The group, who claimed to represent the West Papuan Liberation Army (TPNB), were seen holding the severed head of the man whom they said they had been hunted for. The group said the execution, which they said took place in Honai Matoa, spoke volumes of their resistance to the formation of new autonomous regions in Papua, including the three new provinces, and their threat against migrants who wished to come to neighboring Yahukimo regency.

A spokesman for the Papua Police, Sr. Comr. Ahmad Mustofa Kamal, confirmed the gruesome killing. He said the police received a report about the beheading on July 19 evening.

A TPNB spokesman, Sebby Sambom, said the decapitation had been committed by the group’s Yahukimo leader Bocor Sobolim. Speaking in a press conference, Sebby said Bocor had killed an intelligence officer of the Indonesian Military (TNI) who had himself as a gold miner in Korowai.

However, regional military commander Brig. Gen. J.O. Sembiring denied the separatist group’s claim, saying the victim was a civilian who worked in a grocery near the mine site. Sembiring said there was no intelligence officer operating in the area under his auspices.

To corroborate Sembiring’s statement, Ahmad said the beheaded man was identified as Adis Haryadi, a migrant who worked as a gold miner and a shopkeeper of the grocery store belonging to a Papuan native. Ahmad said witnesses saw two unknown people, armed with machetes, break into the grocery store to look for Adis, while several others stood guard outside. 

Adis was killed on site. The group left his body lying near the grocery store but took his severed head with them.

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