TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The spokesperson of Papua Police Sr. Comr. Ahmad Musthofa Kamal rebutted the claims made by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), that they killed an undercover intelligence officer. According to Kamal, they killed a civilian.

“There was no police intelligence and military intelligence officer. The victim was a civilian who made a living by selling groceries for local residents,” said Kamal to Tempo on Tuesday, July 5, 2022.

Kamal also said the police are still investigating the cause of the victim's murder, including whether or not there was a dispute with the perpetrator before the incident took place.

Previously reported, the spokesman for the TPNPB OPM, Sebby Sambom, claimed his side executed an intelligence officer who was undercover as a gold miner in Korowai District, Yakuhimo Regency.

Sebby said the news of the killing was received by the TPNPB OPM Headquarters today, July 5, 2022. However, he did not detail when the incident occurred.

He assessed that the deployment of intelligence officers was related to Papua’s new autonomous regions which he deemed were forcefully conducted by the central government. Sebby thus urged President Joko Widodo or Jokowi and the House of Representatives (DPR) to revoke the Law on New Autonomous Regions of Papua. Otherwise, he threatened to kill anyone or immigrants entering Papua.

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH

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