The National Army and Police joint operation in releasing thousands of villagers in Tembagapura Papua was carried out in accordance with the legal procedures and principles of human rights.
A total of 1,300 were being held hostage by separatist criminal group. Local Papuan and also people from other provinces have been prohibited from leaving Kampung Kimberly and Kampung Bani, the two villages controlled by the armed group, which security authorities call an armed criminal group (KKB). The police said that the gunmen’s motive behind the hostage situation is purely social and economic reasons since the armed group have used illegal diamond and gold miners as their shield.
To rescue the hostages, a joint operation between National Army and Policy was established after the failure of the negotiation process. The negotiation effort failed and did not find a common ground, because the armed groups demanded unreasonable and difficult demands.
National Army General Commander Gatot Nurmantyo said, the captive group filed three demands. First, they ask for Freeport to be closed soon. Second, the Indonesian military must be withdrawn from Papua and replaced by United Nations security forces. Third, the Government of Indonesia must approve the implementation of free elections or referendum. This means that the people of Papua can determine their own destiny. Then the Papua and west Papua regional office must close down and replace by the UN representative government.
Indonesia National Army and Police joint operation forces to save the hostages following failed negotiations led by local leaders and religious leaders. At least 62 people between the army and policemen took part in the rescue operations. Mr. Gatot affirmed that the National Army and Police joint operation in releasing thousands of villagers in Tembagapura Papua was carried out in accordance with the legal procedures and principles of human rights.
This joint operation is done through careful calculation and observation of the situation. Before moving, the joint operation forces always considered the psychological condition of hostage takers and the field situation. The joint operation between National Army and Police has saved 345 residents of Tembagapura from the hand of separatist armed group.
Keywords: Papua, West Papua, Indonesia, Tembagapura, Hostage, Separatism, Joint Operation, Police, Army, Government.
