Appreciation of Apkam’s Measurable Actions towards KST Papua Headquarters Throughout 2023
By: Vina Emani *)
Throughout 2023, the joint TNI and Polri troops have succeeded in controlling 42 places that serve as headquarters for the Papuan Separatist Terrorist Group (KST Papua). Apart from the headquarters, security forces also succeeded in confiscating dozens of firearms and thousands of ammunition belonging to KST Papua. This indicates that the security forces have succeeded in carrying out their duties to eradicate and take firm action against Papuan KST members.
Head of the Cartenz Damai Task Force (Kasatgas), Police Commissioner Faizal Ramadhani said that his party had succeeded in occupying or controlling 42 KST Papua headquarters in several Papua Regional Police jurisdictions and succeeded in confiscating dozens of firearms of various types from KST Papua.
During the search, Police Commissioner Faizal Ramadhani succeeded in finding and confiscating a number of firearms with a total of 32 firearms of various types, 1,279 rounds of ammunition, 25 magazines, 107 communication devices, 31 bladed weapons, as well as 334 KST Papua attributes from the 42 headquarters.
Furthermore, Police Commissioner Faizal Ramadhani said that from January to the end of December 2023, law enforcement carried out by the TNI-Polri killed 19 members of the Papuan KST. Meanwhile, the total number of victims who died in the incident in Papua, both TNI-Polri officers and civilians, reached 60 people, consisting of 20 TNI soldiers, three Polri members and 37 civilians.
Then, a series of incidents involving KST Papua resulted in 84 people being injured, consisting of 24 TNI soldiers, seven members of the National Police, 50 civilians and three members of KST Papua itself. Police Commissioner Faizal detailed that the security disturbances carried out by KST Papua consisted of 20 firefights, two post attacks, 19 gunshots and 39 shootings, 16 cases of serious abuse, five cases of light abuse, five murders, 32 arsons and 52 other disturbances.
It was previously known that KST Papua had carried out a sudden attack on the Bousha Post with 10 shots from the front of the Pamtas Task Force Post. Head of the TNI Information Center (Kapuspen), Brigadier General Nugraha Gumilar, said that joint forces were still continuing to comb the route of the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) or KST Papua who attacked Infantry Battalion (Yonif) 133/Yudha Sakti soldiers in the District. South Aifat, Kab. Maybrat, Southwest Papua. The chase and search were carried out via the KST Papua escape route in the area around the North Aifat and South Aifat Districts which were their movement areas.
The attack resulted in two soldiers being shot, one of whom died. The soldier, Pratu Frengky Gulo, was critically injured as a result of the attack. Meanwhile, a soldier in the name of Kopda Hendrianto died.
Meanwhile, Papuan Young Leader, Ali Kabiay said that his party appreciated the ranks of the TNI and Polri who had succeeded in controlling the headquarters and confiscating a number of firearms belonging to KST Papua. Ali Kabiay, who is the Secretary of the Indonesian Red and White Front, also said that the eradication of KST Papua members throughout 2023 should be appreciated.
As is known, from year to year the terror carried out by KST Papua has become increasingly brutal and has become a source of conflict that must be eradicated. Their existence has made civil society miserable and they continue to live in worry. The violence and massacres they commit must be fought against.
The joint forces must not stop pursuing Papuan KST members and attacking their headquarters in the middle of the forest. In fact, where there is a new headquarters, the security forces must immediately carry out an attack on it.
On the other hand, it is time for the community to play a role in eradicating KST Papua which always creates chaos on Earth of Cenderawasih and carries out various acts of terror against innocent civilians. The community must unite in maintaining security from attacks by KST Papua members.
Not only physically, KST Papua also carried out acts of terror by provoking the Papuan people to fight against the Government. The public must not be influenced by propaganda and hoaxes deliberately created by KST Papua members. Apart from that, the community must have the courage to fight and report the existence of KST Papua directly to the security forces in their respective regions.
Thus, if collaboration between the security forces and the community is carried out to eradicate KST Papua, security in the area will improve and in the future the Papuan people can return to their activities in peace without being haunted by acts of KSTP terror. The lives of Papuans will be more prosperous and prosperous because there are no obstacles to the growth and development of the Land of Papua.
*) The author is a student at Cendrawasih University
