#TPNPB

[kropotkindersurprise]

Escalating Insurgency: An Interview with the Spokesperson of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB)

The decades-long insurgency in the Papuan provinces has been intensifying. The TPNPB has now become a significant security threat for Jakarta. In this interview from late January, Militant Wire speaks (again) to Sebby Sambom, the spokesperson of the TPNPB.

[guerillas-of-history]

The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB)

[apathoni]

Susi Air suspends most flights to Papua highlands after pilot kidnapped

Susi Air, an Indonesian airline that serves remote areas in Papua region, has cut down most of its flights after one of its pilots was abducted by separatist rebels, its owner Susi Pudjiastuti said Wednesday, noting that the incident has affected the lives of many Papuans who depend on the airline for basic needs and development programs. Susi that about 70 percent of its flights to Papua’s…

[wantoktube]

R.I.P. TONY FOFOE

We have lost an elder, Mr. Tony Fofoe was a commander and member of the West Papua Liberation Army based in Port Moresby, he was a freedom fighter. Thank you for your Fighting Spirit, I am sure that your struggle, your commitment and dedication have inspired a new generation of Freedom fighters. The struggle continues. Rest is in Peace.PAPUA MERDEKA! Oridek Ap

[papuapost]

Pratu Hamdan, Prajurit Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI) Yonif R 321/GT ditembak mati oleh TPNPB /OPM

Pratu Hamdan, Prajurit Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI) Yonif R 321/GT ditembak mati oleh Tentara Pembebasan Nasional Papua Barat Organisasi Papua Merdeka (TPNPB OPM) di Distrik Yal, Kabupaten Nduga, Papua Barat pada Senin, 3 April 2023 sekitar pukul 09.20 pagi. Hamdan mengalami luka tembak pada bagian kepala dan tewas setelah melakukan kontak senjata dengan prajurit TPNPB dibawa pimpinan…

[captain-price-unofficially]

Resistance members from the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB-OPM), armed with captured Indonesian arms.

[cosmicanger]

Resistance members from the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB-OPM), armed with captured Indonesian arms.

[sky-daddy-hates-me]

Interesting how Indonesia condemns Israel yet does this to the West papuan people.

[kropotkindersurprise]

September 18, 2023 - Fighters of TPNPB, the West Papua National Liberation Army, rip apart an Indonesian flag after carrying out an attack on an Indonesian military position. Papua Merdeka! [video]

[guerillas-of-history]

The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB)

[zvaigzdelasas]

12 May 23

[teliusyikwa]

Why Indonesia fails to address the West Papua Conflict

The country’s government has focused on containing, rather than resolving, a crisis with roots in a dubious referendum. By Hipolitus Wangge* It has been over a month since an armed group abducted Phillip Merthens, a New Zealand-born pilot, on February 7, 2023, in Indonesia’s Nduga, West Papua. The group is the West Papua Liberation Army. Known by the acronym TPNPB, it’s an armed wing of the…

[selamat-linting]

On Friday March 22, a video circulated of TNI (Indonesian military) soldiers torturing of a civilian in Papua. In the video, the victim is submerged in a drum filled with water with his hands tied behind his back. The victim was alternately beaten and kicked by the TNI members. The victim's back was also slashed with a knife.

The video circulated quickly and was criticised by a number of parties. Gustav Kawer from the Papua Association of Human Rights Advocates (PAHAM) condemned the incident and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. This was then followed by National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial), the Diocese, the church and students.

Meanwhile, Cenderawasih/XVII regional military commander (Pangdam) Major General Izak Pangemanan tried to cover up the crime by saying it was a hoax and the video was a result of editing. This argument was later refuted by the TNI itself and it was proven that TNI soldiers were the ones who committed the crime.

The torture occurred on February 3 in Puncak Regency, Papua. The victim who was seen in the video was Defianus Kogoya, who had been arrested along with Warinus Murib and Alianus Murib. They were arrested and accused of being spies for the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organisation (TPNPB-OPM), a cheap accusation which the TNI and police were subsequently unable to prove at all.

