VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta. Armed Papuan criminals, who shot dead two teachers in Puncak District, Papua Province, were terrorists, according to House of Representatives (DPR) Deputy Speaker Azis Syamsuddin.

"Almost every year, armed criminal groups conduct their acts of terror against civilians in Papua," Syamsuddin noted in a statement that ANTARA quoted here, Monday.

However, Indonesian security personnel, stationed in the province, are still slow in tracing and cracking down on the perpetrators behind the acts of terror.

The armed criminals' deadly assaults on the ill-fated teachers were indeed acts of terrorism, he noted, adding that he extended his deep condolences over their deaths.

The stationed Indonesian military and police personnel should be able to create a sense of security and dispel fear of the armed criminals' acts of terror from the minds of people at large.

"To this end, with a sufficient number of personnel, the military and police must continue to secure all neighborhood areas. Do not allow civilians to again fall victim," he remarked.

Syamsuddin further urged all related parties in the country to seek a comprehensive solution to Papua’s problems, so that locals can gain perpetual peace and prosperity.

Several armed Papuan criminals shot dead two teachers and set ablaze junior and senior high school buildings in Beoga Sub-district, Puncak District, on April 8-9, 2021.

Consequently, several local residents fled their homes and sought refuge at a military post.

Papua Police Chief Insp. Gen. Mathius Fakhiri affirmed that the locals would soon be evacuated to Sugapa Sub-district in Intan Jaya District.

"The violent acts of the armed Papuan criminals are brutal," Fakhiri noted, adding that some 25 personnel of the police's elite Mobile Brigade unit, stationed at the Beoga police precinct, partook in the efforts to secure and protect the refugees.

Security disturbances have been reported sporadically from several areas, such as the districts of Puncak and Intan Jaya, where armed Papuan groups operate.

Intan Jaya recorded its bloodiest month in September 2020, with notorious armed groups launching a series of attacks in the area that claimed the lives of two soldiers and two civilians and left two others injured.

These notorious armed Papuan groups have continued their acts of terror during the new year.

On January 6, 2021, some 10 armed Papuans vandalized and torched a Quest Kodiak aircraft belonging to the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) at the Pagamba Village airstrip.

The armed groups often employ hit-and-run tactics against Indonesian security personnel, while they unleash acts of terror against civilians to instill a sense of fear among the people.

On February 8, 2021, an armed rebel reportedly shot a 32-year-old man at close range in Bilogai Village, Sugapa Sub-district.

The victim, identified by his initials as RNR, sustained gunshot wounds on the face and right shoulder and was taken to the Timika Public Hospital in Mimika District on February 9.

On February 9, 2021, six armed Papuans fatally stabbed a motorcycle taxi (ojek) driver. (Antaranews)