2) Local Parliament urged to question security forces’ deployment to different regencies in Papua
3) TNI HQ confirms no additional deployment of troops in Papua 20th December 2019
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1) Gunmen attack plane in Indonesia's Papua
Saturday, 21 Dec 2019 8:11 PM MYT
JAKARTA: Gunmen opened fire on a small commercial plane as it landed in Indonesia's restive province of Papua carrying nine passengers, one of the plane's pilots said on Saturday (Dec 21). No casualties were reported.
The attack occurred in the hilly district of Puncak, a stronghold of separatists who have battled Indonesian rule in the mineral-rich but impoverished region since the early 1960s, said the Indonesian co-pilot, Purwanto Condro Usodo.
Usodo said that he and the Australian pilot, Michael Cumming, were initially unaware of the shooting and managed to land the aircraft safely at Beoga airport from the mining town of Timika until passengers told them that they saw gunmen spray the plane with bullets while landing.
Usodo said in a video obtained by media on Saturday from a source in the Indonesian army that about 30 minutes later, the gunmen tried to shoot people who were unloading supplies and luggage from the plane.
But the gunmen fled into the jungle after soldiers on the ground returned fire, while the pilots and passengers were evacuated to a security post near the airport.
It was unclear whether any of the gunmen were killed in the shootout, which lasted over three hours, Usodo said.
Military spokesmen did not answer calls seeking comment on the shooting, which happened amid an apparent escalation of attacks since Dec. 1 by the West Papua National Liberation Army, or TPNPB, the military wing of the Free Papua Movement.
A declaration of independence from Dutch rule on Dec. 1, 1961, was rejected by the Dutch and later by Indonesia.
A low-level insurgency for independence has simmered in Papua since it was transferred from Dutch to Indonesian rule in 1963.
The region, which makes up the western half of the island of New Guinea, was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 following a UN-sponsored ballot that has since been dismissed as a sham.
Indonesian military and police said earlier that three soldiers and a policeman have been killed during recent clashes in Papua, sparking fear among residents of the predominantly Christian region, with the attacks coming just ahead of Christmas. - AP
The attack occurred in the hilly district of Puncak, a stronghold of separatists who have battled Indonesian rule in the mineral-rich but impoverished region since the early 1960s, said the Indonesian co-pilot, Purwanto Condro Usodo.
Usodo said in a video obtained by media on Saturday from a source in the Indonesian army that about 30 minutes later, the gunmen tried to shoot people who were unloading supplies and luggage from the plane.
It was unclear whether any of the gunmen were killed in the shootout, which lasted over three hours, Usodo said.
Military spokesmen did not answer calls seeking comment on the shooting, which happened amid an apparent escalation of attacks since Dec. 1 by the West Papua National Liberation Army, or TPNPB, the military wing of the Free Papua Movement.
A declaration of independence from Dutch rule on Dec. 1, 1961, was rejected by the Dutch and later by Indonesia.
A low-level insurgency for independence has simmered in Papua since it was transferred from Dutch to Indonesian rule in 1963.
The region, which makes up the western half of the island of New Guinea, was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 following a UN-sponsored ballot that has since been dismissed as a sham.
Indonesian military and police said earlier that three soldiers and a policeman have been killed during recent clashes in Papua, sparking fear among residents of the predominantly Christian region, with the attacks coming just ahead of Christmas. - AP
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2) Local Parliament urged to question security forces’ deployment to different regencies in Papua
Jayapura, Jubi – The Second Secretary of Papua Customary Council of the Third Papua Congressional Hearing in Biak, John NR Gobai, urges the Papua House of Representatives to clarify the police and military regarding the deployment of security forces in several regencies since the last week.
He said he got the information from the people if 13 December 2019 a total of four helicopters of the air force that transport the armed military forces to Paniai Regency. The next day, about five to ten trucks of military forces departed from Nabire to Dogiyai, Paniai and Deiyai.
“I also get the information, in Sugapa, Intan Jaya Regency on 13 and 14 December 2019, there were military and Brimob personnel sent there using the helicopter. As well as at Beoga, Puncak Regency,” Gobai told Jubi on Tuesday (17/12/2019).
