Jakarta, CNN Indonesia – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) has issued an ultimatum demanding all Indonesian workers who are non-Papuan to leave Papua land.
TPNPB-OPM spokesperson Sebby Sambom said the ultimatum was due to an escalated conflict between the group and the Indonesian Military (TNI) and police in Puncak, Intan Jaya, and Nduga regencies.
“Considering the situation of armed conflict in Puncak, Intan Jaya, and Nduga regencies, we strictly warned all Indonesian immigrants who seek food in the land belonging to the Papuan people to immediately leave the conflict zone,” Sambom said in an official statement to CNN Indonesia on Sunday, June 6, 2021.
Sambom said his party would not hesitate to shoot non-Papuan workers who stayed at the war zone. He said it would be the result and consequence of rejecting the terms. “If the [non-Papuan] people do not heed our warnings, then please take the risk yourself,” he said.
There has been no official statement from the TNI and police regarding the threats made by the armed group until this news is published.
On Thursday, the police said the TPNPB allegedly shot a 30-year-old builder, Habel Halenti, on his way home from Eronggobak Village, Ilaga District. On the same day, the armed group attacked the Aminggaru Airport in Ilaga and reportedly set fire to a number of airport facilities, which was followed by gunfire with the TNI and police. The incident resulted in a fire at the Airport Management Unit Office and the AirNav Office in Ilaga.
