By: Timothy Gobay) *
The Armed Criminal Group is an enemy of the state and society, which always hinders various development programs. These groups are often involved in heinous acts by shooting at civilians. The public was also asked to be aware of their brutal actions, including being aware of the smuggling of firearms.
The police uncovered elements in the West Papua national committee (KNPB) in supplying firearms to armed criminal groups (KKB). The perpetrator served as the organization’s secretary.
The perpetrator on behalf of Naftali Tipagau alias Niel Tipagau (25). So far, he has been in charge of finding ammunition and firearms for the KKB.
The Papua Police Chief, Inspector General Pol Paulus Waterpaw in Jayapura City said the suspect was also active in the KNPB organization with a position as general secretary of the Intan Jaya Regency.
He is also considered to be active in carrying out propaganda by raising issues of human rights violations by security forces on social media. Naftali also supports efforts to reject the Papuan special autonomy and the 2021 national civil strike.
The perpetrator was successfully secured by officers on Monday 4 January 2021 at 17.30 WIT in front of the Yapis Jayapura University campus without resistance. Currently Naftali is being secured at the Papua Police Headquarters.
Paulus said the suspect was charged under Article 1 Paragraph (1) of the Emergency Law No. 12 of 1951 in conjunction with Article 55 of the Criminal Code.
He also said that Nabire Regency is currently the main route for smuggling illegal firearms to the mountainous region of Papua.
Since early 2020, security forces have succeeded in thwarting the sale and purchase of illegal firearms and ammunition in Nabire.
On January 25, 2020, at that time the police officers took action against the ammunition purchase transaction made by NT with Paulus Tebay.
At the time of the prosecution, the joint apparatus managed to arrest Paulus Tebay along with 20 rounds of 9 mm ammunition and Rp 1,110,000 in cash.
Then on October 21, 2020, the Joint TNI and Polri Team arrested members of the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) Bripka JH in connection with the smuggling of M16 and M4 rifles, in Nabire.
At that time, the team also found a Glock type short rifle owned by the DC suspect on October 22.
As for MJH several times got paid for carrying out these 7 weapons. In total, MJH received money worth Rp. 155 million.
After being confirmed about the smuggling, the Head of Nabire Police, AKBP Kariawan Barus, admitted that he did not know for sure the reason why Nabire is currently the main route for smuggling illegal firearms in Papua.
He assessed that Nabire’s existence was part of a transit area for the five surrounding districts, namely Paniai, Deiyai, Dogiyai, Intan Jaya and Mimika.
According to him, many districts in the Mepago customary area depend heavily on Nabire because the logistics distribution all comes from that area.
In addition, the entrance to Nabire, which can be accessed by air, sea and land from Manokwari, West Papua, also facilitates the entry of illegal firearms into Nabire.
Kariawan said, this is indeed a concern of his party because logistics include a lot of staple goods from here. Access to Nabire can also be accessed by land, sea and air. Well, this must be tightened.
The disclosure of the case of selling firearms from the Philippines to Papua and being revealed in Nabire on November 6, 2020, is confirmed to strengthen the existence of KKB in Intan Jaya.
This is because the police have checked YZ or Jhon’s travel history as a gun buyer.
YZ itself is now being chased by the police and has been put on the wanted list (DPO) for the illegal sale and purchase of firearms.
YZ’s relationship with KKB in Intan Jaya has yet to be confirmed because there is not enough information about him.
He made sure that YZ often traveled the Nabire – Intan Jaya route.
From the disclosure of the case, it was found out if there had been a weapons sale and purchase transaction in Sanfer, Sangihe Regency, North Sulawesi between RB and YZ.
Then MS and SS acted as a courier carrying 12 firearms in 2 cartons.
The smuggling of firearms is of course an illegal act and is dangerous for the integrity of the Republic of Indonesia, law enforcers need to take firm action against anyone who smuggles weapons for armed criminal groups.
) * The author is a Papuan student living in Gorontalo