Ministry of Defence Refutes Armed Group’s Claim in Yahukimo as Misleading Disinformation
Kamis, 10 April 2025
Jakarta – The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Indonesia, through the Bureau of Defence Information (Infohan) of the Secretariat General, has responded to the claim made by the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) regarding the killing of TNI soldiers in Yahukimo, Papua, labeling it as a form of systematic disinformation aimed at misleading the public.
The Defence Information Bureau emphasized on Thursday (April 10, 2025) that no TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces) personnel are involved in illegal gold mining activities in Papua. The presence of TNI in Papua is solely for carrying out constitutional duties—ensuring national security and protecting all Indonesian citizens, including those in the Papua region.
Furthermore, the narrative promoted by the OPM, which equates civilians such as teachers, healthcare workers, and construction laborers with security personnel, is considered extremely dangerous. Their claim regarding the killing of “intelligence agents” is essentially an admission of extrajudicial violence, which could constitute a crime against humanity.
The Ministry of Defence also underlined that the Indonesian government continues to prioritize legal and peaceful approaches in addressing the conflict in Papua, and refuses to be provoked by the violent propaganda spread by armed groups.
As previously reported, the 11 victims of the OPM attack in Yahukimo were civilians engaged in illegal gold panning—not TNI soldiers. The evacuation of the victims was carried out by the Indonesian National Police (Polri) to ensure that the circulating information could be clarified objectively.
The Defence Information Bureau noted that the acts of violence committed by the OPM are intended to spread fear, particularly among non-Papuan communities involved in local economic activities in the area.
(Bureau of Defence Information, Secretariat General of the Ministry of Defence)
