Kiwirok, Pegunungan Bintang — The Armed Criminal Group (KKB) of Kodap XV Ngalum Kupel set fire to the Community Health Center (Puskesmas) building in Kiwirok District, Pegunungan Bintang Regency, Papua Pegunungan, on Monday (September 29, 2025) at around 06.20 a.m. local time. The incident triggered a firefight with the Operation Peace Cartenz 2025 Task Force.
Head of Peace Operation Cartenz 2025, Brigadier General of Police Faizal Ramadhani, confirmed the incident.
“Another arson attack occurred in Kiwirok District. The team responded swiftly and managed to repel the KKB group. Currently, sweeping operations are still ongoing,” he said.
The fire was initially detected by the task force, which observed thick black smoke rising from the direction of the health center. Patrols spotted eight KKB members carrying four firearms. Security forces immediately moved toward the site and came under fire near Kiwirok Senior High School (SMA Negeri Kiwirok)—a building that the KKB had also burned down two days earlier. A firefight ensued.
The team succeeded in driving the KKB away, forcing them to retreat toward Lolim Village. From higher ground, security personnel discovered that not only the health center but also the official residence of the healthcare workers had been burned.
Deputy Head of Operation, Chief Commissioner of Police Adarma Sinaga, emphasized that the forces remain on high alert.
“Public safety is our top priority. We will not back down in the face of KKB disruptions. All personnel are on full alert to prevent similar attacks from recurring,” he stated.
Material losses from the incident included one health center building that was under rehabilitation and the official residence of healthcare workers.
The Kiwirok Health Center has not been targeted for the first time. In September 2021, the same building was also burned down and later rehabilitated by the government. Currently, TNI-Polri forces in Kiwirok District have declared the highest alert status (siaga satu) at all posts to anticipate potential follow-up attacks.
