Papua Separatists Group Killed 31 Civilian Workers in Nduga

Jayapura – On Monday 03 December 2018 around 15:30. local time, the police had been informed that there had been killing of the PT Istaka Karya workers who were building bridges in Yigi River and Aurak River. It is informed that the killings of the workers occurred on Saturday and Sunday, 1-2 December 2018 in Yigi River and Aurak River, Nduga Regency, Province of Papua.

“31 people, according to report that we received, had been killed,” Head of Public Relation of Papua Regional Police, Ahmad Musthofa Kamal told CNN Indonesia via SMS, Tuesday (4/12)

Kamal explained that the suspected group initially killed 24 workers, on Saturday (1/12). Then, eight other workers fled and hid in the house of one of the local legislators. However, on Sunday (2/12), the group came to the house and executed seven of them.

“On Sunday they were visited by the group and executed. Seven people were shot dead, one person was unknown,” Kamal said, when interviewed by CNN Indonesia. “The group is still in Nduga,” he said.

The police then coordinated with the military and tried to get to the scene. However, the personnel have not been able to enter the location because the road access was blocked by the group, on Tuesday (3/12) before sunset.
“Our members have not yet arrived at the crime scene, the road to the crime scene was blocked,” Kamal said.

Earlier on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at around 20:30 local time, Mr. Cahyo (Project Manager of PT. Istika Karya Habema-Mugi bridge construction package) received a call from a number normally held by Mr. Jhoni (Field Coordinator of PT. Istika Karya working on the construction of the Habema-Mugi bridge project) but Mr. Cahyo did not understand what the person calling was talking about.

Mr. Jhoni (Field Coordinator of PT. Istika Karya is working on the construction of the Habema-Mugi bridge project, which is currently carrying out the construction of bridges in Aurak River, Umtlat River, Yigi River, Nigidirik River, in Yigi District of Nduga Regency). Last communication with Mr. Jhoni was via SMS on November 30, 2018.

Meanwhile, information from the 755 / Yalet Satgaspamrahwan post in Napua-Wamena said that on November 30, 2018 at 04.00, a car was registered with Mr. MS as the driver carrying diesel fuel owned by PT. Istaka Karya heading to the Istaka Karya Camp in Yigi District and brought 5 employees. The car arrived back in Wamena at 18.30.

Then on December 1, 2018 at 2:00, there were 2 cars heading to Yigi District Camp each carrying 15 workers of PT Istaka Karya. On December 2, 2018, at 20.00. 1 Strada car returned to Wamena and on Monday 3 December 2018, the car returned from Wamena to Mbua District, Nduga Regency.

One of the cars carrying 15 project workers from PT Istaka Karya has yet to return to Wamena. Receiving this information on Monday, December 3, 2018 at 15.30, joint police and military personnel led by the Head of Ops for Jayawijaya Regional Police, AKP. R.L. Stageary left from Wamena to Yigi District, Nduga Regency, but when they arrived at kilometer 46, the team met with a car from the direction of Bua District and informed them that the road was blocked.

Papua Police PR Head, Ahmad Musthofa Kamal, S.H said that currently the joint TNI / Polri personnel had been deployed to check the information and were always ready to evacuate the victims and arrest the perpetrators.