OPM Seeks Jokowi's Responsibility for Military Raid in Papua's Pogapa

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB OPM) said the Indonesian Military (TNI) conducted a brutal and massive aerial attack on residential areas in Intan Jaya, disregarding humanitarian law in the war against civilians.

Sebby Sambom, a spokesperson of the TPNPB OPM, said the deployment of national military troops in Pogapa Village, Intan Jaya, Central Papua, was in pursuit of the TPNPB and had caused extensive damage to the village's civilian infrastructure.

“[Public facilities are damaged] as a result of the brutal aerial attack by the TNI helicopter without guaranteeing [the safety of] the local residents during the operation,” Sebby said in a written statement received by Tempo on Thursday evening, May 9.

According to him, the Indonesian government, under the leadership of President Joko Widodo or Jokowi and the TNI Commander, has deployed military helicopters since May 4, 2024, in pursuit of the TPNPB Regional Defense Command (Kodap) VIII Intan Jaya after the armed group attacked TNI-Polri troops in Pogapa Village.

“In this case, the Indonesian President and the TNI Commander should immediately clarify [their actions] following international humanitarian law,” Sebby added.

The TPNPB launched an attack operation against the national military in Intan Jaya from March 30 to May 5, 2024. “This resulted in the death of an Indonesian intelligence officer and the burning of a school,” he claimed.

Sebby stressed that the Indonesian government must immediately take responsibility for the burning of three civilian houses in Pogapa during the military attack and allow access for humanitarian agencies to see the conflict situation. He also mentioned that residents had vacated their villages.

IKHSAN RELIUBUN

Editor’s Choice: Mount Ibu in Eastern Indonesia Sees Rising Volcanic Activity: PVMBG

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News