Egi Adyatama, Jakarta – An Indonesian Military (TNI) soldier has reportedly joined an armed criminal group (KKB) in Papua. This was confirmed by the Joint Regional Defense Command (Kogabwilhan) spokesperson, Col. Czi IGN Suriastawa.

"A soldier escaped from the post without carrying a weapon and until now his whereabouts remain unclear," said Suriastawa in a written statement on Friday, April 16, 2021.

According to him, the soldier, who was from Infantry Battalion (Yonif) 410, escaped on February 12, 2021. The information was then spread by the KKB recently to make it seem to be a new case.

"The clandestine front is also frustrated because its strategy in the media sector has been exposed," said Suriastawa.

He then appealed to the people in Ilaga and its surroundings to be more careful and alert to the terror acts of the armed criminal group of the Free Papua Organization (OPM) separatist group, especially in recent times that they were frustrated.

"The political front is frustrated because their efforts to thwart the revision of the Special Autonomy Law was unsuccessful. The armed front is frustrated because its position keeps being pressed by the law enforcement operation carried out by the National Police with the help of the TNI," said Suriastawa.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1453358/tni-soldier-reportedly-joins-papua-armed-criminal-grou