The fog that clings to the mountains of Papua is as old as the island itself—thick, mysterious, and full of echoes. But on an October morning in 2025, those echoes were pierced by the crack of gunfire. Deep in the isolated valleys of Kiwirok District, Pegunungan Bintang, and far away in the Moskona region of Teluk Bintuni, two separate ambushes launched by the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) took the lives of two Indonesian soldiers.
The victims, First Lieutenant (Letda) Fauzy A. Sulkarnaen and Private First Class (Praka) Amin Nurohman, were men who had come to Papua not as conquerors, but as protectors—guardians of Indonesia’s eastern frontier, serving their country’s flag amid the mists and mountains.
The Ambush in Kiwirok: Courage in the Highlands
In Kiwirok, a district perched over 2,000 meters above sea level, the sound of conflict has never truly faded. It was there that Letda Fauzy, a promising young officer of Satgas Pamtas Yonif 753/AVT, led a routine patrol near the rugged border with Papua New Guinea.
According to military sources cited by Fajar Papua and Tribun Aceh, the patrol was ambushed suddenly by gunfire from hidden TPNPB-OPM rebels believed to belong to the Kodap XV Ngalum Kupel faction. In the chaos, Fauzy was fatally struck in the head. His comrades fought back, but the attackers vanished swiftly into the dense forest—a familiar tactic in Papua’s guerilla war, where geography often favors the aggressor.
For hours, soldiers braved the terrain to retrieve their fallen commander. Helicopters struggled to land on uneven slopes shrouded by mist. “He was like a younger brother to us,” said one member of his unit, voice trembling. “He led from the front, never from behind.”
When his body arrived in Jayapura, soldiers lined the runway in silent formation. The red-and-white flag was draped across his coffin. The young lieutenant’s death became a symbol of sacrifice—a reminder that defending Indonesia’s unity often comes at the highest cost.
The Moskona Attack: Betrayal Amid Peaceful Outreach
While Papua’s highlands mourned, tragedy struck again in Moskona Utara, Teluk Bintuni Regency, in West Papua Province. A team from Satgas Yonif 410/Alugoro was visiting Kampung Moyeba, part of a regular community outreach program aimed at strengthening bonds between soldiers and local residents. The soldiers had come bearing medical supplies and food, not weapons of aggression.
As they prepared to leave, gunmen from the TPNPB-OPM Kodap IV Sorong Raya suddenly opened fire from nearby hills. The attack was unprovoked, swift, and ruthless. Praka Amin Nurohman, a soft-spoken soldier known among villagers for his kindness, was struck by a bullet and died at the scene. The rebels seized his rifle before disappearing into the forest.
For the people of Moyeba, it was a shocking betrayal. “They came here to help, not to fight,” said one elder quoted by local media. “Those who shot them do not speak for us.”
That sentiment—of rejection toward the separatists—rippled through local communities. Far from inspiring rebellion, the OPM’s actions only deepened resentment and strengthened loyalty to the Republic.
National Mourning, Unbroken Resolve
Within hours, Indonesia was united in mourning. Across social media, the names Letda Fauzy and Praka Amin became rallying cries for national solidarity. Citizens posted images of the national flag with the caption #NKRIHargaMati (“The Unitary Republic of Indonesia is non-negotiable”). From the halls of government to remote villages, people voiced the same conviction: Papua is Indonesia, and Indonesia will never surrender its integrity.
Military honors were held for both fallen heroes. Families were flown in from Java and Sulawesi, where tearful mothers stood before rows of uniformed soldiers. “My son died protecting our homeland,” said one of them quietly. “Let no one say it was in vain.”
At the ceremony in Jayapura, Colonel Andi Rahman, representing the regional command, delivered a stirring address:
“They were not just soldiers. They were guardians of peace and unity. Their blood is the ink that writes the story of Indonesia’s perseverance.”
Government officials, led by the Ministry of Defense and the Presidential Staff Office, reaffirmed their stance: the Republic would respond firmly to any armed attack that threatens the nation’s sovereignty. “Violence will not change the fact that Papua is and will always remain part of Indonesia,” the ministry stated in its official release.