He worried that the troops’ deployment to some regencies would emerge unrest among people during the Christmas.
According to Gobay, some days ago he has asked this issue to the military commander of Cenderawasih/XVII about the deployment that aims to secure the Christmas 2019 and New Year Eve 2020, as well as the shift of on-duty personnel for several months in many areas of Papua to their units.
“I hope the Papua house of representatives immediately asks for clarification on the existence of these troops in many regencies. Do not let this situation occurred for a long time. I am worried it makes people trauma,” he said.
Moreover, he said it would be better if there are no additional troops deployed to many areas in Papua. the security in each regency/municipality should be handed over to local security forces on “We have also asked the National Human Rights Commission to review this situation and back up our request,” he said.
A day before, the Vice Commander of Mobile Brigade Corps, Brigadier General Abdul Rakhman Baso, said Brimob still prepare about 5.000 personnel to secure the Chrismas and New Year Eve in Papua and Papua Barat.
Quoted by Antara News Agency, Abdul Rakhman Baso said the Brimob personnel will be divided into several task units. (*)
Reporter: Arjuna Pademme
Editor: Pipit Maizier
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3) TNI HQ confirms no additional deployment of troops in Papua 20th December 2019
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Defense Forces (TNI) Headquarters does not intend to dispatch additional troops to Papua Province after an exchange of fire with the armed criminal group on Tuesday (Dec 17) that killed its two soldiers.
Although another gunfight broke out, the TNI Headquarters will not step up the number of troops stationed in the easternmost Indonesian province, Chief of the TNI Information Center Major General Sisriadi clarified at the TNI Headquarters in Cilangkao, East Jakarta, on Friday.
"Papua continues to use troops that have been stationed there," he remarked.
Related news: TNI Commander Tjahjanto to take office in Papua
Related news: Withdraw troops from Papua to avoid confrontation: analyst
Two TNI soldiers -- identified as First Lieutenant Erizal Zuhry Sidabutar and Second Sergeant Rizky Ramadhan -- were killed after members of the armed criminal group in Intan Jaya District, Papua Province, attacked them on Tuesday, (Dec 17).
The bodies of the two soldiers were flown in to Jakarta and Medan, North Sumatra, respectively on Thursday (Dec 19) for burial. The body of First Lieutenant Erizal was flown to Kualanamu Airport in Medan soon after arriving at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Cengkarang, west of Jakarta.
In the meantime, the body of Second Sergeant Rizky Ramadhan was laid in state at the bereaved family's house shortly after it was brought to Jakarta. He would later be buried at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery in South Jakarta on Friday.
Sisriadi stated that the two soldiers killed in the line of duty would receive posthumous ranks.
Related news: Social approach needed to settle Papua conflict: Kalla
Although another gunfight broke out, the TNI Headquarters will not step up the number of troops stationed in the easternmost Indonesian province, Chief of the TNI Information Center Major General Sisriadi clarified at the TNI Headquarters in Cilangkao, East Jakarta, on Friday.
"Papua continues to use troops that have been stationed there," he remarked.
Related news: TNI Commander Tjahjanto to take office in Papua
Related news: Withdraw troops from Papua to avoid confrontation: analyst
Two TNI soldiers -- identified as First Lieutenant Erizal Zuhry Sidabutar and Second Sergeant Rizky Ramadhan -- were killed after members of the armed criminal group in Intan Jaya District, Papua Province, attacked them on Tuesday, (Dec 17).
The bodies of the two soldiers were flown in to Jakarta and Medan, North Sumatra, respectively on Thursday (Dec 19) for burial. The body of First Lieutenant Erizal was flown to Kualanamu Airport in Medan soon after arriving at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Cengkarang, west of Jakarta.
In the meantime, the body of Second Sergeant Rizky Ramadhan was laid in state at the bereaved family's house shortly after it was brought to Jakarta. He would later be buried at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery in South Jakarta on Friday.
Sisriadi stated that the two soldiers killed in the line of duty would receive posthumous ranks.
Related news: Social approach needed to settle Papua conflict: Kalla
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