The shooting incident resulted in civilian casualties and sparked panic among residents. Joint forces moved quickly to evacuate women and children after a burst of gunfire was heard from the direction of Camp David across the river.
The Head of Information for the TNI Habema Operations Command, Lieutenant Colonel M. Wirya Arthadiguna, explained that TNI Task Force personnel had previously detected suspicious activity around the MP 69 area before the sound of gunfire was heard.
“Based on the monitoring results, two gunshots were heard from the direction of Camp David across the river, suspected to have originated from the OPM group led by Guspi Waker,” said Lieutenant Colonel M. Wirya Arthadiguna.
The situation then escalated into a tense situation after the armed group reportedly opened fire in rapid succession towards the Camp Wini Kalikuluk area, located in the middle of a residential area. Under these circumstances, security forces prioritized the rescue of civilians to prevent further casualties.
“Based on the principle of public safety as the highest law, the top priority is evacuating residents, especially women and children,” stressed Lieutenant Colonel M. Wirya Arthadiguna.
The swift action of the joint forces successfully assisted in the evacuation of hundreds of residents to a safer location. However, during the rescue operation, officers discovered a girl with a gunshot wound to the left shoulder. The victim was taken to the nearest health facility on a makeshift stretcher, but her life could not be saved.
“The brutal act, allegedly carried out by a group led by Guspi Waker, not only spread fear, but also claimed the life of an innocent girl estimated to be 12 to 15 years old,” added Lieutenant Colonel M. Wirya Arthadiguna.
In addition to the fatality, another resident suffered a gunshot wound to the left calf and is currently undergoing intensive medical treatment. Joint forces from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), the Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob), and the Amole Task Force are currently intensifying security patrols in the Tembagapura area to anticipate further disturbances from armed groups.
Tembagapura Police Chief, First Inspector Firman, stated that authorities are continuing their efforts to ensure that all victims receive prompt and safe treatment.
“There are currently two fatalities. One, Narlince Wamang, is still in Tembagapura, and the other died at the Charitas Hospital,” said First Inspector Firman.
Amidst this situation, security forces are continuing to investigate the shooting case to ensure optimal handling. Security at several strategic locations has been strengthened to provide a sense of security to the community.
Central Papua Regional Police Chief, Brigadier General Jermias Rontini, emphasized that a thorough investigation is still underway to ensure the information provided to the public is completely accurate.
“We are continuing to conduct further verification to ensure the information provided to the public is completely accurate,” concluded Brigadier General Jermias Rontini.