REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TIMIKA -- The Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) has reported that an armed group burned 17 houses in several hamlets in Tembagapura sub-district, Mimika District, Papua Province. It happened during the March 24-April 1, 2018 period.

"Based on the data that we have gathered from the village chief, 17 houses were burned by the armed group before the military personnel arrived at the hamlets," the Head of Communication Division of Cenderawasih Regional Military Command Colonel Muhammad Aidi said here on Thursday.

He denied a claim by the armed group saying that the TNI was the one who had burned the people's house in Banti, Kimbeli, Opitawak, and Utikini. "It's just simple, how could the TNI burned the people's houses while its personnel had arrived at the locations. They are deliberately twisting the facts," Aidi said.

Also read: Police, military free 346 hostage in Papua amid crossfire

He explained 50 personnel of TNI have been deployed to the locations controlled by the separatists early morning of March 31.

Meanwhile, Aidi said, the armed group since March 24 has burned Waa-Banti Hospital building, Banti Elementary School and the parent's house of Mimika Head District Eltinus Omaleng in Waa-Banti Hamlet.

The military officers in Banti Hamlet were later involved in a shootout with the armed group on April 1, 2018 which caused a soldier namely Head Brigadier Vicky Rumpaisum, dead.

The TNI officers have finally managed to control six hamlets in Tembagapura on April 2, and continued to chase the armed group members who fled to the hills and mountains around Banti and Opitawak.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika