Jayapura – A total of five KKB members died in a firefight with security forces in Dekai, Papua Mountains, Thursday (14/9).
Head of Information for the Joint Regional Defense Command (Kapen Kogabwilhan) III Col. Czi Ign Suriastawa stated that the five bodies were Yotam Buriangge’s men.
The five KKB members died during a shootout with the 7th Marine Battalion Task Force in Dekai, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Mountains.
“The five bodies were buried, Saturday (16/9),” said Suriastawa in his statement to ANTARA, Saturday night.
According to Surastawa, the five people who died were members of Yotam Bugiangge, a TNI deserter who defected and joined the KKB in the Nduga area.
He said the KKB member died during a firefight with TNI officers who were carrying out environmental patrols in Dekai.
“They are not civilians, but members of the KKB and this was confirmed by the statement of one of the tribal chiefs when he saw five bodies at the Dekai Regional Hospital,” he said.
He explained that Yotam Bugiangge came from the Wesem Kowip III Kodam III Ndugama Battalion.
Previously, the deaths of five KKB members began with reports regarding a group of people passing through the Braza River and several of them were carrying firearms.
