Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – The commander of the West Papua Army, Mathias L. Wenda, passed away on April 12, 2025, as confirmed by the spokesperson of the West Papua National Liberation Army – Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM), Sebby Sambom.

"Yes, that's true," Sebby said on Tuesday, March 15, 2025. Mathias reportedly passed away from old age and illness at the Vanimo Hospital in Papua New Guinea, at age 104.

According to documents received by Tempo, Mathias has been actively involved in the struggle for the liberation of West Papua since 1966. His funeral was conducted according to the protocol of the General Secretariat of the West Papua Army in Papua New Guinea.

Sebby referred to Mathias as a leader for the Papuan people. According to Sebby, the West Papua Army, or WPA, is a new organization formed in 2011 and based in Papua New Guinea. "General Mathias Wenda is the "long live" commander of the TPNPB-OPM," said Sebby.

He maintained that the West Papua Army currently does not have a military base in the Papua region. As an organization, Sebby said, WPA is passive in military actions.

"Organizations that have military bases in the Papua region are the National Command (Komando Nasional) and the TPNPB-OPM," he said. Meanwhile, the TPNPB-OPM is comprised of the West Papua National Guard and the Papua State Army.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1997565/tpnpb-opm-west-papua-army-commander-mathias-l-wenda-dies-at-10