors will support it, so that all the bodies can arrive in Timika, including the members who evacuated," Mathius said when contacted by Antara from Jayapura, Monday, March 7.

The evacuation process through the transit at Sugapa was carried out because it was closer to the location, so it could facilitate the next process when the body was taken outside.

Previously, the Head of Cartenz Peace Operations Kombes Pol. Muhammad Firman explained that three helicopters were deployed to evacuate the bodies of the eight PT PTT employees.

Since 07.30 a.m. local time, helicopters have flown to the location of the incident on the border between Puncak Regency and Intan Jaya Regency, Firman told Antara, Monday.

The three helicopters that were deployed to evacuate the victims were two civilian helicopters and one from the National Armed Forces (TNI).

"Hopefully the evacuation can run safely and smoothly," said Firman.

The attack on PT PTT employees occurred on Wednesday (2/3), with one survivor named Nelson Sarira and eight victims dead.

The eight victims who died were three PT PTT employees, namely Billy Garibaldi, Renal Tegasye Surea, and Bona Simanulang; a citizen who guides Gogon or Bebi Tabuni; and four contractor employees, namely Jamaluddin, Syahril Nurdiansyah, Ibo, and Eko Septiansyah.

Nelson Sarira, when he was evacuated, he was quite shaken (traumatic). It was nothing, he waited for the rescue team for three days at the site of the massacre.

Nelson said, Wednesday (2/3) early morning around 03.00 a.m. local time, the PT PTT employee camp was visited by about 10 KKB members.

Armed gangs carrying a number of sharp tools such as machetes, axes, and even carrying several firearms went straight to the PTT employee camp to carry out massacres of employees who were still fast asleep.

Nelson Sarira managed to escape so he could survive. From his hiding place, Nelson also heard gunshots at the PTT camp. Nelson only dared to return to the camp after making sure the situation was completely safe.