1) Reasons Why TPNPB-OPM Justifies Killing Gold Miners, Non-Papuans in Conflict Zones Reporter Sapto Yunus
-------------------------
1) Reasons Why TPNPB-OPM Justifies Killing Gold Miners, Non-Papuans in Conflict Zones Reporter Sapto Yunus
April 12, 2025 | 12:53 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB OPM) has provided several justifications for its recent attack that led to the deaths of illegal gold miners in Yahukimo Regency, Papua.
“We assert that gold miners, civil servants, teachers, and health workers in conflict zones across Papua are part of the Indonesian government’s military apparatus disguised as civilians,” said TPNPB OPM spokesperson Sebby Sambom.
He claimed that most of them are non-Indigenous Papuans (OAP) and therefore suspected of being government intelligence agents. “Yes, they are intels,” Sebby said in a voice recording sent to Tempo on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
Sebby stated that the TPNPB OPM Kodap XVI Yahukimo is ready to execute anyone who disguises themselves as a motorcycle taxi driver, gold miner, construction worker, and others in the conflict-affected areas.
Therefore, he warned incoming residents in Papua to leave the locations designated as war zones by the TPNPB OPM or armed criminal groups (KKB) immediately. If not, he said they could be considered infiltrators and become targets of the TPNPB OPM.
The following are several reasons and claims by the TPNPB OPM to attack and kill the gold miners in the Yahukimo Regency.
Claims of TNI Intelligence Disguised as Civilians
The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB OPM) has provided several justifications for its recent attack that led to the deaths of illegal gold miners in Yahukimo Regency, Papua.
“We assert that gold miners, civil servants, teachers, and health workers in conflict zones across Papua are part of the Indonesian government’s military apparatus disguised as civilians,” said TPNPB OPM spokesperson Sebby Sambom.
According to Sebby, the killing of dozens of individuals, whom the group identified as military intelligence agents, was intended as a warning to all illegal gold miners to immediately vacate Papua. “We believe they are part of the Indonesian military reserve forces deployed to the region,” he added.
Illegal Gold Miners Have Entered Papua Since 2017
Sebby stated that illegal gold miners have been operating in Papua since 2017, specifically in Korowai and Baya Biru Districts.
He claimed these miners are non-indigenous individuals from other parts of Indonesia and alleged they are part of the Indonesian military’s network.
TNI-Police in Cahoots in Illegal Gold Mining in Papua
The TPNPB OPM further accused members of the TNI and Police of being complicit in illegal mining operations in Korowai
“They’ve deployed excavators and bulldozers with the support of Indonesian military and police forces,” Sebby said in an audio recording shared with Tempo on April 11, 2025.
Sebby claimed to possess strong evidence of this collusion and expressed willingness to present it in international court. He said illegal mining began in 2017, and in 2019 the TPNPB OPM carried out an attack on miners for allegedly causing environmental destruction. Despite that, the operations reportedly resumed, prompting renewed attacks.
Responding to these claims, Brigadier General Kristomei Sianturi, Head of the TNI Information Center, dismissed the statements as disinformation. He accused the armed group (referred to as KKB by the government) of fabricating military affiliations to deflect from accusations of human rights violations.
“They pretend the victims are military personnel to avoid being labeled human rights violators,” Kristomei said at TNI Headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, on April 9, 2025, as quoted by Antara.
Kristomei added that the hoaxes are meant to mask the group’s violent actions toward civilians and spread fear among local communities. He urged the public not to fall for this propaganda.
Armed Gold Miners
TPNPB OPM also claimed that some of the illegal gold miners in Yahukimo carried firearms. According to Sebby, the group confiscated a pistol from miners in 2019 and accused them of killing seven Papuan residents, including one who was allegedly beheaded.
He alleged the miners’ actions were backed by security forces, which, he said, prompted the TPNPB OPM to launch retaliatory attacks.
Ready to Kill Every Newcomer Living in War Zones
The TPNPB OPM stated that they are ready to attack and kill any newcomer living in Papua. Especially for newcomers who reside in areas designated as war zones by the TPNPB OPM.
"Immigrants are not our people, so we are ready to kill them at any time," said Sebby, Friday.
According to Sebby, the incoming residents are the same as the Indonesian government who came only to oppress the people of Papua. One of them is illegal gold miners who steal natural resources and damage the forest ecosystem in Papua.
"We don't need you, we don't care. Wipe them all out. We've said it, kill them," he said.
The Indonesian government, Sebby said, has never acknowledged the independence of the Papuan people for the past 60 years. Instead of opening a dialogue, the government continues to increase military personnel to serve in Papua.
"So now we will play rough to drive out Indonesia. We have to play rough to succeed," he said.
Sebby explained that the TPNPB OPM has followed the rules of international warfare by giving civilians time to leave the war zones. The areas designated as war zones have also been officially announced to the public.
"Secure the civilians first, then war can take place in those areas," said Sebby.
Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Amelia Rahima Sari, Novali Panji Nugroho, and Antaracontributed to the writing of this article.
-------------------------
2) OPM Justifies Killing of Gold Miners in Papua, Saying Victims Were Military in Disguise
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Sebby Sambom, spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM), stated the group’s reasons for targeting civilians working as gold miners in Yahukimo, Papua.
He claimed that the dozens of people attacked by their group were actually part of the Indonesian national armed force (TNI), disguised as gold miners.
"Illegal mining in Kali Kabur, Yahukimo, is often conducted by the Indonesian government's military," he said on Friday, April 11, 2025.
According to Sebby, the military forces in disguise were also caught spying on their group's headquarters using a drone camera. "So, we immediately carried out the operation and executed them," he said.
The Head of the TNI Information Center, Brigadier General Kristomei Sianturi, has denied allegations that Indonesian soldiers were among the victims. He clarified that the civilians killed by the armed criminal group were not members of the TNI.
“No TNI soldier was killed,” he stated in a written release on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
Previously, 17 civilians working as gold miners in Papua Mountains' Yahukimo Regency were reported killed by the Free Papua Movement (OPM). The attacks began on April 6, 2025.
OPM attacked and killed 11 individuals working as gold miners on April 6, 2025. Two days later, they killed another six people. These attacks by OPM took place in the Yahukimo Regency of Papua Mountains.
Yahukimo Regency is one of the nine areas designated by TPNPB OPM as war zones. The other areas include Pegunungan Bintang, Nduga, Puncak Jaya, Intan Jaya, Maybrat, Dogiyai, Paniai, and Deiyai.
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Sebby Sambom, spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM), accused the Indonesian government of deliberately deploying military personnel to conflict zones in Papua.
He alleged that some reserve forces are operating under the guise of gold miners.
ebby further claimed that not only miners, but also civil servants such as teachers and healthcare workers sent to Papua’s conflict areas are actually affiliated with the government’s intelligence agency.
"They disguise themselves as civilian workers to infiltrate," he said in a statement on Friday, April 11, 2025.
Sebby claimed to have evidence to support his allegations, pointing to a past statement made by the Chief of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), General Agus Subiyanto, as the only proof his group considers credible.
The four-star general previously stated that his troops in Papua also serve as educators and healthcare workers.
"The statement confirms that all newcomers in conflict areas, regardless of their profession, are members of the military. Period," he stated.
According to him, the statement could legitimize attacks carried out by his group against military forces disguised as civilians in Papua.
"We are ready to execute anyone who disguises themselves as motorcycle taxi drivers, gold miners, construction workers in conflict areas," he said.
Most recently, this armed group attacked and killed 17 civilians who worked as gold miners in Yahukimo, Papua Highlands. The OPM claimed that the deceased victims were military personnel in disguise. The attack took place from April 6 to 8, 2025.
OPM also previously attacked educators and healthcare workers in Anggruk District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands, at the end of March. A teacher was reported to have been killed and several others were injured.
The Head of the TNI Information Center, Brigadier General Kristomei Sianturi, rejected the claims made by OPM, calling them propaganda aimed at legitimizing the group’s attacks on civilians.
"The propaganda constitutes manipulation of information to seek justification for their brutal actions. OPM has blatantly committed crimes against innocent civilians," he said in a written statement on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
"It is true that the 11 miners, who fell victim to the massacre, have been evacuated," he informed after presiding over the inauguration of eight resort police chiefs in Jayapura, Papua province, on Saturday.
Providing further details, he told the media that 10 bodies were recovered from four different illegal mines in Yahukimo district, while one body was retrieved from Pegunungan Bintang district.
He said that the bodies found in Yahukimo were taken to a public hospital in Dekai sub-district for identification, adding that only two of them have been identified so far.
The body of the illegal miner killed in Pegunungan Bintang was brought to Boven Digoel district, South Papua province, he informed.
"Once identified, the bodies will be returned to their families for burial," he said.
While the 11 bodies have been recovered, Renwarin informed that the Papua Regional Police have yet to conclude the evacuation operation as they are awaiting confirmation whether the actual number of victims is higher than initially reported.
Earlier, the Defense Ministry firmly denied the armed group's claim of eliminating military intelligence agents disguised as civilians in Highland Papua, affirming that the 11 victims were confirmed to be civilians.
Head of the ministry's Information Bureau, Brig. General Frega Wenas Inkiriwang, emphasized on Thursday that Indonesia remains steadfast in its commitment to prioritizing legal and peaceful means to address separatist movements in the Papua region.
Indonesian military personnel stationed in the region are tasked solely with ensuring security and protecting civilians, he added.
Therefore, Inkiriwang stressed that the group's allegation that the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) were involved in illegal mining activities in Papua is false.
Related news: Armed Papuan insurgent shot in thigh in Central Papua: Police
Related news: Police, army deployed at Papua hospital after rebel threat: official
Translator: Evarukdijati, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
