Education Facilities Become Terror Targets, OPM Burns Schools in Intan Jaya

"We can inform you that there were no casualties in the attack. Currently, our members are still on standby there," said Head of Public Relations of Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force, Adjunct Commissioner Bayu Suseno when contacted from Jayapura, Papua on Thursday (May 2, 2024).

The Cartenz Peace Force Task Force showed a school that was burned on Wednesday morning. Flames and smoke were seen rising high, followed by gunfire between security forces and OPM.

Also read: KKB Burned 17 School Facilities in Papua in the Last Three Years

The spokesperson of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), Sebby Sambom, stated that the attack was carried out by a group led by Keny Tipagau and Aprianus Bagubau.

"The troops burned down the school building because the school building was used by the Indonesian military and police. "Apart from that, TNI members are also teachers at the school," said Sebby in his statement.

The attack on Intan Jaya was carried out by a group commanded by Keny Tipagau and Aprianus Bagubau.

Attack on police station

On Tuesday (30/4/2024), OPM attacked the Homeyo Police Station which was about 50 meters from the school which was burned. Bayu said that the attack which killed a civilian was believed to have been carried out by Kodap VIII Kemabu, led by Undius Kogoya and Aibon Kogoya.

He stated that the attack on Tuesday morning began with a series of gunshots directed at the house of a police officer near the Homeyo Police Station. Officials on site then fired shots at the group as they ran towards the Pogapa Elementary School building.

"The attack resulted in a Toraja victim named Aleksander Parapak (20), male, dying from a gunshot wound to the left chest," he said.

Also read: Violence in Papua is increasing, OPM labeling needs to be clarified

School fires are increasing

The incident of a school building being burned in Intan Jaya further adds to OPM's record of terror at Papuan educational facilities. From Kompas's records and police data, OPM's actions in burning school facilities were quite massive in areas, such as Intan Jaya, Puncak and Bintang Mountains.

Since 2021, OPM has burned down elementary schools, middle schools and high schools in these three districts. Based on Kompas data, the KKB has burned down 17 schools in that period.

On Thursday (17/8/2023), OPM burned down a high school in Puncak Regency, Central Papua, coinciding with the 78th Anniversary of Indonesia's Independence Day.

The Head of Public Relations at the Papua Regional Police, Commissioner General Ignatius Benny Ady Prabowo, said on Friday (18/8/2023) that the burning of the library facilities of SMA Negeri 1 Ilaga in the capital of Puncak occurred at 13.28 WIT. The school is located in Kampung Kago. The perpetrator is suspected to be a member of the armed criminal group under the leadership of Titus Murib. (Kompas.id, 18/8/2023).