Two Indonesian Marines Killed in Attack by Armed Terrorist Separatist Groups in West Papua

Armed violence in Papua Province, a province at the eastern tip of Indonesia, continues to heat up.

Two Marines, Elite Troops of the Indonesian Navy, from the Marine Battalion III, were reportedly killed in a deadly attack by the Armed Terrorist Separatist Group who often claim to be the West Papua National Liberation Army, the Military wing of the Free Papua Organization, an organization that continue to struggle to separate themselves from the State of Indonesia.

From Indonesian Military data, the incident of the attack on the Indonesian Marine Military Post containing 35 soldiers occurred at the border of Nduga Regency and Asmat Regency, Papua Province, on Saturday, March 26, 2022. Around 17.40 local time. The attack on the Military Post was carried out by a group claimed by the Indonesian government as the Armed Terrorist Separatist Group, Papua. It was carried out from two directions. As a result, two Marines died and eight other soldiers were injured.

The Indonesian Military, in reporting to journalists, the Indonesian Marine Post in Keneyam, the capital of Nduga Regency, Papua Province, was attacked by Armed Terrorist Separatist Groups using Grenade Throwers and firearms.

Deputy Head of the Information Service of the Cenderawasih Military Command XVII, Lieutenant Colonel Infantry, Chandra Kurniawan said, in this incident, as many as 10 Indonesian Marines were victims. Where two soldiers died.

Six people are being treated by military medics in Timika Regency and two other Marines are being treated in Keneyam, the district capital, Nduga Papua. The condition of the injured victims is currently improving.

Meanwhile, on Monday, March 28, 2022, according to Infantry Lieutenant Colonel Chandra Kurniawan, a ceremony was held to release the bodies of two Indonesian Marines who will be sent to their hometowns for military burial.

Two Indonesian Marines who died respectively, Second Lieutenant Muhamad Iqbal, Commander of the Marine Post and First Private Wilson Anderson Here.

The two soldiers who died were dispatched to their respective hometowns, where the body of Private First, Wilson Anderson Here, was dispatched to Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara Province and Marine Second Lieutenant Muhammad Iqbal was dispatched to Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi Province.

To appreciate the services of the two Marines, the State of Indonesia granted posthumous promotions to the two Marines who died in the line of duty.

Second Marine Lieutenant Muhammad Iqbal was promoted one level higher to First Lieutenant Posthumously and Private Wilson Anderson Here was promoted one level higher to Chief Soldier.

Security officers from the Indonesian Police and Army are currently still on standby, anticipating further attacks.