Four Soldiers Injured, First Pvt. Miftahul’s Body Not Yet Recovered

The Indonesian Military clarified that the four injured soldiers were conscious and had been taken to a local hospital in Timika. Miftahul’s body could not be evacuated by helicopter due to bad weather conditions.

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono, who had just arrived from Papua, gave a press statement at the Juanda Air Force Base Ops, Sidoarjo, East Java, Tuesday (18/4/2023).

JAYAPURA, KOMPAS – Four wounded soldiers were evacuated by helicopter from Mugi-Mam, Nduga regency, to Mimika regency, Central Papua, on Tuesday (18/4/2023). However, First Pvt. Miftahul’s body could not be recovered due to bad weather conditions.

Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Adm. Yudo Margono conveyed this in a press conference at the Yohanis Kapiyau Timika air base in Mimika regency on Tuesday afternoon. He was accompanied by the Indonesian Army chief of staff Gen. Dudung Abdurachman and the commander of the Joint Defense Region III Command, Lt. Gen. I Nyoman Cantiasa.

Yudo clarified that the four injured soldiers were conscious and had been taken to a local hospital in Timika. Miftahul’s body could not be evacuated by helicopter due to bad weather conditions.

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This incident began when 36 soldiers attempted to rescue Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens, who is currently being held hostage by an armed criminal group in the Mugi-Mam area. The rescue team was suddenly attacked, which resulted in Miftahul’s death.

“First Pvt. Miftahul was shot by the KKB [armed criminal group] and fell to the bottom of a ravine. When they tried to recover his body, the other soldiers were attacked again by the group,” said Yudo.

The operation’s status has been upgraded to combat alert.

Yudo said his party would continue efforts to recover Miftahul’s body by helicopter. He acknowledged the whereabouts of four soldiers were unknown, whereas 27 other soldiers had returned to the TNI post in Mugi district.

“The Susi Air pilot rescue operation will proceed. The operation’s status has been upgraded to combat alert, especially in areas prone to security threats,” said Yudo.

DOKUMENTASI TPN-OPM

Photo of Susi Air pilot Philip Merthens from a video published by the National Liberation Army of the Free Papua Organization on Friday (10/3/2023). This pilot from New Zealand has been held captive by the Egianus Kogoya group since February 7 2023 in Nduga Regency, Highlands Papua.

Vice President Ma’ruf Amin strongly condemned the armed criminal group’s attack on TNI personnel while trying to rescue the pilot in Papua. The TNI and National Police were asked to continue pursuing those who were part of the group. However, this law enforcement should not be at the expense of civilians.

This was conveyed by Ma’ruf through his spokesperson, Masduki Baidlowi, yesterday.

“The vice president strongly condemns the act of violence committed by the KKB, which claimed the life of a TNI soldier in his struggle to protect the people and his humanitarian mission, namely rescuing the Susi Air pilot who is being held hostage by the KKB,” said Masduki.

The vice president strongly condemns the act of violence committed by the KKB.

“The vice president is certain that patriotism and love for the motherland inherited from First Pvt. Miftahul Arifin will remain and continue to live in all of us. The vice president sees this loss as a major test for his family and fellow TNI soldiers he left behind,” said Masduki.

Efforts to ensure peace in Papua are part of the government’s grand plans to build sustainable peace and stop prolonged conflict in the region. Ma’ruf also urged all security forces currently on duty in Papua not to be daunted by this incident while remaining vigilant, steadfast and courageous in facing acts of violence by armed criminal groups.

Six attacks

According to Kompas records and data from the TNI and police, armed criminal groups in Papua carried out six attacks against security forces this year. They occurred in two districts in Papua Highlands, namely Yahukimo and Nduga, as well as three districts in Central Papua, namely Intan Jaya, Puncak and Puncak Jaya.

In the five previous attacks, four members of the Army and one police officer were killed. Yahukimo Military Command (Kodim) commander Lt. Col. Johanis Victorianus Tethool and three members of the Army were seriously injured after being shot.

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A National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) representative in Papua, Frits Ramandey, expressed deep concern and sorrow over the attacks on the TNI in Nduga. “Komnas HAM asked Egianus and his members not to hinder the process of evacuating soldiers who were victims in this incident,” said Frits.

Yan Christian Warinussy, a spokesperson for Papua Peace Network, also expressed regret over the attack in the Mugi-Mam area on Saturday (15/4). He believed it was time to reevaluate the security approach to Philip’s rescue.

“It is a shame that there are victims in the attempt to rescue Philip. His release should have been negotiated to prevent acts of violence from occurring,” said Yan.

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.