Separatists in Indonesia's restive eastern region of Papua have killed at least 11 people working as gold miners in less than a week, the defence ministry said on April 10, with rebels claiming they were soldiers in disguise.
A joint military and police taskforce set up to combat a separatist insurgency in Papua said the attacks took place on April 6 and April 7 in one of the deadliest incidents in the region in recent years.
"It was civilians who were targeted," defence ministry spokesman Frega Wenas Inkiriwang told reporters.
"There were 11 illegal miners who became victims and were treated inhumanely. They were killed sadistically."
The joint taskforce said in a statement it had information that "victims suffered slash wounds, gunshot wounds, and arrow wounds" in the region's Yahukimo regency.
According to statements from insurgent group West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), at least 17 people were killed since April 6, with spokesperson Sebby Sambom saying that they were Indonesian soldiers disguised as gold miners.
But Jakarta said it was difficult to verify the additional casualties because of the rebels' presence in Papua's rugged and remote highlands.
"The terrain is very difficult and we do not want to give the wrong information," task force spokesman Yusuf Sutejo said.
In 2022, 10 people were shot dead in a rebel ambush and eight telecoms workers were killed in another attack.
Papua's Melanesian population shares few cultural connections with the rest of Indonesia -- the world's largest Muslim-majority country -- and the Indonesian military has long been accused of gross human rights abuses there.
The former Dutch colony declared independence in 1961, but neighbouring Indonesia took control two years later, promising a referendum. In 1969, a thousand Papuans voted to integrate into Indonesia in a United Nations-backed vote.
Papuan independence activists regularly criticize the vote and call for fresh polls, but Jakarta says its sovereignty over Papua is supported by the United Nations.
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The ministry’s spokesman Brig. Gen. Frega Wenas Inkiriwang emphasized that no TNI soldiers were involved in illegal gold mining in Papua. “The soldiers’ presence in Papua is merely carrying out their constitutional duty, that it is maintaining national security and protecting all Indonesian citizens, including in Papua,” Frega said in a written statement. Frega added that the OPM’s building of a narrative equating civilians, such as teachers, health personnel and construction workers with the security apparatus was a dangerous move. The rebel’s claim that they murdered “intelligence agents” was an admission of extra-judicial violence, which could be categorized as a crime against humanity.
"If the Indonesian government and military wants to chase us, please come to Dekai town, we are in the town," Sebby said, referring to a district in Yahukimo regency, where the incident took place. Dekai also serves as Yahukimo’s administrative seat. The OPM rebels killed six female teachers and medical workers on March 21. The rebels have also ordered all teachers and medical personnel to leave the region with Sebby saying the rebels would launch an attack against “Indonesia’s intelligence agents”. (nvn)
The Indonesian Military (TNI) headquarters has confirmed that several civilians working as gold miners were killed by an armed separatist group affiliated with the Free Papua Organization (OPM) in the Suntamon District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Mountains Province, on April 8, 2025.
TNI spokesman Brigadier General Kristomei Sianturi said that the attack constituted a gross violation of human rights and described it as a crime against humanity.
“This is a heinous and unacceptable act of violence targeting innocent civilians,” he said as quoted in a statement on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
Initial reports from military units in the area confirmed that the victims were civilian gold panners. However, due to limited communication access in the region, the exact number of injured and deceased is still under verification.
In response to circulating claims that TNI soldiers were among the victims, Kristomei described the reports as misinformation.
“The propaganda spread by the OPM and its sympathizers, claiming the victims were TNI soldiers, is false and a clear attempt at information manipulation to justify their brutality,” he emphasized.
The attack follows a similar incident two weeks earlier in the Anggruk District of Yahukimo, where OPM reportedly killed and assaulted teachers and healthcare workers, falsely accusing them of being members of the TNI.
The TNI has strongly condemned the attacks and is coordinating with law enforcement agencies to pursue the perpetrators. “These are clear crimes against humanity and will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” Kristomei said.
The Indonesian military reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of civilians in Papua, pledging continued presence and cooperation with local communities to maintain national stability.
As previously reported, The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) has claimed responsibility for the execution of 11 illegal gold miners in Yahukimo, Papua, while alleging the casualties as soldiers disguising themselves as gold miners in a mission to infiltrate their operational areas.
In a statement released on Tuesday night, April 8, 2025, TPNPB spokesperson Sebby Sambom confirmed the killings, stating that the operation took place over three days, from April 6 to April 8, 2025.
The Free Papua Movement has also claimed responsibility for the killing of five more TNI members on April 9, 2025 in the Kabur River area, Korowai, Yahukimo Regency. The group alleged that the soldiers were disguised as illegal gold miners, bringing total casualties to 16 people.
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