MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th January, 2023) An armed group shelled a civilian aircraft that was about to land at the Oksibil Airport in the Indonesian province of Highland Papua, Indonesian news agency Antara reported on Monday, citing local authorities.
"Indeed, a civilian cargo aircraft of the Ikairos (Papua Airlines) was subjected to fire and failed to land," Davi Bustomi, head of the local police, said.
Bustomi specified that the perpetrators managed to shoot through the fuselage, the aircraft's main body section.
There is no information about the composition and motives of the armed group, the report said.
In the spring of 2022, Indonesia declared the separatists militant movements of the indigenous population of Papua as terrorist organizations, in connection with the multiple terrorist attacks carried out in the provinces of Papua and West Papua. The ethnic rebels of West Papua and the Indonesian authorities have been in a state of armed conflict for more than 60 years. The rebels are demanding the separation of West Papua from Indonesia and the establishment of a federation with Papua New Guinea.
Jayapura, Jubi – Spokesman for the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) Sebby Sambom said that in early January 2023, the headquarters had received official reports from TPNPB Leaders in several Defense Regional Commands related to a series of attacks on the Indonesian military (TNI) and police in Papua.
“On January 7, TPNPB KODAP XXXV Bintang Mountains attacked and shot dead TNI/policeintelligence, shot TNI/police patrol cars, the Dimonim Airplane which transported military and police members, and burned 4G towers,” said Sambom forwarding a statement from TPNPB chief of General Staff Maj. Gen. Teryanus Satto on Sunday, January 8, 2023.
Sambom said they carried out the attack at different times and places throughout the Land of Papua in early January 2023.
“The commanders of the XXXV East Bintang Defense Area have returned to shoot with the security forces in Bintang Mountains, precisely in the Esipding Village of Serambakon District. We managed to shoot two spies disguised as motorcycle taxi drivers,” he said.
Sambom said that at SMKN 1 Road in Oksibil, Bintang, his party claimed to have shot a plane carrying Indonesian forces.
The third attack took place at 01:10 p.m. Papua Time in Ipukdol Village. TPNPB troops under the leadership of Kodap XXXV East Star commander Brig. Gen. Ananias Ati Mimin, together with Kodap XXXV East Star operations commander Maj. Yospen Mimin and Battalion commander 3 Snow Troops Col. Elly Kasipka, managed to shoot one patrol car containing police.
“Two passing trucks loaded with joint TNI/police members have been successfully shot,” he said.
Sambom said his party had given a stern warning to all Indonesian immigrants to leave West Papua immediately because the revolution war would soon begin.
“But if they are stubborn and stay, then we are ready to kill them because they are part of the Indonesian Security Forces. Once again, please leave our land Papua from Sorong to Merauke. If you still resist, then we will execute you,” he said.
“TPNPB under Gen. Goliath Naaman Tabuni and operations commander Maj. Gen. Lekagak Telenggen is responsible for the West Papua National Liberation War,” he said. (*)
Jayapura, Jubi – Spokesman for the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) Sebby Sambom said his party had burned down Sentani New Market in Jayapura Regency on Friday, January 6, 2023.
“TPNPB special forces burned down Sentani New Market on January 6, 2023. We burned in accordance with TPNPB’s order on December 1, 2021 that we will carry out a total revolution and expel all Indonesian immigrants in the Land of Papua,” Sambom said on Sunday, January 8, 2023, forwarding a message from TPNPB special member Dorompet Jelemaken who had burned Sentani New Market.
According to the TPNPB, the economy is the thing that maintains Indonesia’s position in the Land of Papua, therefore TPNPB burned the market.
“This arson was purely carried out by TPNPB under the leadership of Gen. Goliath Naaman Tabuni and Maj. Gen. Lekagak Telenggen. We are ready to take responsibility,” he said.
Dorompet Jelemaken told Sambom that according to the TPNPB General Military Emergency Session at the Ngalum Kupel Kodap XV Headquarters on November 29-December 1, 2022, it was instructed that migrants must immediately leave the Land of Papua by 2023.
“The TPNPB troops burned down the market to expel illegal Indonesian immigrants,” he said.
Sambom said that apart from Dorompet Jelemaken, there were five people with him who burned down the market. “This is a struggle to expel Indonesian colonizers on the Land of Papua,” he said. (*)
"However, we understand that there are challenges we are facing right now," Prabowo stated after officiating the Papua Police Office, as per the statement received here, Sunday (January 8).
Prabowo pointed out that one of the challenges is posed by parties, who are reluctant to believe that Papua will be the new centre of economic growth in Indonesia outside Java island.
Jokowi continues to focus on advancing the economy and development in Papua, he stated while adding that the success to organize the XX PON National Games in the region in 2020 demonstrated the success in Papuan development.
"Hence, that is the government's commitment to give full attention to the Papuan people and region," Prabowo noted.
To support priority and major projects in Papua, the police chief underscored the importance of synergy among the military, the police, and the Papuan people.
He pointed out that priority programmes are on the development of tourism destinations, urban regions, and agricultural infrastructures, while some major projects that would be undertaken in Papua include airport development and the placement of health workers.
"Those are measures that the government continues to encourage to realize Indonesia-centric (growth)," he affirmed.
Meanwhile, Prabowo also instructed the Papuan Police Chief and police officers to improve services for the people after the regional police have their new office building.
"All Papua Police officers must strive to improve their quality, particularly for the people, who need police services," the police chief remarked.
Providing good services to the people will demonstrate that the new office building motivated the police to serve the people well, he remarked.
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