TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto denied recent rumors accusing the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) had utilized explosive devices upon evacuating residents from threats posed by the Free Papua Movement (OPM).
He maintained that only grenade launchers were used in TNI’s rescue attempt in Nduga District, Papua. Wiranto’s clarification came after the Nduga Legislative Council (DPRD), Ikabus Gwijangge, received a tip from locals that civilians had fallen victim to TNI’s evacuation process.
“The sounds created by it may seem similar to a bomb explosion to untrained ears. Bombs are dropped by the air assault, this one is launched from a grenade launcher. Don’t let unverified information like that spread,” said Wiranto today, Dec. 11.
Civilians in the vicinity of the conflict-stricken region of Nduga are currently being evacuated by a joint team comprising of Papua’s TNI personnel, Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob), and non-organic special ops such as the Kopassus.
On December 2, as many as 28 construction workers were attacked by an armed group claiming to be from the Free Papua Movement (OPM) which eventually killed 14 people at Nduga. Others managed to flee the scene but only four people made it to a local army base TNI Yonif 755 in Mbua.
RYAN DWIKY ANGGRIAWAN
