Pangkoops Swasembada: Three Members of Kiworok Gang Return to Indonesian Republic

Jayapura (ANTARA) — The Swasembada Operations Command has received three members of an armed group calling itself Kodap XV Ngalum Kupel, who brought one firearm, in the Kiwirok area of Pegunungan Bintang Regency, back into the fold of the Republic of Indonesia.

“Indeed, three members of the KKB Kodap XV Ngalum Kupel carrying one long-barreled single-loop rifle have declared their return to the Republic of Indonesia,” said Swasembada Task Force Operations Commander Major General Novi Rubadi Sugito on Sunday.

Contacted from Jayapura, he said the three armed group members who declared their return to the Republic are PM, SU, and FT. The return of the three was achieved through a humanitarian approach toward the group, which was previously led by Lamekn Taplo, who was killed on October 19, 2025.

“The surrender of the three former armed group members operating in the Kiwirok area took place on Saturday (February 14),” he said.

He added that to date, 17 former members of the Ngalum Kupel armed group have declared their return to the Republic of Indonesia. “Hopefully going forward, more armed group members and their sympathizers will declare their return to the Republic so that they can join hands in developing Kiwirok District and creating security in the area,” he said.