Papua Police Search for Missing Members Following Election Attack
30 June 2018 17:56 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Papua Police have mobilized 100 personnel in search of two of its members that went missing while transporting ballot boxes of Papua regional head election (Pilkada).
“Some 100 personnel were deployed to search [for the missing police members] along the Mamberamo Raya river,” said Papua Police Chief Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli in a text message Tempo received today, June 30.
Furthermore, according to National Police Spokesman Insp. Gen. Setyo Wasisto, both men went missing following an attack conducted by an armed group on the day of the election, Wednesday, June 27.
Read: KPU Hopes Papua Pilkada Takes Place before July 3
There were nine police members with Torere District Head Obaja Faroro traveling on two speedboats to the Torere District carrying Pilkada logistics and the ballots.
In the middle of their journey, the group was attacked by the unknown armed group that resulted in the death of the Torere District Head. Five police members jumped off the boat to evade the numerous gunshots. Three of the policemen survived while the other two, Police Insp. Second Class Jesayas H. Nusi and Brigadier Sinton Kabarek, are yet to be found.
Setyo suggests that the armed group responsible for the attack is highly suspected to be connected with the group that shot at a Brimob plane at the Keneyam Airport in Papua just two days prior. The group, according to Setyo, allegedly intended to disrupt the election in Papua (Papua Pilkada 2018).
Andita Rahma
