Former Papua Police Chief Speaks on the Adversity to Defeat KKB

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian National Police (Polri) on Monday admits the challenges that makes it difficult for authorities to overcome the armed criminal groups (KKB) in Papua. The Head of police intelligence, Gen. Commissioner Paulus Waterpauw attributes the difficulties to the group’s dominating the local terrain. 

“I would like to say that at this moment we are patient about future policies. Because it is truly difficult to handle them [the KKB] as they are able to control the terrain and everything,” said the police general on Monday, May 10.

He insisted that by labelling the armed criminal groups as terrorists the government will be able to trace individuals or organizations that fund the arms used by the groups to clash with Indonesian authorities. This would give a leverage for the antiterrorism squad Densus 88.

The former North Sumatra and Papua police chief frankly is bewildered by the financial abilities of the armed criminal groups as he said many of them are unemployed but are able to purchase weapons. But with the legal grounds under the antiterrorism law the government will be able to look into their sponsors and eliminate the link. 

“It is truly weird for people with no regular income and does not work but are able to purchase pricey firearms and ammunition. Where does that come from?” he said while ensuring that the government’s official labeling of terrorists only applies to armed criminal groups.

Read: Prejudiced Term 'Papua Armed Criminal Group' No Longer Used: Govt

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