Despite the gunshot wound that caused him to bleed, Basoka Lawiya attempted to escape and attacked the police officers who arrested him, the task force's chief, Brig. Gen. Faizal Rahmadani stated.
Lawiya, who was shot in Topo Village, Uwapa Sub-district in Nabire, died as a result of severe bleeding, Rahmadani noted in a press statement published here on Sunday (July 8).
Lawiya belonged to the Undius Kogoya-led separatist group operating in Intan Jaya District, Central Papua, the task force's chief said. He added that Lawiya's body is kept at the Nabire Public Hospital mortuary.
Lawiya, a resident of Soanggama Village, Hitadipa Sub-district in Intan Jaya, had been involved in four criminal cases in the districts of Intan Jaya and Paniai, Central Papua, this year, he stated.
On January 20, 2024, Lawiya torched a civil servant residence in Mamba Village, Sugapa Sub-district, Intan Jaya.. He was then involved in a raid on the home of the head of Odiyai Village in Paniai on May 6.
On May 22, he was involved in a shooting incident on Madi Road of Uwibutu Village in Paniai Timur Sub-district.
After that, on June 11, he was involved in Rusli's murder in Kopo Village, Paniai Timur Sub-district, Paniai District, Central Papua, Rahmadani stated.
Over the past few years, armed rebel groups have often employed hit-and-run tactics against Indonesian security personnel and mounted acts of terror against civilians in the districts of Intan Jaya, Nduga, and Puncak to incite fear among the people.
The targets of such acts of terror have included construction workers, motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers, teachers, students, street food vendors, and also civilian aircraft.
On February 7, 2023, New Zealand pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens was taken hostage by the Egianus Kogoya-led armed group. He was piloting an aircraft belonging to Indonesian airline Susi Air when the armed group captured him. Members of the group set his aircraft on fire shortly after it landed in Nduga District.
On October 16, 2023, Papuan separatists attacked several traditional gold miners in Yahukimo District, Papua Pegunungan Province, killing seven of them.
Thereafter, on April 10, 2024, the commandant of the 1703-04 Aradide Sub-district Military Command, Second Lieutenant Oktovianus Sogalrey, was shot dead by Papuan rebels in Paniai District, Central Papua.
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Translator: Evarukdijati, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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