No space for armed criminal groups in Indonesia: Jokowi

Armed Criminal Group attacks, kills Istaka Karya workers in Nduga, Papua, on Sunday.

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stressed that the government will never give space for armed criminal groups in Indonesia. Massacre in Nduga District will not make government and people feel afraid in developing Papua.

“We will never be afraid and this will make our goal to build the land of Papua,” Jokowi said.

Jokowi reiterated that he has ordered National Police and Indonesian Military (TNI) to pursue and arrest the attackers who killied 19 bridge workers from PT Istaka Karya in Yigi District, Nduga Regency, Papua. His statement came in a press conference at Merdeka Palace on Wednesday (Dec 5).

“I have ordered TNI commander and National Police chief to pursue and arrest all the perpetrators behind this barbaric act,” said Jokowi.

Jokowi said TNI commander and National Police deputy chief are in Papua to handle the attack case that conducted by armed criminal group (KKB). He also expressed his condolences to the victims of the massacre.

"I, on behalf of the people of the nation and the state, conveying deep sorrow to all the families left,” Jokowi added.

Previously, head of the Papua regional police headquarters, Senior Commissioner A.M. Kamal, informed that 31 people had been killed and one was allegedly killed by the KKB in the rivers of Kali Yigi and Kali Aurak, Yigi sub-District in Nduga District, Papua. He suspected that as many as 24 people were killed on the first day.

Out of eight people who tried to escape into the home of a local legislative member, seven were killed by the KKB, while one person has not yet been found. Sr.Com. Kamal added that the victims were workers at the Istaka Karya project, who were building bridges in Kali Yigi and Kali Aurak.

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