The Indonesian government has given special attention to Papua, starting from the extension of special autonomy, infrastructure development to material and moral support when Papua held PON and PEPARNAS. However, the actions of the Papuan Separatist Terrorist Group (KST) have hampered the development carried out by the government.
KST’s actions seem to be getting more and more disturbing. They not only threaten the sovereignty of the state, but also spread terror against civilians, so they often engage in gun battles with TNI-Polri officers.
The KKB attack that killed three TNI soldiers in Puncak Regency, Papua, Thursday, January 27, 2022, added to the long list of firefights involving the TNI-Polri with the armed separatist group.
It was recorded that in the period from 2021 to January 2022, there were dozens of shooting incidents on Earth of Cenderawasih. As a result of this incident, many victims were injured, not a few lives were lost on both sides.
Data from the Papuan Police Chief, compared to 2020, shooting cases involving KKB terrorists experienced a significant increase in 2021. The percentage increase reached 87.75 percent from a total of 49 cases in 2020 to 92 cases in 2021.
The series of KKB terror acts occurred in Intan Jaya, Mimika, Yakuhimo, Nduga, Bintang Mountains, Nduga, Keerom and Puncak Regencies. They also carried out two consecutive attacks at the end of January 2022 in Puncak Regency.
Of the 92 shooting cases that occurred in 2021, Papuan KKB terrorists have killed 44 people. A total of 15 people including members of the TNI-Polri, 18 civilians and the remaining 11 members of the KKB were killed.
As for this year, the Papuan KKB terrorists again carried out a similar brutal action. Unmitigated, they carried out attacks twice in a row throughout Thursday, January 27, 2022, towards the Gome Koramil Post, Battalion Battalion Raider 408/SBH Kodism Task Force.
The series of attacks resulted in the death of three Indonesian Army soldiers and the injury of one other personnel. The first attack occurred in the morning during the shift of personnel at the Gome Koramil Post, Kodim Battalion Raider 408/SBH Task Force.
According to Kapendam XVII/Cenderawasih Colonel Inf. Aqsha Erlangga, soldiers who were changing guard suddenly received consecutive shots from the Papuan KST terrorist group. The soldiers of the YR 408/Sbh Kodim Task Force immediately fought back by firing back.
As a result of the incident that morning, two personnel of the YR 408/Sbh Kodim Task Force were shot, namely Serda Rizal who received a gunshot wound to the bottom. As a result of the gunfire, the two TNI soldiers who suffered gunshot wounds were immediately evacuated to the Ilaga Health Center using a vehicle.
Unfortunately, TNI soldier Serda Rizal was declared dead on his way to the Ilaga Health Center. Meanwhile, the victim, Pratu Tuppal Baraza, breathed his last after receiving first aid from the doctor who treated him.
Moments after the first attack, the Papuan KKB terrorists launched another attack at the same post and injured two TNI soldiers. The victims were Pratu Rahman and Pratu Saeful. Pratu Rahman was declared dead after arriving at the Ilaga Health Center.
As a result of the two series of terrorist attacks by the Papuan KKB against the 408/SBH Yonif Raider Military Command Post Task Force, a total of three TNI soldiers were declared dead and another soldier who was injured is still in critical condition.
In December 2021, KST brutally burned down the building of SMA Negeri 1 Oksibil in Serambakom District, Bintang Mountains Regency. This action seems to show that KST does not want development progress in Papua, especially in the field of education. Whereas education is one of the foundations for advancing a region.
For the actions carried out by KST that are disturbing and hindering development in Papua, of course these groups must be dealt with in accordance with applicable regulations, for the sake of creating security and sustainable development in Papua.
Of course, the government needs to take firm action against KST members for their actions that have been proven to hinder development in Papua. Because development in Papua is the key to increasing a qualified standard of living so that the Papuan people do not lag behind other regions.
Janet Theresia, the writer is a Papuan student living in Bandung