"Let us work hand in hand to make the upcoming regional elections run in a peaceful and orderly manner like the presidential and parliamentary elections last February," General Mathius Fakhiri remarked.
Speaking at a syukuran (gathering to express gratitude to God) on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of Bhayangkara Day here, Monday, Fakhiri affirmed that peaceful elections could be held through unity among all elements of society.
The General Elections Commission (KPU) has announced that the regional elections will take place simultaneously across the country on November 27, 2024.
To this end, the phases of elections, such as registration and announcement of candidate pairs for governor and vice governor as well as district head and vice head, commence in August, he revealed. For the first time, the 2024 Regional Elections would also be held in the new provinces of South Papua, Highland Papua, and Central Papua, he remarked.
Speaking in connection with the law and order situation in Papua, Fakhiri warned that all related issues should be handled quickly and properly. Concurrently, the Papua police should also stay cautious about cybercrimes.
Over the past few years, armed rebel groups have often employed hit-and-run tactics against Indonesian security personnel and mounted acts of terror against civilians in the districts of Intan Jaya, Nduga, and Puncak to incite fear among the people. The targets of such acts of terror have included construction workers, motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers, teachers, students, street food vendors, and also civilian aircraft.
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On December 2, 2018, an armed Papuan group brutally killed 31 workers from PT Istaka Karya engaged in the Trans Papua project in Kali Yigi and Kali Aurak in Yigi Sub-district, Nduga District. On February 7, 2023, New Zealand pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens was taken hostage by the Egianus Kogoya-led armed group. He was piloting an aircraft belonging to Indonesian airline Susi Air when he was captured by the armed group. Members of the group set his aircraft on fire shortly after it landed in Nduga District.
On April 10, the commandant of the 1703-04 Aradide Sub-district Military Command, Second Lieutenant Oktovianus Sogalrey, was shot dead by Papuan rebels in Paniai District, Central Papua.
