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View all search resultsEight killed in a separatist attack in Papua Highlands
According to Heluka, the attack was carried out in retaliation for the recent deaths of two OPM members during a clash with Indonesian security forces.
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Indonesian Military (TNI) members evacuate the body of a victim on March 23, 2025, following an attack by the Free Papua Movement (OPM) rebel group in Anggruk Districk, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands. (Antara/Dispenad)
E
ight illegal gold miners were killed in Yahukimo regency, Papua Highlands, on Tuesday, in an attack claimed by separatists from the Free Papua Movement (OPM).
Kopitua Heluka, OPM’s commander of the Yahukimo Regional Command claimed the victims were Indonesian military (TNI) and police intelligence officers who had disguised themselves as illegal gold miners to monitor separatist activities in the regency.
“Our forces successfully killed eight Indonesian military and police personnel who were posing as illegal gold miners in Korowai,” Heluka said in a video statement received by Kompas.com on Wednesday.
According to Heluka, the attack was carried out in retaliation for the recent deaths of two OPM members during a clash with Indonesian security forces.
The two separatists, Yoper Payage and Marten Heluka, were killed in a firefight with TNI personnel in Dekai district, Yahukimo regency on Sunday.
The TNI, through Operational Command (Koops) Habema, has denied claims that the victims were members of the Indonesian security forces, stating instead that they were civilians engaged in gold mining activities in the area.
“The eight individuals were not security personnel as alleged by the OPM, but civilians carrying out gold panning activities,” said Koops Habema spokesperson Lt. Col. M. Wirya Arthadiguna on Thursday.
