Jakarta – The central leadership of the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) has denied accusations of recruiting child soldiers.
"We ensure that there has never been recruitment of children to become combatants," said TPNPB spokesperson Sebby Sambom during a teleconference on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
Sebby urged the public to watch the documentary "The Child Soldiers of West Papua" by Paradise Broadcasting on YouTube, which he claims illustrates that children present in conflict areas are not part of the militia.
While children may be seen in those locations, he emphasized that there is no recruitment into the TPNPB ranks.
He further stated that TPNPB militias across all defense regional commands (Kodap) operate in accordance with international law and human rights principles.
"We want to convey to the whole world, there are no children that we recruit to become combatants. They are fighting for Papua," he said.
In a brief review of the documentary by Tempo, footage shows children holding weapons while a battle takes place involving TPNPB-OPM militias in Kiwirok, Pegunungan Bintang Regency, Papua.
However, throughout the 30-minute, 52-second film, no children appear actively engaged in combat.
Australian filmmaker Kristo directed the documentary, and according to Sebby, he arrived in Kiwirok in February, documenting events during a military operation.
"He has seen it for himself and understands our cultural, traditional, and hereditary war system," Sebby stated.
Meanwhile, TPNPB Chief of General Staff Terianus Satto argued that the children shown in the film are victims of violence allegedly carried out by security forces. He claimed that these children, having witnessed the situation firsthand, chose not to remain silent.
"So, that was their decision," he said.
Allegations of child soldiers in Papua have been a recurring issue since 2019. In 2023, the Head of Information of the XVII Cenderawasih Regional Military Command, Colonel Herman Taryaman, stated that TPNPB was suspected of recruiting Papuan students as combatants.
"The students were also used as living shields," Herman said on April 25, 2023, further alleging that TPNPB sympathizers sought to use students in Intan Jaya and Nduga as both attackers and human shields in clashes with security forces.