Bogor, W Java (Antara Bali) - Indonesia`s senior security minister,
Wiranto, said here on Thursday that there were limits to negotiations
over the hostage-taking incident in Timka, Papua.
"What is the use of continuing the negotiations while our personnel
keep falling?. Will we let our soldiers die in vain just because we
want to continue negotiating," he stated at the Bogor State Palace.
An armed criminal group has taken 1,300 civilians as hostages in Banti and Kimbeli kampongs in Tembagapura, Mimika.
He noted that the joint security forces have so far prioritized persuasive actions in an effort to free the hostages.
The police have also spread leaflets by helicopter to call on the
hostage takers to surrender and stop committing crimes such as torture,
rape, or murders.
The regional police have revealed that so far, there has been no sign from the group of settling the problem peacefully.
They again notified them on Thursday, through community,
religious, and government figures, to be willing to negotiate and allow
the people to leave Banti and Kimbeli.
"In view of that, if the Indonesian security forces, comprising of
police forces helped by military forces, later conduct strong and firm
actions, then it must be understood as a necessary taken to fight the
criminal group. Their action has been categorized as a crime that must
be settled firmly by the law," he explained.
Security forces have kept avoiding any provocation intended to create chaos in Papua, he added.
Wiranto called on foreign parties to avoid accusing security
forces as having acted arbitrarily in dealing with the case. (*)
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