Indonesian Police Kill Three TPNPB-OPM Members in Papua Shootout

12 hours ago 5

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Task Force for Cartenz Peace Operation, together with a joint team, incapacitated three members of the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM). Three OPM members were killed after a shootout with the police.

The Head of the Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force, Commissioner Yusuf Sutedjo, stated that the operation was carried out against the Kodap XVI Yahukimo Batalyon Yamue led by DPO Ronal Heluka in the KM 4 Logpon area, Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, on Friday, July 17, 2026.

"From the operation, three members of the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) were declared dead," said Yusuf in a written statement on Saturday, July 18, 2026.

Based on identification results, the three were Roni Rubis, Kumis Passae, and Orgenes Bayage, who were part of the KKB Kodap XVI Yahukimo Batalyon Yamue.

The three bodies have been evacuated to the morgue of RSUD Dekai. Meanwhile, all pieces of evidence have been secured at the Yahukimo Police Criminal Investigation Unit for investigation purposes.

From the crime scene, the joint team confiscated several pieces of evidence, namely three firearms, 43 rounds of 5.56 mm caliber ammunition, two axes, two sharp weapons in the form of long knives, one Icom handy talky (HT) unit, one weapon suppressor, seven mobile phones of various brands, as well as several other pieces of evidence.

This operation is a follow-up to the results of the investigation and intelligence information regarding the presence of the armed group led by DPO Ronal Heluka in the Logpon area, KM 4, Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency. In addition to the Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force, the operation also involved Brimob personnel and Yahukimo Police.

According to Yusuf, this group is suspected to be involved in the killing of the 1715/Yahukimo Kodim personnel, the late Private Eka Yohan Kaize, on December 3, 2022, and several other violent incidents. They are also suspected of the killing of seven miners in Kawe Village, Awimbon District, Pegunungan Bintang Regency, on May 19, 2026.

Read: Indonesian Police Arrest TPNPB-OPM Member Over Marine Corps Vehicle Shooting Case

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