TNI Deploy More Personnel to Evacuate Victims of Papua Killings
December 5, 2018 | 11:50 am
TEMPO.CO, Jayapura - The Military Regional Command (Kodam) XVII in Cendrawasih deployed one additional group from Infantry Battalion (Yonif) 751 VJS Sentani to strengthen the joint personnel assigned to Nduga, Papua following the killings against Istaka Karya workers.
“The military personnel are now in Wamena, departed from Sentani boarding Hercules aircraft,” Kodam XVII Cendrawasih Commander May. Gen. Joshua Sembiring told Antara today, December 5.
Earlier, as many as 169 joint personnel from Indonesian Military and National Police deployed to Nduga to evacuate the victims killed by an unknown armed group in Yigi District.
Read also: Killings in Nduga, KontraS: Circle of Violence in Papua
Other than personnel, four helicopters including one unit of MI and Bolco were deployed for the evacuation process. Joshua said the team was still evacuating workers and wounded personnel.
According to Joshua, the evacuation effort started from Kali Yigi area and around Mount Tabo, but the joint team hampered by the weather and geographical conditions. “We hope there is no significant constraint,” he added.
Previous reports recorded a total of 31 people at the Trans Papua construction site were allegedly killed by armed groups on late Sunday, December 2. During the killings, the workers were building bridges in Yigi River and Aurak River, Yigi District, Nduga Regency, Papua.
ANTARA
