Jakarta – The Joint TNI-Polri Team has successfully evacuated and identified the 16th victim of the massacre by the Free Papua Movement (OPM) in Yahukimo, Papua Mountains. The victim who was successfully identified was named Ferdina Buma, who was a gold miner.
“Identified as Ferdina Buma, born in Nabire on April 30, 1995, male, and domiciled on Jalan Nabire-Ilaga KM 36, Kampung Rumusu, Central Papua,” explained Karumkit RS Bhayangkara TK II Jayapura, AKBP Romy Sebastian.
Romy ensured that all bodies had been handed over to the families.
“This is our responsibility as part of the Police and the humanitarian team. We are here not only to provide certainty of identity, but also to foster public trust in the presence of the state in the midst of grief,” he said.
Evacuation efforts are still ongoing. Two survivors were found after eight days of hiding in the forest.
Head of the Cartenz Peace Operation Public Relations Task Force, Senior Commissioner Yusuf Sutejo, said the search process was still being carried out to ensure that no victims were left behind.
“The two survivors managed to save themselves and hide in the forest for eight days. Alhamdulillah, they were found safe,” said Yusuf.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of Commission XIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Andreas Hugo Pareira, also condemned the brutal actions of the OPM in Yahukimo.
According to Andreas, acts of violence that claim the lives of civilians cannot be normalized, let alone justified under the pretext of political struggle that is often echoed by separatist groups.
“Violence against civilians, especially in conflict areas, must not be considered a normal occurrence,” he said.
Andreas said that the OPM attack was a serious violation of the values of humanity guaranteed by the constitution. He rejected the narrative that tried to propagandize violence as a form of legitimate resistance.
“The state must guarantee that the people of Papua can live in peace and quiet, which is their right,” he said.
He emphasized that the bloody incident in Yahukimo should be a shared reflection that a security approach alone is not enough. Human rights protection must be carried out in a complete and comprehensive manner.
“Of course, the various efforts made by the security forces and the government deserve to be appreciated, but this tragedy must be a shared reflection that human rights protection in Papua requires a more comprehensive approach,” he explained.
Andreas encouraged cross-sector synergy—combining security, social, economic, and peaceful dialogue aspects—as the main strategy to deal with misleading separatist group propaganda.
Amid the rampant disinformation and propaganda of separatist groups, the public must be more vigilant. OPM’s cruelty is not a struggle, but terror against fellow citizens that must be fought together.
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