Cartenz Task Force Arrests Suspect Who Attacked TNI Member in Freeport Area

Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force arrested one perpetrator in the February 11 attack on a TNI patrol in the Kaops Satgas Damai Cartenz area near Freeport. The suspect, Kalimak Wanimbo alias Lalam Wanimbo alias Jengkol Lalam, was secured on Thursday, 5 March 2026, according to Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhani, head of the operation. Kalimak is described as the brain or planner of the assault by the armed group led by Jeki Murib, and as the intermediary who connected the attackers with the victim. He allegedly persuaded the victim to allow the attackers to ride in a TNI vehicle to the Tembagapura area. Subsequently, the group attacked the TNI patrol, resulting in the death of one civilian and one TNI member. Two people died: Sergeant Arifin Cepa and civilian Erman Rustaman; another TNI member, Sergeant First Class Hendrikus, suffered serious injuries. Faizal said Kalimak’s arrest was the outcome of investigations building on the earlier arrest of Nis Kogoya on 17 February in Timika. Nis Kogoya is said to have supplied the vehicle used by the Jeki Murib group to reach the home of the victim, Sertu Arifin Cepa, and was involved in planning the violence. Further, Kalimak reportedly communicated with one KKB leader, Aibon Kogoya. “We must be patient, slow but sure,” Faizal said. “We are committed that the state is present not only to safeguard peace in Papua but also to enforce the law against acts of violence by the KKB.” Separately, Public Relations Head of the Cartenz Peace Operation, Senior Commissioner Yusuf Sutejo, said the arrest demonstrates the government’s commitment to enforcing the law against KKB violence in Papua. “This is the result of the team’s hard work on the ground in investigating and developing the case intensively. We will continue to pursue other perpetrators involved in the Jeki Murib network.”