Gold Panners Killed in Papua: Why Does TPNPB-OPM Target Them?

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) has claimed responsibility for the deaths of eight gold panners in the Korowai region of Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands, on Wednesday, May 20.

TPNPB spokesperson Sebby Sambom maintained that the militia had strong reasons to crack down on gold panning. They deemed miners collaborators of those in power who have been damaging Papua's natural ecosystem.

"They are stealing our natural resources," said Sebby in a voice message via WhatsApp on Friday, May 22, 2026.

The recent shooting against gold panners by TPNPB is far from the first. Over the past five years, 34 panners have reportedly been killed by the armed group. 

For example, in 2021, three gold panners in Kali Kabu, Yahukimo, were found dead with multiple stab wounds found on their bodies. The TPNPB Kodap XVI Yahukimo militia claimed responsibility for the incident.

Two years later, in 2023, a similar incident occurred. This time, seven gold panners in Seradala, Yahukimo, lost their lives due to stab wounds and gunshots. TPNPB, again, claimed responsibility.

In April 2025, 11 gold miners in Kali Kabu were killed, and six gold miners in Muarakum were also found dead just days later. TPNPB stated that they were the perpetrators of these acts.

Sebby Sambom admitted that acts of violence and killling gold miners by the TPNPB militia have actually been carried out since 2017. However, he admitted that he did not have data on the total number of victims.

According to Sebby, TPNPB considered ecosystem preservation and preventing the stealing of Papua's natural resources to justify their actions. It is notable that the indigenous Papuans have yet to reap the benefit from the region's natural resources. 

Nevertheless, Sebby said TPNPB had declared Yakuhimo a war zone, which civilians, especially outsiders, shall not enter. He assured that warnings have been given, so there was no reason to consider these actions as violating human rights.

"These [panners] are agents of TNI-Polri intelligence. We always find evidence of pistols and walkie-talkies in their bags," he said.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Wirya Arthadiguna, the Head of Information for the Habema Task Force, strongly condemned the shooting of eight gold panners in Papua's Yahukimo.

According to him, the militia accusation that the eight panners were military agents is propaganda often used to cover up TPNPB's criminal acts against civilians, including indigenous Papuans.

"Those eight individuals were civilians, not security personnel as alleged," said Wirya in a written statement on Friday.

The task force is now intensifying patrols across several high-risk locations in Yakuhimo, although Wirya claimed the situation remained under control.

The task force is also pursuing the suspects, who are believed to be the militia group TPNPB Kodap XVI Yahukimo under the leadership of Kopitua Heluka and Dejang Heluka.

Cahyo Pamungkas, a Research Professor at the Center for Regional Research, at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), believes that the killing of gold panners by the TPNPB militia cannot be justified for any reason.

The group must not resort to violence against unarmed individuals, he said. "There is indeed hatred from TPNPB towards non-Papuans, but these actions cannot be justified," said Cahyo.

Therefore, to ease the situation, he suggested that the government, through TNI, engage in dialogue rather than using a military approach that risks prolonging the chain of violence in Papua. 

"We can see this in how the conflict in Aceh was resolved," said Cahyo.

"There needs to be appreciation, which is through direct dialogue, not representation. From this dialogue, trust can be built to prevent any armed contact," said the Anthropology lecturer at the University of Indonesia.

Read: Papua's OPM Accuses Indonesian Military of Planting Landmines in Yakuhimo

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