The three were arrested when the TNI was conducting a search in Amukia and Gome district. When Warinus was arrested, his legs were tied to a car and he was dragged for one kilometre, before finally being tortured. Alianus meanwhile was also taken to a TNI post and tortured. After several hours, they were finally handed over to a police post because there was not enough evidence to prove the TNI's accusations.

Defianus finally fainted, while Warinus died of his injuries. Warinus' body was cremated by the family the next day on February 4. Defianus meanwhile is still suffering and remains seriously ill. This is a TNI crime in Papua.

But that's not all. On February 22, 2022, the TNI also tortured seven children in Sinak district, Puncak. The seven children were Deson Murib, Makilon Tabuni, Pingki Wanimbo, Waiten Murib, Aton Murib, Elison Murib and Murtal Kurua. Makilon Tabuni died as a result.

On August 22, the TNI murdered and mutilated four civilians in Timika. They were Arnold Lokbere, Irian Nirigi, Lemaniel Nirigi and Atis Tini. The bodies of the four were dismembered: the head, body and legs were separated into several parts, put in sacks then thrown into a river.

Six days later, soldiers from the Infantry Raider Battalion 600/Modang tortured four civilians in Mappi regency, Papua. The four were Amsal P Yimsimem, Korbinus Yamin, Lodefius Tikamtahae and Saferius Yame. They were tortured for three hours and suffered injuries all over their bodies.

Three days later, on August 30, the TNI again tortured two civilians named Bruno Amenim Kimko and Yohanis Kanggun in Edera district, Mappi regency. Bruno Amenim ended up dying while Yohanis Kanggun suffered serious injuries.

On October 27, three children under the age of 16 were tortured by the TNI in Keerom regency. They were Rahmat Paisel, Bastian Bate and Laurents Kaung. They were tortured using chains, coils of wire and water hoses. The incident occurred in the Yamanai Village, Arso II, Arso district.

On February 22, 2023, TNI personnel from the Navy post in Lantamal X1 Ilwayap tortured two civilians named Albertus Kaize and Daniel Kaize. Albertus Kaize died of his injuries. This crime occurred in Merauke regency, Papua.

Between 2018 and 2021 Amnesty International recorded that more than 95 civilians had been tortured and killed by the TNI and the police. These crimes target indigenous Papuans, and the curve continues to rise year by year, ever since Indonesia occupied Papua in 1961.

These crimes were committed one after another without a break, and followed the same pattern. So it can be concluded that these was not the acts of rogue individuals or one or two people as the TNI argues to reduce their crimes to individual acts.

Rather, they are structural (systematic) crimes designed to subdue the Papuan nation, to stop all forms of Papuan resistance for the sake of the exploitation and theft of Papua's natural resources.

The problems in Papua cannot be solved by increasing the number of police or soldiers. The problems in Papua must be resolved democratically. This democratic solution must include establishing a Human Rights Court for all perpetrators of crimes in Papua since the 1960s, and not just the perpetrators in the field, but also those responsible in the chain of command.

Only this will break the pattern of crimes that are occurring and provide justice for the Papuan people. A Human Rights Court will also mean weakening the anti-democratic forces that exist in Indonesia and Papua, namely military(ism).

A prerequisite for achieving democratisation is to eliminate the old forces, the garbage of history. The cleaner the process is carried out, the broader and deeper the democracy that can be achieved. This also includes the demands of the Papuan people to be given the right to determine their own destiny.

This is not a task for some later day, but is the task of the Papuan people today. Nor is the task of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) political elite or political activists alone, but it is the task of all Papuan people if they want to extract themselves from the crimes of the TNI and police or Indonesian colonialism.

Independence can only be gained by the struggle of the ordinary people themselves. The people must fight, the people must take to the streets, the people must build their own ranks, their own alternative political tool, and fight in an organised and guided manner.

References

1. Gemima Harvey's report The Human Tragedy of West Papua, January 15, 2014. This reports states that more than 500,000 West Papua people have been slaughtered by Indonesia and its actors, the TNI and police since 1961. The full report can be read at https://thediplomat.com/2014/01/the-human-tragedy-of-west-papua/.

