KST Papua is acting up again and continuing to spread threats to terror and fear to the public. After they took hostage a Susi Air pilot who has yet to be released and also shot at the security forces guarding the mosque, now they have returned to shooting at members of the TNI causing these personnel to die on the field with a gunshot wound to the head.
The Indonesian people still remember that some time ago, the Papuan Separatist and Terrorist Group (KST) took hostage a Susi Air Pilot named Philip Mark Mahrtens , who has not even been released since being taken hostage on February 7 2023 . .
Regarding this matter, the Head of the Enforcement and Capability Development Division of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), Inspector General of Police Ibnu Suhendra emphasized that the hostage taking carried out by KST Papua on Pilot Susi Air who is a New Zealand national is an act of terrorism.
How could it not be, because KST Papua did not just take hostages after they attacked and burned the Susi Air plane, but they also demanded independence by threatening to kill the pilot if the demands they made were not met .
Of course, it is very clear that the methods carried out by KST Papua, according to Inspector General Ibnu, are things that are very identifiable with acts of terrorism . For him, the terror network operating in Indonesian territory at the moment is indeed using a strategy to continue to spread fear in the public as a way to achieve their goals.
He said handling acts of terrorism required systematic, measurable and coordinated efforts so that the problem could be resolved properly. Ibnu also added that terrorism is a complex problem that cannot be handled haphazardly. There is an ideology that must be fought, as well as the root of the problem that must be resolved.
On that occasion, Moya Institute Executive Director Hery Sucipto said the BNPT had emphasized that Law Number 5 of 2018 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism could be applied to acts of violence committed by the KKB including the Susi Air pilot taking hostage.
According to him, the violence perpetrated by KST Papua has indeed fulfilled an element of criminal acts of terrorism because they have certain political motives and have also committed security disturbances accompanied by a sense of fear that continues to be disseminated in society.
Hery added that with this very dilemmatic condition, of course, a solution must be found as soon as possible. He also hopes that the Susi Air pilot can be rescued and released. But he also really wants that the violence that has been perpetrated by KST Papua so far can be stopped.
It’s still not over with the Susi Air pilot hostage case, but it turns out that KST Papua is still acting up and trying to spread fear in the community.
After this incident, KST Papua then continued their ruthless actions by carrying out attacks on joint TNI and Polri personnel who were guarding the Tarawih prayer service in Puncak Jaya Regency, Central Papua. As a result of the attack, even as many as 2 (two) out of 3 (three) people were declared victims and died.
The identities of the members who were shot were Serda Riswar , member of the 1714-02/Ilu Koramil and Bripda Mesak Indey , member of the Ilu Police . Serda Riswar suffered gunshot wounds to the spine and lower chin , while Bripda Mesak Indey was injured in the abdomen. While one other personnel , namely Brigadier M Arif Hidayat , suffered a gunshot wound in the thigh.
It is known that the crime occurred at 20:00 WIT, where an unknown person suddenly carried out the attack. They opened fire from behind the mosque .
Most recently, they carried out an attack on the Yonif R 321/GT/13/1 Kostrad Task Force Post, Yal District, Nduga Regency , Highlands Papua on Monday , April 3 , 2023 yesterday .
In connection with the attack , according to the Korem 172/PWY Commander , Brigjem JO Sembiring , KST Papua had caused a soldier with the initials Pratu H to die in the field due to a gunshot wound to the head.
Sembiring admitted that it was not known which group the shooter was from. However, he ensured that all TNI-Polri personnel were on alert to anticipate any follow-up attacks.
It is known that Pratu H himself at that time was guarding the Gapura 2 Post . It was later discovered that the direction of fire was thought to have come from the Yigi Pos hill , which was an effective distance of around 300 to 400 meters. Then from the sound of gunshots, it is estimated that the perpetrator used a long-barreled firearm.
Then, according to JO Sembiring , the latest news is that Pratu H is planned to be immediately flown to his hometown in Sumbawa , West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) today, Tuesday 4 April 2023. Currently, the victim has been evacuated to the Mimika Hospital for resuscitation .
KST Papua’s heinous actions must be stopped and they must be arrested so that they can be brought to justice before court. With a firm commitment from the security forces, it is hoped that peace in Papua will return and sustainable development will soon be realized .
)* The author is a Contributor to the Windows Baca Institute