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Separatist group behind shootings at police station in Papua, TNI commander says
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Security officers from the Amole Task Force on standby at Mile 61 in Tembagapura in Mimika, Papua, on Sept. 24. (Photo courtesy of/Papua Police)
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rmed assailants behind the shootings at the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) station at Mile 66 last Sunday in Tembagapura, Mimika Regency, Papua, are members of the separatist group Free Papua Movement (OPM), Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo has said.
“We have identified [the gunmen]. They called themselves OPM,” Gatot said in Jakarta on Tuesday as quoted by kompas.com.
Gatot went on to say TNI personnel in Timika were prepared and ready to be deployed any time the Papua Police requested backup from the military to address security disturbances in the area.
Papua Police have issued the highest security alert, known as Siaga 1, effective on Sunday after a group of armed assailants fired at the Brimob station, resulting in an exchange of fire.
Read also: Papuan separatists end resistance, pledge allegiance to NKRI
Sunday's attack happened less than a week after Brimob officer First. Brig. Berry Pramana Putra was killed in an exchange of fire with unidentified gunmen on Utikini bridge in Tembagapura.
The incident occurred when Brimob personnel stationed in Timika were pursuing a group of armed assailants suspected to be behind security disturbances at PTFI’s mining area in recent months.
Cendrawasih Military Command in Papua has prepared a company-level unit (SSK) as reinforcements for the police. The SSK consists of 100 personnel, the command chief Maj. Gen. George Supit said previously. (afr/dmr)
