Armed Criminal Group Shoots Dead Three Civil Servants, Interior Minister: The Excuse Is Always 'Intelligence Agent'
Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian has spoken out regarding the shooting of three civil servants (ASN) in Jayawijaya, Papua Pegunungan, by an armed criminal group (KKB) after they were accused of being intelligence agents. Tito said such accusations of being intelligence operatives are routinely used as an excuse by the KKB.
“That’s usually how it is — the groups carrying out these shootings and acts of violence always claim their target was intelligence, that’s it,” Tito said after a working meeting with Commission II of the House of Representatives at the DPR building in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday (15/9/2026).
According to him, such actions are in fact intended to cause disruption. Beyond that, the aim is to spread fear among the community.
“In reality, they are simply trying to cause disruption. Making the public afraid and so on, spreading violence and spreading fear,” he said.
He expressed hope that the security forces, including the TNI, the National Police (Polri) and intelligence agencies, would keep the situation in the region conducive. Tito also asked the security forces to monitor the movements of the KKB.
“So yes, I certainly hope that our colleagues from the security forces — Polri, TNI and intelligence — can maintain a more conducive situation, monitor the movements of these groups and neutralise them,” he said.
“So that the public has the courage to go about their activities. If there are no attacks, they will surely feel more at ease,” he added.
Earlier, as reported by detikSulsel, the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) revealed that three civil servants of the Jayawijaya Regency Government in Papua Pegunungan were shot dead after being accused of being intelligence agents. The perpetrators belonged to the armed criminal group (KKB), also known as the armed civilian group (KSB) Kodap III Ndugama.
“Taking note of the statement by KSB Kodap III Ndugama claiming responsibility for the incident and stating that the three victims were suspected of being involved in intelligence activities,” said Komnas HAM Chairperson Anis Hidayah in a statement on Tuesday (15/9).
Anis stressed that a person’s status as a civil servant or government employee does not in itself remove their status as a civilian. The three victims were also entitled to protection regardless of their profession.
“Any allegation of a person’s involvement in security or intelligence activities must be based on verifiable facts and cannot serve as justification for taking the life of someone who is not committing violence or taking part in hostilities,” she explained.