OPM Attack in Yahukimo: TNI Confirms One Teacher Killed
Reporter
March 24, 2025 | 02:46 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Head of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Information Center, Brigadier General Kristomei Sianturi, confirmed that the recent attack on teachers and healthcare workers in Anggruk District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Mountains, resulted in one fatality.
Earlier, there were reports claiming that six people had been killed in the attack carried out by the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM), or generally known as OPM.
Kristomei stated that six individuals were injured during the attack, which took place on Friday, March 21, 2025. He emphasized that the TNI has deployed its personnel to the area to ensure the victims' safety and maintain security.
He reiterated the TNI’s commitment to protecting civilians, particularly teachers and healthcare workers stationed in remote regions.
"The TNI has deployed personnel to evacuate the victims, secure the area, and support the post-action recovery from OPM," Kristomei said in a written statement on Sunday, March 23, 2025.
Previously, the OPM claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that they had killed six teachers in Anggruk District. The separatist group claimed that its forces from the Eden Sawi and Sisipa battalions were behind the assault.
Elkius Kobak, the Commander of TPNPB OPM Kodam XVI Yahukimo, alleged that the six teachers they targeted were actually Indonesian intelligence agents. He said that the attack was a direct response to a statement made by TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto regarding the deployment of military personnel to serve as teachers in Papua.
"So I ordered the troops to carry out the killing of six TNI members who worked as teachers," Elkius stated in a written statement on Saturday, March 22, 2025.
Meanwhile, TPNPB-OPM spokesperson Sebby Sambom called on all teachers and healthcare workers to leave Papua's conflict zones immediately. He warned that their group plans to launch further operations targeting Indonesian intelligence agents in the coming week.
"We convey to President Prabowo and the TNI Commander not to retaliate against civilians indiscriminately," Sebby said on Sunday, March 23, 2025.
Novali Panji Nugroho contributed to the making of this article.
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