March 26, 2025
JAKARTA – The enduring conflict between the security forces and separatists in resource-rich Papua intensified recently, as a group of Free Papua Movement (OPM) rebels in Yahukimo regency, Papua Highlands, launched a series of attacks on civilians over the weekend, a move which came in the wake of the controversial revision to the Indonesian Military (TNI) Law.
A statement from the National Police’s Operation Cartenz Peace task force said the rebel group stormed teachers’ residential housing in Anggruk district, Yahukimo, on Friday, stabbing occupants and subsequently setting two houses on fire.
The next day, they returned and attacked and killed a 30-year-old female teacher who was taking care of the injured victims. Meanwhile, six other teachers and one health worker were taken to the Marthen Indey Army Hospital in Jayapura, Papua.
Most of the victims, including the murdered teacher, were from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), with the exception of one individual from Sorong, Southwest Papua.
A crime scene investigation conducted by the police’s task force on Monday found the armed perpetrators, comprising at least 15 people, had also burned seven classrooms of the district’s Advent elementary school.
“We are currently still conducting intensive security in Anggruk district with the local police to anticipate further trouble,” Sr. Comr. Yusuf Sutejo, the spokesperson for Operation Cartenz Peace, said in a release on Monday.
Read also: House passes contentious TNI Law amendments
In a separate statement, Maj. Gen. Rudi Puruwito who heads the Cenderawasih Military Command in Papua said that military personnel remained in Anggruk district, and residents who had fled have slowly returned to their homes.
“We are still figuring out the motive behind the OPM’s brutal assault”, he said.
Sebby Sambom, spokesperson for the OPM’s armed wing the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB-OPM), has claimed responsibility for the attacks and they said were aimed at “intelligence agents” disguised as teachers and medical workers in the region.
“We are ready to take responsibility for the killing of the Indonesian intelligence agent who worked as a teacher […] The killing was carried out based on the TNI commander’s statement, saying teachers and medical workers sent to Papua were military personnel,” Sebby said in a statement on Saturday.
He was referring to TNI commander Gen. Agus Subiyanto’s statement last year on the military’s “multifunctional role” and how his members had a role in civilian affairs in the restive region.
Concerns have been mounting recently over the potential return of the military’s dwifungsi (dual function) in civilian affairs, which prevailed during former president Soeharto’s authoritarian New Order era, with the recent rushed revision of the TNI Law.
Over the weekend, the country saw widespread protests against the House of Representatives’ decision to pass the bill, which expands the TNI’s role in civilian affairs and non-conflict operations.
“The law revision has proven that the TNI occupies civil positions in Indonesia,” Sebby said, adding that the amended law legitimized the group’s attacks on any newcomer entering “the war zone”.
Read also: Protests break out as House passes TNI bill
Maj. Gen. Rudi stressed that none of the victims were military personnel, adding that the district’s residents already knew of their status as teachers and health workers.
“It’s just their excuse. It’s not logical to fight for [their cause] but also to kill a fellow Papuan,” he said.
Meanwhile, Cendrawasih Military Command spokesperson Candra Kurniawan dismissed Sebby’s comment that the TNI Law revision inspired the attack, dismissing it as an “excuse for the armed group to justify their actions”.
The government has over the years increased the military presence in Papua and last year established new infantry battalions across several provinces.
The military’s heightened presence has in turn led to increasing instances of violence and unlawful killings, such as in Papua’s Intan Jaya regency, as recorded by human rights group Amnesty International Indonesia.
Experts have denounced the government’s continued security approach and suggested that it opt for a softer approach instead, which could be done through dialogue with local communities.
Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai said that he had coordinated with the NTT governor and authorities in Papua Highlands to “ensure the victims receive optimal care,” Antara reported on Monday.
National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) senior political researcher Adriana Elisabeth believed better communication efforts between the local and central governments were needed to alleviate the tension.
“[Authorities] can implement a humanitarian pause, and during this the military presence should not be amped up,” she said on Tuesday. “But the armed groups also need to ensure they do not conduct any attacks.”