Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – Indonesia has tightened security at several strategic sites in its easternmost region of Papua following a series of shooting incidents targeting an aircraft and personnel near a major mining operation, a senior minister said on Tuesday.
Chief Security Affairs Minister Djamari Chaniago said the government had reinforced protection at what it described as vital objects after suspected armed criminal groups opened fire on a Smart Air aircraft and in the vicinity of gold miner Freeport Indonesia's operations in Mile 50, Tembagapura district, Mimika regency.
The move aims to prevent similar incidents and ensure that residents can carry out daily activities safely, Djamari told reporters.
Security reinforcements are focused on strategic operational areas and pioneer aviation routes that transport essential logistics across Papua's remote and mountainous terrain. One location receiving special attention is Koroway Airport.
Additional personnel from the Indonesian Military (TNI) have been deployed to the airport to ensure the smooth distribution of supplies and maintain the mobility of medical workers, Djamari said.
Authorities are continuing to pursue those responsible for the shootings, including the attack on the Smart Air aircraft and the incident near the mining area at Mile 50 in Tembagapura.
"Efforts to apprehend the perpetrators are ongoing in accordance with applicable legal procedures," he said.
Earlier incidents included the shooting of a Smart Air pilot in Boven Digoel and the shooting of an employee in the mining area operated by Freeport Indonesia in Mimika. The attacks add to a series of armed violence cases in Papua that have drawn sustained attention from authorities and rights groups.
Papua has long faced sporadic violence involving armed separatist groups, whom the Indonesian government refers to as criminal armed groups, complicating security and development efforts in the resource-rich region.
Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesia-tightens-papua-security-after-shooting