Flight services in Mulia suspended in wake of unrest: police

Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - The deadly violence that broke out in Mulia, the capital of Puncak Jaya district, Central Papua, on Wednesday forced the temporary suspension of civilian flights to and from the town, a local police officer said.

The flight services will remain suspended until further notice, the chief of Puncak Jaya Police, Adjunct Sen Coms Kuswara, told ANTARA during a telephonic conversation from Jayapura, the capital of Papua province, on Thursday.

Currently, the overall situation in Mulia is relatively conducive, but police personnel are continuing to exercise vigilance as many residents are still afraid of resuming outdoor and economic activities, he informed.

"We hope that the security situation will fully be conducive soon so that the flight service can be resumed, and locals' activities can get back to normal," he said.

To help restore law and order, the Papua police deployed joint personnel from the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) unit and Operation Peace Cartenz Task Force to Mulia.

They arrived on Thursday and joined their counterparts from the Puncak Jaya police station to commence efforts to restore law and order in the town.

The unrest on Wednesday broke out following the deaths of three insurgents belonging to the Teranus Enumbi-led armed group operating in Karubate village, Muara sub-district, Puncak Jaya district, on Tuesday (July 16, 2024).

The rebels, identified as SW (33), YW (41), and DW (36), died in a gunfight with the RK 753/AVR Infantry Battalion Task Force personnel, according to the XVII Cenderawasih Regional Military Command.

The ensuing violence left one resident dead and four others injured, according to Kuswara.

Abdulah Jaelani (30) died after sustaining injuries from a sharp weapon, he said adding that the injured were identified as Novald Dermawan, Arief, Safrudin, and Bude Nina.

They sustained injuries after rioters resorted to stone pelting and launched attacks with arrows and sharp weapons. The rioters also torched several vehicles parked near Mulia Public Hospital.

Over the past few years, armed 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 even, civilian aircraft.