Jayapura, Jubi – Pendinus Wanimbo of the West Baliem Office of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) stated that the suspect in Michele Kurisi’s murder was either a KNPB supporter or regular member who operated independently outside of the organization’s framework.
He emphasized that the KNPB has never encouraged or instructed its members to commit crimes against anyone.
Michele Kurisi was murdered on August 28, 2023, in Kolawa District, Lanny Jaya Regency, Mountainous Papua Province. From October 5 to 8, 2023, Operation Peace Cartenz 2023 arrested three suspects of the murder, with AW being identified by the police as a member of the West Baliem KNPB.
Wanimbo expressed his belief that it was inappropriate of the police to link Michele Kurisi’s murder with the KNPB. He also raised concerns about media coverage that had wrongly accused the KNPB or implied the presence of KNPB members in the murder.
KNPB spokesperson Demin Tabuni also contradicted the Papua Police’s statement that the suspect in Michele Kurisi’s murder was an active member of the KNPB Militant. Tabuni clarified that the names of the suspects mentioned by the Papua Police were ordinary individuals who were not integrated into the organizational structure of KNPB West Baliem. (*)
