JAYAPURA – A somber atmosphere briefly enveloped the small airstrip in remote Korowai. The shooting incident involving two pioneer aircraft pilots shook the sense of security of a community that relies entirely on air transportation as its sole access in and out of the area. Yet amid fear and loss, solidarity emerged to provide strength.
Head of Public Relations Task Force for Operation Damai Cartenz 2026, Police Commissioner Yusuf Sutejo, stated in a doorstop interview with the media on Monday (Feb 16) that surviving passengers voluntarily collected donations and entrusted them to representatives of Smart Air as a gesture of empathy and condolences.
“The solidarity shown by the passengers demonstrates how heavily the Korowai community depends on aircraft. It is the only access point. There are no land routes, and the area is extremely remote,” Yusuf said.
Korowai is located in Boven Digoel Regency, a vast region dominated by dense forest terrain. The Korowai area is home to approximately 100 households. Health facilities are limited, with only one private elementary school available, and residents’ settlements are concentrated around a small airstrip that serves as the lifeline of the community.
Amid these limitations, Boven Digoel Police, with around 300 personnel, must secure a very extensive area. Challenging terrain and limited access are crucial factors in the ongoing pursuit of the perpetrators.
Following directives from National Police leadership, the Damai Cartenz 2026 Task Force has reinforced personnel, supported by the Papua Regional Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob), Criminal Investigation units, and Yahukimo Police. Of the approximately 20 individuals suspected of involvement in the Feb 11 shooting of Smart Air’s pioneer aircraft crew, two have been identified and are currently undergoing further investigation.
Based on witness and survivor statements, it is estimated that three to four long-barreled firearms were used by the perpetrators, while others carried sharp weapons such as spears, bows, arrows, and machetes. The type and origin of the firearms remain under investigation.
In a separate location, an armed group operating in the Yahukimo area is estimated to number around 200 individuals, dispersed into several smaller groups. Since January until last week, authorities recorded 23 violent incidents allegedly committed by the group, with patterns suggesting efforts to demonstrate their existence and draw attention.
Head of Operation Damai Cartenz 2026, Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhani, emphasized that civilian protection remains the top priority in every operational step.
“The victims in this series of violent acts are civilians — from pilots and drivers to workers helping build schools. The state must not be defeated by terror. We will ensure law enforcement is carried out professionally, proportionally, and based on evidence,” he stressed.
Deputy Head of Operation Damai Cartenz 2026, Police Commissioner Adarma Sinaga, affirmed that law enforcement measures are integrated with preventive and preemptive approaches to guarantee stability in affected areas.
“We are not only focused on pursuing the perpetrators, but also on ensuring that the public feels safe and that pioneer flight operations can continue. Airport security, strengthened patrols, and cross-unit coordination are being intensified to limit the movement of armed groups,” Adarma said.
He also emphasized that civilian safety remains the primary orientation of every field action.
“This operation prioritizes community protection. Every step is taken in a measured and professional manner, ensuring law enforcement proceeds while residents’ lives remain safeguarded,” he added.
Coordination with Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) elements in Tanah Merah continues to be strengthened, including securing remote airstrips that have very limited facilities and rely on generators for operations.
The challenges faced are real — armed violence in remote areas with limited access. The authorities’ response has also been concrete, including reinforcement of personnel, intelligence-based pursuit, enhanced security for vital objects, and persuasive community engagement. The expected impact is the continuity of flight services, protection of public facilities, and restoration of public safety.
Amid the silence of the Korowai forest, the message is reaffirmed: the state is present to ensure that every citizen, wherever they are, has the right to live without fear.
In addition to the shooting incident in Korowai, authorities also uncovered indications of vandalism of public facilities, including suspected arson of a classroom in Yahukimo. At the scene, officers found bottles containing fuel residue and charred wooden fragments, while the electrical installation was inactive. There was also an attempted burning of an ambulance — the only medical transport available to local residents — but the act was thwarted after residents negotiated with the perpetrators.
Over the past two days, authorities have detained four individuals suspected of committing violent acts in Yahukimo Regency. Two of them were confirmed to have been involved in several violent incidents, including an assault on Brimob personnel in 2022 and the arson of a shop-house in Yahukimo (Feb 14). The two suspects, identified by their initials GW and EH, were apprehended on the same day. The other two are still undergoing examination and further investigation.
Responding to narratives portraying the suspects as ordinary civilians, the Public Relations Task Force Head stressed that all enforcement actions are based on evidence, witness statements, and verified data.
“Those we have detained are individuals identified through evidence. Claims that they are ordinary civilians are unfounded narratives. In fact, the victims of these violent acts are civilians,” Yusuf explained.
He also reiterated that securing public facilities remains a major focus, as these facilities are essential to community life.
“If schools are burned and ambulances destroyed, the immediate victims are the people. Children could lose access to education, and health services could collapse. That is why securing public facilities is one of our top priorities,” he concluded.
