Manokwari, W Papua (ANTARA) – The XVIII/Kasuari Regional Military Command is committed to securing the government’s development programs in West Papua, including road projects in high-risk areas, a top military officer has said.
“To accelerate people’s welfare in West Papua, all infrastructure development projects must go on,” Commander of the XVIII/Kasuari Regional Military, Command Major General Gabriel Lema, said here on Wednesday.
One of the road projects that need to be safeguarded is the one connecting Mayerga village in Maskona Utara sub-district, Teluk Bintuni district, to areas in Maybrat district, he added.
The road project is being handled by the Public Works and Housing (PUPR)-West Papua Office, he said, adding that he will provide security support for construction workers if the provincial government requests it.
“Whether or not the security support is needed to avoid the recurrence of acts of violence against the construction workers in the past, I think it depends on the regional government’s request,” he said.
The XVIII/Kasuari Regional Military Command is ready to meet such a request, in accordance with existing regulations, Lema added.
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Regarding a recent deadly attack by Papuan separatist terrorists on construction workers on September 29, 2022, he urged locals who have information on the attackers’ whereabouts to contact the police.
Lema said he supports the police’s efforts to hunt down those responsible for the attack. “The police have put the perpetrators on their wanted list,” he added.
The attack resulted in the deaths of four workers of CV Doreri Permai who were involved in the road project connecting Moskona in Teluk Bintuni district to Maybrat district’s area, according to media reports.
ANTARA has reported earlier that West Papua province has been witness to a repeated cycle of violence over the past few years.
On September 2, 2021, for instance, members of an unidentified terrorist group had ambushed several soldiers while they were sleeping at Kisor military post in South Aifat sub-district, Maybrat district.
Four soldiers–2nd Sergeant Amrosius, Chief Private Dirham, First Private Zul Ansari, and First Lieutenant Dirman–had died in the attack, while two others had sustained serious injuries.
The bodies of three soldiers had been found at the post, while the body of another soldier had been discovered in the bushes not far from the post.
Owing to the incident, several local residents had fled their homes over security concerns.
The West Papua police named 19 suspects in connection with the September 2 attack.
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