Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian military (TNI) said Friday that its troops had killed three suspected members of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) during a gunfight in Maybrat Regency, Southwest Papua, as security operations against armed separatist groups intensified in the region.
Only one body was recovered at the scene near the Frambu River, while the bodies of two other suspected separatists were reportedly swept away by the current and remained missing, according to the military's Habema Task Force.
The operation involved personnel from Infantry Battalion 9.
According to the military, the clash began at approximately 9 a.m. local time when its personnel came under fire from suspected OPM members.
Troops returned fire, triggering a gunfight that left three suspected separatists dead, the military said.
The body recovered at the scene was identified by the TNI as Manfred Fatem. The military identified the two others, whose bodies had not been recovered, as Anton Fatem and Yesias Fatem.
It did not explain whether the three men, who shared the same surname, were related.
Soldiers also recovered an AK-101 assault rifle from the scene, according to the task force.
Military urges separatists to surrender
Habema Task Force Commander Brig. Gen. Riyanto said the operation was intended to protect civilians from threats posed by armed separatist groups.
"Any armed threat that endangers the safety of civilians and security personnel must be addressed firmly and professionally," Riyanto said.
"Our primary objective is to create a safe environment where people can live peacefully, public services can operate normally, and community life can recover."
He also urged other OPM members to surrender, saying they still had an opportunity to abandon armed resistance and return to civilian life.
"To our brothers who are still in the forests, the path to peace remains open," Riyanto said.
Operations intensify across Papua
The latest clash came amid intensified military operations against armed separatist groups in Papua over the past two weeks, following a series of attacks on civilian targets that the authorities have attributed to insurgents.
In late September, four suspected OPM members were killed during a military operation in Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua.
Last weekend, two other suspected separatists were reported killed in a separate gunfight in Maybrat Regency, Southwest Papua.
The military has described the operations as part of its efforts to counter armed groups and protect communities in conflict-affected areas.
The OPM is a separatist movement seeking independence for Papua from Indonesia. Armed factions associated with the broader separatist movement have been involved in a long-running conflict with Indonesian security forces.
Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesian-military-says-three-papuan-separatists-killed-in-gunfigh