REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAYAPURA -- A total of 30 police officers had been shot dead and 57 were injured by members of armed separatist criminal group over the last 10 years (2008-June 2018) in Indonesia's eastern most province of Papua. Inspector General Boy Rafli Amar, chief of the Papua Provincial Police, revealed the data in a statement on the reflection of the first semester of 2018, here, on Tuesday.
In addition to police officers, a total of 78 civilians were shot dead by separatists, and 117 others were wounded.
"The slain police officers include two Puncak Jaya policemen who were shot recently while guarding gubernatorial election in Torere sub-district recently," Rafli noted.
Most of the incidents happened in the mountainous areas, such as in Puncak Jaya, Puncak, and Mimika. Terrors by the separatist groups have become threats in Papua.
"We continue to handle the groups in accordance with the existing procedures," he remarked.
The police would never shoot the killers without following the standard of operation, he added.
Brigadier Sinton Kbarek was shot on the left side of his chest while guarding a gubernatorial election in Torere Sub-district, Mamberamo Raya District, Papua, on June 27, 2018. Seven police officers of Puncak Jaya survived, two police officers went missing, and Obaja Froare was killed.
The two missing officers were Brigadier Sinton Kbarek, whose body was found on July 1, while another officer Jesaya Nusi was found on July 3.
Members of the armed criminal group have also frequently posed a threat to aircraft in Papua Province. They have shot down several aircraft while landing and injured many pilots.
On June 25, a Twin Otter aircraft belonging to Trigana Air was shot by members of armed criminal group (KKB) at Kenyam airport, Nduga District, Papua Province. The aircraft, being charted by the Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob), landed in Kenyam at 9:40 a.m. local time after flying from Wamena. While on its way to park, the plane was shot, and its pilot Ahmad Abdillah Kamil was injured in the back.
On June 22, 2018, a Twin Otter plane, owned by Demonim, was also shot while landing in Kenyam, injuring the right leg of pilot Irene Nur Farida.
Besides, on Monday (June 25), three civilians were shot dead and two others were injured by members of an armed criminal group (KKB) near Kenyam Airport.
The bodies of the three civilians were taken to the local police, but information on the two injured residents was not available.
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