A string of deadly attacks carried out over the weekend by armed separatist militants has left three people dead across Papua, reigniting concerns over the intensifying security crisis in the easternmost Indonesian province.
In two separate incidents, two civilians—including a motorbike taxi driver—were killed in Puncak Jaya, while a member of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) was fatally stabbed in a busy market in Mimika. Authorities have blamed the attacks on the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM), a long-standing separatist group seeking independence from Indonesia and also known as the armed criminal group (KKB).
Shot While Sipping Coffee: Civilian Killed at Home
The first attack took place on the evening of Saturday, July 12, 2025, in the central highlands town of Mulia, Puncak Jaya. Edi Hermanto, a man originally from Probolinggo, East Java, was reportedly relaxing and drinking coffee at his home when two armed individuals knocked on his window.
According to eyewitness accounts and police reports, the moment Hermanto opened the window, one of the men fired a bullet directly into his temple. The attackers fled the scene on a motorcycle, leaving the victim dead on the spot.
Puncak Jaya Police Chief AKBP Kuswara confirmed that the perpetrators are suspected members of the KKB led by Paku Wanimbo, a term the government uses to refer to separatist factions operating in the region.
“This was a targeted execution. It shows how brazen these groups have become,” said Kuswara in a statement. An investigation and pursuit operation has since been launched by joint security forces under Operation Cartenz Peace.
Ojek Driver Slain in Apparent Ambush
A second killing occurred in the same regency within hours of the first. A local motorcycle taxi driver—known locally as an “ojek” driver, Syafaruddin was found dead with multiple stab wounds to his abdomen and chest. The attack, according to local sources, was also allegedly carried out by KKB members led by Lekagak Telenggen, who had been lurking near the victim’s regular route.
The victim, later identified as a native of Gowa, South Sulawesi, had only recently arrived in Papua for work. He was ambushed in a remote area, with no immediate witnesses to the murder, and his body was thrown into a ravine 500 meters deep. Police have linked the killing to the same network responsible for the earlier shooting.
A wave of grief and fear has spread among ojek drivers and migrants in the region. “We are just trying to earn a living, and now we fear for our lives every day,” said a fellow driver who requested anonymity for safety reasons.
TNI Soldier Stabbed to Death in Mimika Market
A separate but equally brazen attack unfolded on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Mimika Regency’s SP13 market in Bhinntuka. A TNI soldier, Master Sergeant (Serka) Rudolof (Provos Yonif 754/ENK), was stabbed in the chest by an unknown assailant while he was off duty and mingling among civilians.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic. The attacker approached the soldier calmly before lunging forward with a blade, inflicting a fatal wound to the soldier’s heart. He was rushed to a local health facility but succumbed to his injuries shortly after.
The TPNPB-OPM (KKB), through its spokesperson Sebby Sambom, quickly claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement published by pro-independence media outlets. Sambom described the stabbing as a “retaliation” for recent military operations and asserted that the group would continue targeting security personnel.
“We were responsible for the execution of a TNI soldier in SP13. It is part of our military resistance,” Sambom said.
The TNI has not issued an official response beyond confirming the death of the soldier and stating that investigations are underway.
Context
The attacks mark a sharp escalation in what has already been a deadly year in Papua, where low-intensity conflict between Indonesian state forces and separatist groups has simmered for decades. However, recent months have seen a worrying uptick in violence aimed at civilians, especially migrants from other provinces.
Rights observers and local leaders have condemned the attacks, expressing concern that the violence could spiral into broader ethnic tensions.
“This is no longer about independence or ideology. It’s about terror,” said one community elder in Mulia, speaking to local media.
Government Response and Security Measures
Indonesian authorities, under Operation Cartenz Peace, have vowed to intensify security operations in the highlands. Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhani, the commander of the task force, stated that the military and police would not back down in the face of threats and that the perpetrators would be “hunted down and held accountable.”
“We urge all civilians to remain calm but vigilant. Report suspicious activity. Help us restore peace,” Ramadhani said.
Meanwhile, human rights groups are urging restraint from the military and calling on the government to prioritize a political resolution to the long-running conflict.
Conclusion
This weekend’s killings in Puncak Jaya and Mimika are grim reminders of the deteriorating security situation in Papua. As separatist militants adopt increasingly aggressive tactics, including targeting unarmed civilians and off-duty soldiers, the line between political resistance and terror continues to blur.
With tensions rising and public fear, the Indonesian government faces renewed pressure to restore order—not just through force, but through meaningful dialogue that addresses the roots of the Papuan conflict.
Until then, ordinary citizens—whether local Papuans or migrants seeking opportunity—remain tragically vulnerable in a region that has seen too much bloodshed and too little peace.
