Army, police in Beoga ordered to prioritize civilian protection

Prioritize civilian protection

Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) – Papua Police Chief Insp. Gen. Mathius Fakhiri spoke of having instructed his personnel in Beoga Sub-district, Puncak District, to concentrate on protecting civilians and not respond to the armed Papuan criminals’ provocations.

“I have ordered our personnel there to steer clear of the armed criminals’ provocative shootings. Most importantly, it is important how they ensure the safety and security of residents,” he told ANTARA in Jayapura, the capital of Papua Province, on Monday.

Fakhiri also urged local residents to exercise vigil, and if the needs arises, to take refuge at the nearest police or military posts to ensure protection by the security personnel.

Prioritizing security efforts to protect residents rather than responding to the armed criminals’ provocations is aimed at avoiding more civilians from falling victims, he remarked.

To this end, Fakhiri hinted that more Mobile Brigade (Brimob) personnel would be deployed to Beoga to bolster the strength of those stationed there.

The Nemangkawi task force personnel will also be dispatched to the sub-district to crack down on the notorious armed criminals operating there, according to Fakhiri.

Security disturbances have been reported sporadically from several areas, such as the districts of Puncak and Intan Jaya, where armed Papuan groups operate.

On Thursday (April 8) at about 9:30 a.m. local time, several armed Papuan criminals opened fire at a kiosk in Julukoma Village, Beoga Sub-district, Puncak District.

The shooting incident resulted in the death of a Beoga public elementary school teacher, Oktovianus Rayo.

After killing Rayo, the armed attackers continued their acts of terror by torching three classrooms of the Beoga public senior high school.

On Friday (April 9), the armed Papuan criminals again assaulted another teacher, Yonatan Randen. This junior high school teacher was shot on his chest.

Several villagers attempted in vain to save Randen’s life by moving him to the Beoga public health center.

The armed Papuan criminals continued to pose a hindrance to the local authorities’ endeavor to transport the slain teachers’ coffins to Timika in Mimika District on Friday.

The notorious armed criminals, who stayed put in the Beoga Airport area, only allowed an aircraft carrying the coffins to fly on Saturday (April 10) after they had received a ransom.

On Sunday evening (April 11), the armed criminals again conducted their campaigns of violence by setting ablaze nine classrooms of the Beoga public junior high school.

Related news: Armed Papuans that killed two Beoga teachers are terrorists: House

Prioritize civilian protection news source: ANTARA NEWS