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View all search resultsTNI recovers bodies of 10 miners killed in attack claimed by Papuan separatist group
The OPM's paramilitary wing has claimed responsibility for the attack, alleging that the miners were undercover intelligence operatives, while security forces continue to search the area for other miners who might still be in hiding.
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Police officers patrol an access road in Bintang Mountains regency in Papua Highlands province on Sept. 21, 2023, as part of the joint military-police Operation Cartenz Peace to curb separatist violence in the region. (Antara/Laksa Mahendra)
S
ecurity forces have recovered the bodies of 10 illegal gold miners who were killed earlier this week by armed separatists from the Free Papua Movement (OPM) in a remote forest area in Papua Highlands province.
According to authorities, the attack occurred in Awimbon district of Bintang Mountains regency and confirmed that the death toll had increased to 10 victims from eight previously.
Earlier reports had misidentified the site of the attack as Korowai district in neighboring Yahukimo regency.
The National Police’s Brig. Gen. Faisal Ramadhani, who heads the joint military-police Operation Cartenz Peace, said recovering the miners’ bodies took several days due to the rugged terrain of the isolated area, deep within a protected forest.
“Our personnel had to open access routes and cut through dense forest to reach the site,” Faisal said on Friday, as quoted by Tempo.co.
“We suspect there are still other miners scattered in the area after fleeing during the assault,” he noted, adding that the toll could rise further.
“Our immediate priority is to evacuate survivors, recover and return the victims’ bodies to their families, and track down the separatist group responsible for the assault,” he said.
