Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Theo Hesegem, director of the Papua Justice and Human Integrity Foundation, has called on the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) to provide evidence supporting its claim of a connection between Indonesian military agents and gold miners in Yahukimo, Papua. The separatist group had previously been reported to have killed 17 civilian gold miners.
OPM alleged that the gold miners were Indonesian military agents disguised as civilians. Theo argued that the accusation is baseless as the group has yet to present any verifiable evidence to the public.
"They must support their claims with proof – such as military or police identification cards, or weapons retrieved from the victims," Theo stated on Thursday, April 17.
Theo asserted that such evidence is critical to convincing the international community of any involvement by security forces. However, he noted that the armed separatist group has never substantiated its allegations. Theo urged the central government to take immediate action to resolve the armed conflict in Papua. He said the president should withdraw non-organic troops and halt the deployment of additional forces to Papua.
According to him, armed conflict will not solve anything in Papua, emphasizing that the way forward is through dialogue between the government and groups in Papua to bring an end to the conflict.
"Armed conflict will only lead to loss of life. The president must be open to sitting down with political leaders in Papua for dialogue," he said.
TPNPB-OPM has claimed it possesses evidence of military involvement with the gold miners. The group's spokesperson, Sebby Sambom, stated that this evidence includes a handgun allegedly retrieved from a gold miner in 2019.
Meanwhile, head of the TNI's Information Center, Brig. Gen. Kristomei Sianturi, said the military has handed the matter over to the police to investigate the OPM's claim about the weapon. "We fully trust the police to investigate and uncover the facts objectively," he said on Tuesday, April 16.
In addition, Kristomei denied OPM's allegations of military involvement with the gold miners. He stated that the TNI has never used civilians as tools or assets in military operations.
"Such accusations are a form of propaganda often used by OPM to justify violence against civilians," he said.