Papua Conflict Escalation Elkius Kobak KKB Behind the Smart Air Tragedy
- The Smart Air shooting is strongly suspected to be the work of the Elkius Kobak group.
The series of armed violence incidents in the Papua region has once again reached a critical point, threatening national stability and civilian safety. The shooting of the Smart Air PK-SNR aircraft at Korowai Batu Airport, Boven Digoel, reveals a systematic and well-organized attack pattern.
Through intensive observation, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has identified that the group responsible for the deaths of Captain Egon and Baskoro Adi Anggoro are not new players. This group is strongly suspected to be the same cell behind security threats in Yahukimo that previously succeeded in disrupting high-level state agendas.
One notable dark record includes the sabotage of the Vice President's working visit planned for early 2026. The failure of that agenda serves as an indicator that this armed criminal group (KKB) possesses sufficient field intelligence to interrupt high-level security protocols.
The Cannibal Battalion and the Red Ant Battalion, operating under the command of Elkius Kobak, are now the primary focus of the Ops Damai Cartenz Task Force pursuit. Their track record includes a brutal attack on construction workers at SMP YPK Yakpesmi and the shooting of commercial aircraft vital for logistics in remote areas.
Under international humanitarian law, the targeting of civilian facilities and public service personnel, such as pilots, constitutes a grave violation. Komnas HAM emphasized that the right to safety is a non-derogable principle, urging a transparent investigation to break the chain of impunity in Papua.
The socio-political condition in South Papua is currently on high alert, with the temporary closure of flight access to the deepest regions. The government faces a significant challenge in restoring public trust while ensuring the state's presence in protecting health workers and educators in conflict zones.