VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta. A human rights defender in Papua denounced the killings of two teachers in Beoga Sub-district, Puncak District, calling such assaults on them as being heinous and inhuman.

"The government needs to set up a joint team for probing the fatal shootings," Executive Director of the Justice and Papuan People Integrity (YKKMP) Theo Hesegem stated.

Hesegem was vociferous in condemning the killings of the two teachers, who had indeed contributed to edifying Papuans to become smart, Hesegem noted in a statement that ANTARA quoted here, Monday.

"The two teachers fell victims to the brutality of the armed Papuan criminals. What benefit did they actually gain by gunning down innocent civilians," he emphasized.

The non-native Papuan teachers, who come to Papua, deserve protection and respect of all elements in the Papuan society at large, including those from armed criminal groups.

"They come here for the development of Papua's human resources. Why are they shot dead?" he remarked, adding that akin to others, the two slain teachers also had the right to live in Papua.

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

Consequently, several local residents fled their homes and sought refuge at a military post in the sub-district.

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 string of attacks in the area that killed two soldiers and two civilians while inflicted injuries on two others.

These 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 had fatally stabbed a motorcycle taxi (ojek) driver. (Antaranews)