TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Spokesman of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) Sebby Sambom, confirmed the harrowing truth that his group the Free Papua Movement (OPM), was responsible for the bloody execution on numerous construction workers in Nduga, Papua.
Sebby maintained that the attack was carried out to express their demand of West Papua's independence from Indonesia.
"We demand our right toward independence and sovereignty," said Sebby in a phone interview with Tempo on Thursday, December 6, 2018.
He claimed that the TPNPB rejects the Trans Papua infrastructure development currently ongoing in West Papua. "Our principle is that we refuse any program related to the development of West Papua. We only demand our independence," Sebby insisted.
Prior to the attack on 31 construction workers, the armed rebel group had attacked the Indonesian Army as a protest against the construction project. However, the first attack did not produce the reaction the group wanted.
Sebby Sambom also said that the execution of the innocent workers in Papua was already planned three months prior to the attack. The TPNPB and OPM had monitored the project from afar before commencing the deadly attack.
SYAFIUL HADI | MAYA AYU