Pangdam XVII/Cenderawasih: Nduga Residents Still Fleeing Afraid of KKB

Pangdam XVII/Cenderawasih Major General Izak Pangemanan. (ANTARA/Evarukdijati)

JAYAPURA - Pangdam XVII/Cenderawasih Major General TNI Izak Pangemanan acknowledged that some residents of Nduga Regency, Mountain Papuans are still displaced due to KKB disturbances.

"It is true that a number of areas in Nduga Regency were reported to be empty because residents fled a number of areas, including Wamena and Timika.

"However, it is not yet certain how many residents have fled", said TNI Major General Izak Pangemanan as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, October 10.

From the reports received, it was revealed that a number of areas in Nduga Regency were already empty due to residents fleeing for fear of acts of violence carried out by the KKB.

The areas whose residents have fled are Mapnduma, Mugi, Paro and Yal, while the villages whose residents have returned are Dal, Mbua and Yigi, although not all have returned.

He hopes that the KKB will immediately release the pilot who is still being held hostage by the Egianus Kogoya group and will no longer interfere so that development can be carried out again and residents return to their hometowns.

"People want to return to their hometowns but are afraid of the KKB", said Pangdam XVII Cenderawasih Major General TNI Izak Pangemanan.

The KKB led by Egianus Kogoya has held pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens hostage since February 7 in Paro.

Apart from that, KKB also burned the Susi Air plane he was piloting.