2. Veronica Koman, upload on the chronology of torture of civilians in Papua. Posted on the Veronica Koman Facebook wall, Sunday, March 24, 2024. Accessed via: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/eDBJMeT9wS1MyA6T/?mibextid=qi2Omg on March 25, 2024, 13:00 WIB.

3. Jubi, Alleged torture of citizens by the TNI adds to the long list of violence in the land of Papua. March 23, 2024. Accessed via: https://jubi.id/polhukam/2024/dugaan-penyiksaan-warga-oleh-prajurit-tni-menambah-panjang-daftar-kekerasan-di-tanah-papua/ on March 25, 2024, 14:00 WIB.

4. VOA Indonesia, Amnesty International: 95 civilians in Papua have been victims of extrajudicial killings. Accessed via: https://www.voaindonesia.com/a/amnesty-international-95-warga-sipil-di-papua-jadi-korban-pembunuhan-di-luar-hukum-/6494380.html on March 21, 2022, 15:00 WIB.

[blackjay123]

Indonesian military officials lied to public when asked if TNI had dropped bombs in the Nduga region of West Papua during an interview with ABC reporter, Ann Baker @abcnews @ABCPacific

TNI officials also stated that the recent video by Capt Philip Mehrtens is fake or hoax claiming that Mr Mehrtens was forced to make the statement. Today's video is the key evidence that Indonesian soldiers TNI did dropped bombs in Nduga Regency including others areas in the central highlands region of West Papua. We demand United Nations Security Council to intervene immediately in this deadly situation where many innocent civilians have now become victims of this Liberation war between TPNPB-OPM or West Papua National Liberation Army and TNI-POLRI of Indonesia.

@UN_SPExperts @volker_turk @antonioguterres @MFATNZ @chrishipkins @nzlabour @NZParliament @NanaiaMahuta @Europarl_EN @EUCouncil @EU_Commission @PressACP @AfricanUnionUN @AfrikParliament @slrabuka @JPN_PMO @pm_nec @pmc_gov_au @ForumSEC @CFR_org @SFRCdems @indonesiaunny @DPR_RI

@_AfricanUnion @AUC_MoussaFaki @USAmbUN @cvoule @Rashidajourno @HonBNN @SBSNews

@hunjara @powes_parkop @govSlovenia @DutchMFA @nl_intrelations @NLatUN @titokarnavian_ @JayapuraKota @humaspoldapapua @ChinaAmbUN @MFA_China

@albericie @NZGreens @Greens @SwissMFA @WuPeng_MFAChina @JoeBiden @KamalaHarris

https://twitter.com/PapuaWeb/status/1652627806508179457?t=W1PNi52TpxnzOhYhca0rZQ&s=19

[novumtimes]

New Zealand pilot freed after 19 months in captivity in Indonesias Papua

New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been freed more than 19 months in Indonesia’s Papua, authorities said on Saturday. Mehrtens was freed and picked up by a joint team in the Nduga area and was undergoing health check-ups and a psychological examination in Timika regency, the Indonesian police said in a statement. Indonesia’s Metro TV showed him tearfully speaking to his family by phone. A faction of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), led by Egianus Kogoya, kidnapped Mehrtens on Feb. 7, 2023, after he landed a small commercial plane in the remote, mountainous area of Nduga. “Through the long process of negotiation, with patience not to do it repressively, our priority has been the safety of the pilot through this long process,” Indonesian President Joko Widodo said in televised remarks. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said, “We are pleased and relieved to confirm that Phillip Mehrtens is safe and well and has been able to talk with his family. This news must be an enormous relief for his friends and loved ones.” A range of New Zealand government agencies had been working with Indonesian authorities and others towards securing Mehrtens’ release, Peters said in a statement. Indonesian Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhani, head of Cartenz 2024 Peace Operations, said, “We are prioritising approach through religious leaders, church leaders, traditional leaders and Egianus Kogoya’s close family to minimise casualties and maintain the safety of the pilot.” The Indonesian police said they would hold a press conference later on Saturday. Another New Zealand pilot, Glen Malcolm Conning, was killed by separatist rebels in Papua in August after landing his helicopter in a remote area, authorities said at the time. Source link via The Novum Times