Police, TNI Evacuate Hundreds of Papuans from Captivity
17 November 2017 22:34 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A team of rescuers consisting of the National Police and the Indonesian Military (TNI) evacuated residents of Kimbely and Banti villages in Papua, who were taken hostage by a local armed criminal group.
According to National Police spokesperson Insp. Gen. Setyo Wasisto, the authorities have successfully secured Kimbely and Banti villages at 09:30 a.m. local time.
Read: Police Reveal Latest Development on Papua Hostage Situation
The first part of the evacuation process at 11:00 AM up to 12:00 PM was hampered by resistance from the local armed group. The first phase of the evacuation managed to safely free the first group to the Tembangpura Police headquarters.
Papua Police Chief Inspector General Boy Rafli Amar stated that the liberation operation went as planned.
“None of the residents fell victim,” he said in an official video released by Police on Friday, November 17.
Read: Food Allotment for Papua Hostages Blocked by Armed Group: Police
The evacuation process was conducted on foot considering that the route to Tembagapura was almost inaccessible. Authorities suspect that the road was intentionally damaged by the armed group with heavy machinery.
Based on the temporary data provided by the police, as many as 104 men, 32 women, and 14 children were rescued. There were also 153 men, 31 women, and 10 children rescued from the landslide area.
ANDITA RAHMA
