Armed Criminal Group Attack on Medical Workers, Leaving One Dead in Indonesia’s Papua

JAYAPURA, KOMPAS.com – Health care workers in remote areas of Indonesia’s easternmost region of Papua experienced physical violence and abuse by an armed criminal group (KKB) in the Kiwirok district, leaving one nurse dead and another staff missing.

They were on a humanitarian mission in a local health center when the attack occurred. Only a few days after, the nine health care workers were then evacuated by the Indonesian military (TNI) on Friday, September 17.

The health center is located in mountainous areas of Papua. It takes a 30-minute flight or two nights on foot from Oksibil, a nearby district. Proper roads between the two districts are yet available.

Attacks against medical facility, workers

One of the medical workers, Marselinus Ola Attanila, who survived the incident said that everyone could not do anything when the armed criminal group came to the Kiriwok Health Center.

Also read: Indonesian Soldier Killed in Clash with Armed Criminal Group in Papua

“At that time, we were on standby at the Kiwirok Health Center as we were told that KKB would attack the border security post,” Ola said on Friday, September 17, in Jayapura.

“But dozens of KKB members attacked the health center first, breaking the glass and pouring petrol to burn the health center and other buildings nearby,” he recalled.

The KKB members then moved to a barrack where a doctor and three nurses were hiding. They burned down the barrack, forcing the health care workers to come out.

“Four of us were hiding in the bathroom. When we saw fire, we came out of the barrack. But, the KKB members who carried weapons and arrows were waiting outside.”