April 13, 2025 | 05:37 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) claimed that a total of 6,100 joint personnel of the Indonesian military forces have been deployed to the Papua region from January to April 13, 2025.
"A total of 6,100 joint military personnel of the Indonesian government have entered the war zone in Papua," said TPNPB-OPM Spokesperson Sebby Sambom through a press release on Sunday, April 13.
According to Sebby, the forces’ deployment was covert, through civilian vessels, civilian aircraft, and intelligence officers clad in civilian clothing. The deployment, TPNPB mentioned, was coordinated with the Timika-based regional command.
"The exact number is unknown, and is only known by the TNI Commander and the Indonesian National Defense Forces and the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) as part of the national defense policy," he said.
In the press release, TPNPB also released a video showing the arrival of a warship with the hull number 524 at the Poumako Port, Timika, on Saturday, April 12, which it said was disembarking military personnel.
In response to this military escalation, TPNPB urged the parliament, especially the commission overseeing law and security, to take immediate action. "We request DPR to officially declare the status of Papua to allow for civilians’ evacuation before more casualties occur, especially among children, women, and pregnant women," said Sebby Sambom.
The Head of the TNI Information Center, Brigadier General Kristomei Sianturi, denied TPNPB-OPM’s claim, saying, “there has been no additional forces. The forces currently in Papua are those routinely assigned to guard the Indonesian-Papua New Guinea border."
Nevertheless, Kristomei confirmed that the warship with the hull number 524 had indeed disembarked troops at the Poumako Port, Timika, on April 12, but reasoned that the troops were part of a scheduled rotation. "Indeed, on April 12, 2025, there was a troop disembarkation at the Timika port, which swaps the troops who have completed their duty as guards at the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border," he said.
Previously, the Headquarters Management of the National Command of TPNPB-OPM confirmed the addition of troops from the Meepago region, which have now joined the forces of TPNPB Kodap VIII Intan Jaya, Central Papua, to fight against the Indonesian military. An official report received from the Commander of the TPNPB Kodap XIII Operation Kegepa Nipouda Paniai, Major Hosea Satu Boma, revealed the readiness of the troops to engage in battle.
Hosea stated that, according to the report, the TPNPB forces are currently in the city center of Sugapa, Intan Jaya Regency. "We are ready to engage in battle together with the TPNPB Kodap VIII Intan Jaya forces on the battlefield in Intan Jaya," said Mayor Hosea Satu Boma in his official statement, quoted on Saturday, April 12, 2025.
He mentioned the addition of troops following bomb attacks, which he claimed were carried out by the Indonesian military against civilian settlements from April 7 to 9, 2025. However, the statement was denied by the Head of Information Center of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, Brigadier General Kristomei Sianturi. "There is none. They are usually the ones who intimidate the public," said Kristomei when confirmed on Saturday, April 12, 2025.
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