Grenades Allegedly Dropped by TNI Drones in Papua Conflict, Says TPNPB-OPM

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) has accused the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) of using unmanned aerial vehicles or drones to attack villages and areas considered to be the TPNPB militia's base.

TPNPB-OPM central headquarters spokesperson Sebby Sambom said the unmanned aerial vehicle was flown by the TNI-Polri when conducting military operations in the Sugapa District, Intan Jaya, Central Papua and in the Ilaga District, Puncak Regency, Papua Mountains Province.

"Not just for surveillance, but also for dropping grenades," said Sebby via WhatsApp message on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.

Sebby showed one of the documentation of a grenade found by his group to Tempo. The grenade was found fallen on a tree branch during the gun battle between the TPNPB militia and the TNI-Polri forces in Ilaga last Saturday. However, the grenade did not detonate.

"Perhaps because the trigger pin failed to release in the air," said Sebby.

Gunfire between the TNI-Polri forces and TPNPB-OPM occurred again in the Ilaga District on Saturday, May 24. A week earlier, both parties were involved in a gun battle in the Sugapa District. The TNI claimed that the Habema Task Force troops had subdued 18 TPNPB-OPM militia in Sugapa.

Chief of the TNI Information Center Major General Kristomei Sianturi did not deny the use of drones in TNI security operations in Papua.

He said that the unmanned aerial vehicles used by the TNI were only intended for surveillance operations, not as supporting weaponry used in combat.

"Because the terrain is difficult to access, that's why drones are used for surveillance," said Kristomei.

The former Head of the Indonesian Army Information Service gave an example, during the security operation in the Sugapa District launched by the Habema Task Force, soldiers flew drones to confirm the position of the TPNPB-OPM militia. The reason, he said, if conventional or direct surveillance was conducted, the risk of gunfire and TPNPB militia fleeing would be greater.

"It is also done to map out their escape routes, to be more efficient and safe. That's why drones are used," said Kristomei.

Head of Cartenz Peace Task Force Operations, Police Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhani, said that the gunfire was triggered by the sound of gunfire at two different points near the Aminggaru Ilaga Airport

Then, Faizal said, the Belukar and Delta Task Force teams headed in the direction of the sound to secure the flight of the Regent and the activities of the residents around. "(The use of explosives) is baseless," said Faizal.

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