TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The police claimed that they had sent two containers of food to the people who are being held hostage at Kimbely and Banti villages, Mimika Regency, Papua.

However, the effort to send aids was hampered by armed groups, National Police spokesperson Insp. Gen. Setyo Wasisto said. Setyo added that access roads to the villages have been blocked by the armed groups.

“The government sent two containers of food. It turns out the people cannot access the aids,” Setyo said at his office on Tuesday, November 14.

Read: Police Use Persuasive Approach to Face Armed Groups in Papua

Setyo hopes the armed groups would let the aids to reach the villagers. He revealed that among the hostages are women and children. “Several days ago, there was a pregnant woman who needed extra food and milk.”

In addition to sending logistics assistance, Setyo revealed that the National Police had tried to establish communication with the armed groups, which was later rejected. “We had sent a radio to them, but they refused it,” he said.

To this date, the authorities are still in negotiations with the armed groups. The National Police has also named 21 suspects included in a wanted list for committing terror acts in Tembagapura, Papua. The suspects are still at large.

Human Rights lawyer Veronica Koman dismissed the information saying that the people at the two Papua's villages were being held as hostages. Veronica claimed that the police has manipulated the information by saying that 1,300 people at Kimbely and Banti villages were intimidated. She also alleged that the police had manipulated facts related to the situation.

ANDITA RAHMA