An armed Papuan separatist terrorist was killed in a gunfight with Indonesian soldiers in Wandoga Village, Sugapa Sub-district, Intan Jaya District, on Sunday (Nov 14), according to a military officer.

The terrorist was identified as Selon Songonau. During the gunfight, none of the army personnel got injured, Commander of the 173/PVB District Military Command Brig. Gen. Taufan Gastoro stated.

According to received reports, Songonau’s body was buried by his family, Gastoro told ANTARA during a telephonic interview from Jayapura, the capital of Papua Province, on Wednesday.

He also dismissed a claim made by the National Liberation Army of West Papua (TPNPB) on its website that a military post was torched by members of an armed Papuan separatist terrorist group.

Gastoro emphasized that the claim was baseless, as none of the military posts currently used in all administrative areas of the 173/PVB District Military Command were torched.

He pointed out that the security situation in Sugapa Sub-district was generally conducive, and locals had resumed their routine activities in the aftermath of Sunday’s gunfight.

Despite the conducive situation, army personnel are instructed to stay on alert, he added.

Papua has borne witness to a spate of violence against civilians and security personnel in the past few years.

Intan Jaya recorded its bloodiest month in September 2020, with notorious armed groups launching a series of attacks that claimed the lives of two soldiers and two civilians and left two others injured.

Armed groups have continued their acts of terror this year, too.

On January 6, 2021, at least 10 armed Papuans vandalized and torched a Quest Kodiak aircraft belonging to the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) at the Pagamba village airstrip.

Armed groups often employ hit-and-run tactics against Indonesian security personnel and unleash acts of terror against civilians to instill 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, six armed Papuans fatally stabbed a motorcycle taxi (ojek) driver.

Thereafter, on the morning of September 13, several members of the Lamek Tablo-led separatist terrorist group reportedly torched several public facilities, including a public health center, and homes in Kiwirok.

The separatist terrorists reportedly assaulted and tortured several health workers from the Kiwirok Public Health Center. One health worker, identified as Gabriela Meilan, died, while four others sustained serious injuries in the attack.

Source: Antara News