April 13, 2025 | 12:30 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) has urged people from outside Papua to refrain from engaging in mining activities in the Yahukimo region. TPNPB-OPM spokesman Sebby Sambom referred to the non-Papuan newcomers as 'immigrants' from Indonesia in the operational areas of Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands Province.
"TPNPB does not compromise with Indonesian immigrant residents in our operational areas throughout Yahukimo," Sebby said in a written statement on Saturday, April 12, 2025.
Sebby requested people engaged in gold mining, agarwood logging, and utilizing forest products to leave the Yahukimo region. He also urged the owners of customary mining rights in Yahukimo to adhere to the instructions from TPNPB-OPM.
According to him, small-scale mining in Papua is solely for the welfare of the indigenous people of the region. "Papuans are welcome to manage their natural resources to build places of worship. However, Indonesian immigrants must promptly exit the small-scale mines in Yahukimo," he stated.
Sebby referred to people from outside Papua as Indonesian government intelligence agents. Previously, the OPM suspected the involvement of the Indonesian National Army (TNI) and the National Police (Polri) in illegal mining activities in the Korowai District, Yahukimo Regency.
According to Sebby, illegal gold mining activities were first carried out in Papua in 2017. Two years later, in 2019, TPNPB-OPM launched an attack against these illegal gold miners.
Prior to this, between April 6-9, 2025, TPNPB-OPM had executed 17 illegal gold miners in the Yahukimo Regency of Papua Highlands Province. Sebby claimed that the group of people attacked by his forces were part of the Indonesian army, who were also disguised as gold miners.
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