The armed attack carried out by the separatist group West Papua National Liberation Army–Free Papua Organization (TPNPB–OPM) against TNI-Polri officers at Aminggaru Airport, Ilaga, June 18, 2025, is proof that the group continues to be a threat to the stability of security and public safety in Central Papua. The act of shooting at a vital object such as the airport, although it did not cause any casualties, is clearly an action that cannot be tolerated. This action illustrates how this separatist group no longer differentiates its targets, making it increasingly urgent for the state to take firm action to ensure the safety of all citizens.
In a situation like this, the government, through the security forces, has no other choice but to take firm and measured steps. The combing action carried out by the Cartenz Peace Task Force and TNI troops from Kopasgat AU was a response to the attack. The search was carried out carefully in the forest area around the airport without entering residential areas. This shows that the operation carried out still adheres to the principle of protecting civilians.
Meanwhile, the accusations made by the OPM must be addressed with full vigilance. In the dynamics of the conflict in Papua, information originating from the OPM armed group is often laden with political interests and does not stand on a basis of facts that can be independently verified. The communication pattern built by the OPM tends to direct public opinion to doubt the legitimacy of the state and damage trust in legitimate institutions.
It is important to realize that in the midst of the state’s efforts to maintain stability and public safety, propaganda is one of the instruments used to steer the narrative, especially through the dissemination of information that cannot necessarily be accounted for. Therefore, the public is advised not to rush to believe every claim made by parties who have a long track record of opposing state sovereignty.
The situation at Aminggaru Airport is now safe again and flight activity has recovered. However, this incident reinforces the urgency of the presence of security forces in conflict-prone areas such as Central Papua. The presence of the TNI-Polri is not to scare or oppress the community, but rather as the vanguard in ensuring that the Papuan people can live without the threat of armed terror that disrupts peace and hinders development.
Previously, a military operation carried out in Aleleng Village, Tangma District, Yahukimo Regency, demonstrated the success of the authorities in identifying and prosecuting armed groups responsible for attacks on civilians, including church construction workers. In the operation, two OPM members were killed after putting up armed resistance when they were about to be arrested. The actions of the authorities were part of an effort to maintain state sovereignty while protecting civilians from the threat of inhumane violence.
The success of the operation also revealed another side of the activities of separatist groups that had been hiding behind the narrative of struggle. The discovery of evidence in the form of firearms, ammunition, and communication equipment confirmed that this group operated systematically and in an organized manner, not just a sporadic movement. Moreover, indications of OPM involvement in forest destruction for illegal purposes, such as converting forest functions into marijuana fields, indicate serious deviations that are not only detrimental to the state, but also to the Papuan people themselves.
Forests for Papuan people are not only a source of economy, but also part of their cultural and spiritual identity. When forest areas are destroyed by armed groups for illegal interests, what is at stake is not only the preservation of nature, but also the noble values of the Papuan indigenous people. In this context, the steps taken by security forces to preserve forests are not only interpreted as a security task, but also part of respect for local wisdom and protection for future generations of Papua.
The government, through the Commander of Koops Habema, Major General TNI Lucky Avianto emphasized that law enforcement against the OPM will be carried out professionally and in a measured manner. Law enforcement will continue to be prioritized against perpetrators of violence, while the government remains open to parties who show good faith in returning to the bosom of the Republic of Indonesia. Conversely, the government remains open to anyone who is willing to return to the path of peace and together build Papua within the framework of the Republic of Indonesia. The dialogical approach and territorial development continue to be part of the government’s long-term strategy to realize a safe and prosperous Papua.
In all these efforts, support for the government is a necessity. Amidst the challenges