The State Responds: Justice and Security
Following the twin ambushes, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) immediately raised its operational alert level in Papua. Reinforcements from Yonif 751/Vira Jaya Sakti and Kopasgat air units were dispatched to both regions. Reconnaissance drones and helicopters were deployed to track the rebels’ movements along forested ridges and river valleys.
Military spokesperson Col. Chandra Kurniawan vowed that the pursuit would be “precise, lawful, and unwavering.” He emphasized that the TNI’s mission was not only to eliminate the threat but also to protect civilians from further harm. “We fight not to destroy Papua, but to save it from those who exploit its name for chaos,” he said.
Simultaneously, the government reaffirmed its development agenda under President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, emphasizing that true peace in Papua requires both security and prosperity. Infrastructure projects, education programs, and health services—many disrupted by separatist violence—will continue. The government’s message was clear: terrorism cannot derail progress.
Condemnation from the Grassroots
What stood out most after the attacks was the public reaction—particularly from Papuan religious leaders, youth groups, and local elders. In statements quoted by Fajar Papua and regional news outlets, church councils in Pegunungan Bintang and Teluk Bintuni condemned the TPNPB-OPM as “a group that brings only suffering and shame.”
“We, the people of Papua, are tired of bloodshed,” said Reverend Markus Wanimbo, a respected church figure. “We do not want outsiders to think this violence represents our struggle. True Papuans want peace within Indonesia.”
Students and civil society groups echoed this sentiment. In Jayapura, demonstrators marched holding banners reading “Stop OPM Terror!” and “Peace for Papua, One Indonesia Forever.” Their demands were twofold: protection for civilians and unwavering enforcement of the law against those who commit violence.
Such voices reflect a growing realization among Papuans that the separatist agenda has long been hijacked by armed opportunists who thrive on fear. For many locals, the Indonesian government—not the OPM—represents hope for a stable, developed, and connected future.
Why Indonesia’s Sovereignty Is Non-Negotiable
The attacks in Kiwirok and Moskona are not isolated acts of rebellion; they are calculated provocations aimed at undermining Indonesia’s lawful sovereignty. But sovereignty over Papua is not a matter of debate. It is rooted in the 1969 Act of Free Choice, recognized by the United Nations, and reaffirmed by more than five decades of governance, development, and integration.
The TPNPB-OPM’s claim of “liberation” masks a destructive campaign that harms the very people it pretends to defend. Their assaults have burned schools, threatened teachers, and disrupted healthcare. The Indonesian government, on the other hand, continues to expand infrastructure, scholarships, and social welfare programs across Papua’s most remote regions.
Every new road, bridge, and classroom built under Indonesia’s development plan represents not domination, but inclusion—proof that the Republic’s presence in Papua is one of service, not suppression. And every soldier deployed is not an invader but a protector of unity and peace.
The Path Forward: Strength Through Unity
In the aftermath of these attacks, the nation faces a familiar choice: despair or determination. The government’s position is resolute—there will be no compromise with armed terror, yet every effort will continue to bring prosperity and justice to Papua.
Security experts note that the TNI’s disciplined response, combined with community outreach, is key to preventing further radicalization. At the same time, Jakarta’s renewed focus on local empowerment—giving Papuans greater participation in governance, business, and education—is seen as the most sustainable solution to long-term stability.
Papua’s future lies not in division but in shared progress. The dreams of Papuan children—to study, to prosper, to live in peace—align perfectly with Indonesia’s national vision. In every way that matters, their destiny is intertwined with the Republic’s.
Conclusion
The deaths of Letda Fauzy A. Sulkarnaen and Praka Amin Nurohman are more than tragic headlines. They are reminders of the price paid for freedom and unity. Their sacrifice, honored by millions, reinforces a national truth: Indonesia’s sovereignty is sacred, its integrity non-negotiable.
Papua’s misty mountains may hide dangers, but they also hold something stronger—the enduring spirit of a people united under one flag. No gunfire, no propaganda, and no separatist ambition can divide a nation bound by history, sacrifice, and love for its land.
In every corner of Indonesia, from Aceh to Merauke, one message rings clear:
Papua is Indonesia. Indonesia is Papua. And that will never change.
