TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Head of the Cartenz Peace Task Force, Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhani, stated that the conflict between two factions supporting regional head candidates in the Puncak Jaya regional election in Central Papua has left 12 people dead. The fatalities occurred during several clashes over the past three months.
"Based on our data collection, there are a total of 12 fatalities. Eight of them are from the faction supporting candidate pair number 1," Faizal stated in a written release on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
The Puncak Jaya Regency election is contested by two candidate pairs, namely Yuni Wonda and Mus Kagoya (pair number 1), and Miren Kogoya and Mendi Wonorengga (pair number 2).
The conflict between the supporters of the candidates for Puncak Jaya Regent peaked after the Constitutional Court granted the petition of candidate pair number 1, Yuni Wonda-Mus Kagoya. In their petition, they alleged that there had been structured, systematic, and massive violations. One of them was the alleged sabotage in the distribution of logistical support by candidate pair number 2 in four districts.
In response to the petition, the Constitutional Court ordered the General Election Commission to conduct a re-tabulation. The court instructed the re-tabulation to be held in 22 districts in Puncak Jaya.
Prior to the dispute over the results of the Puncak Jaya Regional Election, candidate pair number 2, Miren Kogoya and Mendi Wonerengga, garnered 111,079 votes, leading by 25,277 over their competitors.
Aside from the dozen fatalities, Faizal revealed that the clashes resulted in 658 injuries. Of these, 423 were supporters of candidate pair 01 and 230 were supporters of candidate pair 02.
He stated that the clashes also caused significant material losses. A total of 201 buildings were burned down, including 196 residential units, one school building (SD Pruleme Belakang Toba Jaya), one Trikora village hall office, one Irimuli district office, one Gelora Party office, and one Pagaleme village hall office.
Faizal also mentioned that the clashes between the two factions supporting the regional head candidates in Puncak Jaya were exploited by the Armed Criminal Group (KKB). He stated that several of the fatalities were suspected to have been shot by the KKB. "They took advantage of the political situation during the regional election. This is a serious concern for us, as the KKB deliberately capitalizes on the conflict situation to carry out their actions," he said.
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