Police Deploy Additional Personnel in Response to Clashes in Central Halmahera

National Police Headquarters has deployed hundreds of additional personnel to Central Halmahera in North Maluku and Central Papua following conflicts that escalated to attacks on security forces. The Head of Public Information for the Police Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, stated that the deployment is intended to safeguard security stability and respond quickly to any developments in the field. “Polri is taking swift action by deploying additional personnel to strengthen security and handle the situation in Central Papua and North Maluku,” he said in a written statement on Sunday (5/4). Trunoyudo explained that the additional personnel in Central Halmahera, North Maluku, are due to a community conflict sparked by the murder of a resident in Bobane Jaya Village. The incident escalated into mutual attacks between residents of Bobane Jaya Village and Sibenpopo Village, resulting in fatalities, the burning of residents’ homes, public facilities, and one place of worship. Joint TNI-Polri forces along with local government acted swiftly to quell the conflict, bringing the situation gradually under control on Friday afternoon. Furthermore, Trunoyudo urged the public to remain calm and not be easily provoked by unverified information. He stated that Polri is currently investigating the murder case in Central Halmahera as well as the attack on personnel in Dogiyai, ensuring that security in both areas remains controlled. “We invite all members of the public to work together to maintain a conducive public security and order situation, unaffected by hoaxes or provocations that could worsen the conditions,” he said. Meanwhile, the reinforcement of personnel in Dogiyai, Central Papua, follows a severe assault on Polri personnel, Bripda Juventus Edowai, by unknown individuals, leading to the victim’s death. “We are also prioritising a humane approach and law enforcement against the perpetrators of violence,” he added. He noted that the readiness check for the troops was led directly by Deputy Chief of Police Commissioner General Dedi Prasetyo at the Brimob Headquarters in Kelapa Dua, Depok, on Saturday (4/4) afternoon. He detailed that the deployed personnel consist of 100 Brimob personnel for Central Papua, an Itwasum team of 8 personnel divided between Central Papua and North Maluku, a BIK team of 10 personnel for Central Papua, 26 Divisi Propam personnel divided between the two regions, and a Bareskrim team of 20 personnel for Central Papua.