TNI Commander: KKB in Papua Involve Mothers and Children Attack TNI Members
TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono said the Terrorist Separatist Group (KST) or Armed Criminal Group (KKB) in Papua invited children and mothers when they attacked members of the TNI in Mugi District, Nduga Regency, Papua Mountains, Saturday (15/4/ 2023) ago.
"So in terms of our members being beaten up. They invite the local community from women and children to attack our members," he said during a press conference at the Juanda Airport complex in Surabaya, Tuesday (18/4/2023).
Yudo admitted that he had just met one of the 36 members who took part in the rescue mission for Susi Air pilot Captain Philip Mark Mertens.
According to Yudo, the member told how the atmosphere of the KST attack was.
"They screamed while shooting in a number of directions. Members said they were hesitant to shoot because they saw women and children there. Members said they had never been in such a condition," he said.
The shelling by KST resulted in five TNI soldiers suffering gunshot wounds. All five are confirmed not to have died. Have been evacuated to Timika.
"I can see for myself that all of them are in good health. Thank God, the five of them are healthy, from the helicopter they can walk to the ambulance for treatment at the hospital," said Yudo.
While four other soldiers lost contact.
"Four people have not been confirmed. Maybe the situation at that time they were hiding and so on, I don't know. But we will carry out the disbursement," he explained.
However, as a result of the attack, 1 soldier on behalf of Miftahul Arifin died. Arifin was shot and fell into a ravine. Currently, the body is in the process of lifting the body but is hampered by the weather.
Panglima TNI: KKB di Papua Libatkan Ibu-ibu dan Anak-anak Serang Anggota TNI
Panglima TNI Laksamana Yudo Margono menyebutkan, Kelompok Separatis Teroris (KST) atau Kelompok Kriminal Bersenjata (KKB) di Papua mengajak anak-anak dan ibu-ibu saat menyerang anggota TNI di Distrik Mugi, Kabupaten Nduga, Papua Pegunungan, Sabtu (15/4/2023) lalu.
"Jadi istilahnya anggota kita dikeroyok. Mereka ajak masyarakat setempat dari ibu-ibu dan anak-anak untuk menyerang anggota kita," katanya saat konfrensi pers di komplek Bandara Juanda Surabaya, Selasa (18/4/2023).
Yudo mengaku baru saja menemui salah satu dari 36 anggota yang ikut dalam misi penyelamatan pilot Susi Air Kapten Philip Mark Mertens.
Menurut Yudo, anggota tersebut menceritakan bagaimana suasana penyerangan KST.
"Mereka berteriak-teriak sambil menembak ke sejumlah arah. Anggota mengaku ragu untuk menembak karena terlihat ada ibu-ibu dan anak-anak. Anggota mengaku tidak pernah berada dalam kondisi seperti itu," ujarnya.
Kepungan tembakan oleh KST berujung lima prajurit TNI yang mengalami luka tembak. Kelimanya dipastikan tidak meninggal dunia. Sudah dievakuasi ke Timika.
"Saya lihat sendiri kondisinya semuanya sehat. Lima tersebut Alhamdillah sehat, dari heli (helikopter) bisa jalan menuju ambulans untuk dilaksanakan perawatan di rumah sakit" kata Yudo.
Sementara empat prajurit lainnya hilang kontak.
"Empat orang belum terkonfirmasi. Mungkin situasi saat itu mereka bersembunyi dan sebagainya saya gak tahu. Tapi akan kami laksanakan pencairan," jelasnya.
Namun akibat serangan itu, 1 prajurit atas nama Miftahul Arifin meninggal dunia. Arifin tertembak dan jatuh ke jurang. Saat ini, jenazahnya dalam upaya pengangkatan namun terkendala cuaca.