Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai confirmed that the children who were victims of the shooting in Puncak Regency, Central Papua, are now receiving intensive medical care and attention from the local government.
The statement was made following a shootout in Kembru Village, Sinak District, which resulted in numerous civilian casualties.
According to data from the Ministry of Human Rights, 15 civilians were reported dead.
Meanwhile, seven others sustained gunshot wounds.
Of those injured, three were children.
To date, the government is still determining whether any children were among the fatalities in the incident.
Pigai emphasized that this case is a serious concern for the government.
Therefore, the Ministry of Human Rights plans to take over the handling of the case to ensure the investigation is conducted transparently, fairly, and capable of identifying the perpetrators and the motives behind the shooting.
He also noted that local residents likely know who is responsible since the incident occurred in broad daylight.
Pigai urged the perpetrators to confess to their actions and cooperate with the legal process to ensure justice for the people of Papua.
The government stated that the primary focus at this time is on caring for the victims, protecting civilians, and fully uncovering the facts.