Clash in Papua Reportedly Leaves One TPNPB-OPM Militant Dead

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An armed clash between the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) reportedly occurred in the Kurima District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands. A TPNPB-OPM member was reported dead in a shootout around the Yetni River on Sunday, May 18, 2025.

According to Theo Hesegem, the Director of the Papua Justice and Integrity Foundation (YKKMP), the incident was a continuation of tensions that had occurred the day before. On Saturday morning, May 17, 2025, Theo received a report of an armed attack by a group of TPNPB-OPM led by Egianus Kogeya at several points, including the Koramil 1715-03 Kurima Post, Satgas 641/BRU Post, and the Kurima Police Sector.

Theo and his team immediately headed to Kurima to verify the information. There, the TNI personnel stated that there were no fatalities, only damage to a satellite dish. "They attacked from the left side from 05:00 to 07:00. We restrained ourselves and retaliated from inside the post," said a TNI member to Theo, in the YKKMP report on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

From the Kurima Police Sector, the local chief of police also reported no casualties or damage. "We remained inside the headquarters and retaliated after they started shooting," he said.

The next day, on May 18, 2025, around 15:40 WIT, another armed clash occurred around the Yetni River. Based on the information received by Theo from the TNI, Satgas 641/BRU personnel, who were moving from Wamena to Kurima, were intercepted by a TPNPB-OPM group. The exchange of fire lasted until 17:45 WIT.

The TNI reported that one TPNPB-OPM member known as Esa Giban was killed in the incident. The TNI personnel did not suffer any fatalities. "The victim was evacuated to the Wamena General Hospital, and material losses are still being documented," according to the official statement from Satgas.

Spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) Sebby Sambom confirmed that a militia member named Esa Giban was killed in the shootout. He stated that the casualty was the Operations Commander of Company A from Battalion Wesem. Additionally, he claimed that three military soldiers were also victims in the same shooting incident.

However, Lieutenant Colonel Inf Candra Kurniawan, the Head of Information for the XVII Cenderawasih Regional Military Command, denied the OPM's claim of casualties on the TNI side. "There are none," he said.

Novali Pandji Nugroho contributed to the writing of this article.

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