By : Charles Tabuni )*
KST’s hideout was found and the security forces raided it. The community supports the actions taken by the security forces because separatist groups must be dealt with firmly. KST caused a lot of harm to the community and took the lives of indigenous Papuans (OAP) so that decisive action must be taken.
The Separatist and Terrorist Group (KST) became even more desperate when the joint TNI-Polri apparatus succeeded in finding their headquarters. KST’s position is increasingly threatened because the authorities are hunting them down to the interior, for the mission of eradicating the separatist group. The KST pursuit mission was carried out by the Cartenz Damai Task Force Team together with the National Police so that the separatist group was caught quickly.
A joint team consisting of Yahukimo Police personnel and the Cartenz Peace Task Force 2023 raided one of the houses where the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) was hiding on Thursday morning, May 4 2023 at around 03.00 WIT. The house is located on Jalan Paradiso Behind the Anggruk Complex, Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Mountains Province.
The Head of Public Relations of the Papua Police, Kombes Ignatius Benny Ady Prabowo stated that from the results of the raid, 9 people were successfully arrested. The initials were SL, NM, JS, ES, HS, LS, LS, GS, SS along with other evidence (BB).
In addition to the 9 KST members, the police also secured a number of pieces of evidence in the form of personal document files, luggage such as bags, electronic devices, sharp weapons in the form of arrows, axes, machetes, knives, scissors, air rifles and tools, as well as 1 homemade weapon.
The discovery of the base and the capture of KST members is a very good development. If the headquarters as well as the ammunition depot is found, the source of KST firearms will decrease. As a result, they can no longer attack residents or security forces in Papua.
Currently, it is predicted that KST will be increasingly under pressure because the number of officers deployed in Papua has increased. No less than 900 joint TNI-Polri personnel deployed on Cendrawasih Land, on the mission to eradicate KST.
The community supports the crackdown on KST and the raid on their headquarters. So far, the peace in the land of Papua has been damaged by the KST because they caused trouble by shooting civilians and soldiers on duty. KST did this because they wanted to liberate Papua, so they were looking for all ways to expel the security forces, because they were considered representatives of the Indonesian government.
It’s only natural for KST to be called terrorists because they carry out attacks and terror, even taking hostages. KST must be eradicated so as not to harm Papuans, both natives and immigrants. Therefore, the people continue to support the National Police, which cooperates with the TNI in its mission to eradicate this separatist group.
Meanwhile, the authorities also raided the KST headquarters last April. a KST member named Yomce Lokbere, was arrested in Batas Batu, Nduga Regency, Papua, on April 5 2023. He was a KKB member whose job was to look for logistics, including firearms and ammunition.
From Yomce’s statement, it was revealed that KST’s headquarters and ammunition depot were revealed. Head of the Cartenz 2023 Peaceful Gakum Ops Task Force Kombes IGG Era Adhinata stated that the warehouse was for storage of firearms, ammunition and various telecommunications equipment.
In detail, AR 15 long guns, air rifles, GLM, and one type of FN firearm each, 415 rounds of ammunition of various calibers including 360 rounds of caliber 5.56, five HT Ocom, laptops, binoculars, Canon brand cameras, telescopes, and SSB radios. All evidence was secured at the Mimika Police, Timika.
Meanwhile, currently Yomce Lokbere is still being investigated. From the data we have, it is revealed that Yomce Lokbere has been involved in a number of armed actions in Nduga Regency since 2021.
As for the violence involving Yomce Lokbere, in 2021 it consisted of burning the Dollarossa Camp and shooting with the Yonif Raider 700 Task Force in the Mapenduma area.
In 2022, Yomce was involved in shooting down a SAM AIR PK-SMG aircraft at the Kenyam airfield. Then in 2023 he was involved in threatening 15 workers for the construction of a puskesmas in Paro. Meanwhile, on 7 February 2023 he was involved in burning an airplane and taking a Susi Air pilot hostage in Paro District.
The discovery of the base and the capture of KST members is a very good development. If the headquarters as well as the ammunition depot is found, the source of KST firearms will decrease. As a result, they can no longer attack residents or security forces in Papua.
Currently it is predicted that KST will be increasingly pressured because the number of officers deployed in Papua has increased. No less than 900 joint TNI-Polri personnel deployed on Cendrawasih Land, on the mission to eradicate KST.
The community fully supports the National Police and the TNI in raiding the KST headquarters because these separatist groups must be dealt with. Currently, KST is increasingly under pressure when its members are caught and their base and ammunition depot are revealed. The number of officers deployed in Papua was added for the KST eradication mission. Communities are encouraged to work together in eradicating the separatist group.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Jakarta
