The West Papua National Liberation Army (Indonesian: Tentara Pembebasan Nasional Papua Barat; abbreviated as TPNPB), officially referred to in Indonesia as the Armed Criminal Group (Indonesian: Kelompok Kriminal Bersenjata,[1] abbreviated as KKB), and after 2021, Separatist Terrorist Group (Indonesian: Kelompok Separatis Teroris, abbreviated as KST[2]), is a Western New Guinean insurgent group in Indonesia. It is the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement.[3]
| West Papua National Liberation Army | |
|---|---|
| Tentara Pembebasan Nasional Papua Barat Kelompok Kriminal Bersenjata | |
 Flag of the Free Papua Movement | |
| Leaders |
|
| Ideology | Papuan nationalism Anti-colonialism Anti-imperialism |
| Part of | Free Papua Organization |
| Opponents |  Indonesia |
| Battles and wars | Papua conflict |
| Designated as a terrorist group by | Indonesia |
It has been designated as a terrorist organization by the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs.[4]
Leadership
editIn December 2012, the Free Papua Movement appointed Goliath Tabuni as the head of the TPNPB-OPM, Gabriel Melkizedek Awom as Lt. General, and Terianus Satto as the Chief of Staff.[5]
The organization is distinct from the West Papua Revolutionary Army or West Papua Army (WPA) under Damianus Magai Yogi, affiliated with United Liberation Movement for West Papua and Benny Wenda.[6]
Tactics
editThe TPNPB employs guerilla tactics to attack and destroy industrial buildings as a rejection of Indonesian-led development. In their attacks, they use machetes, bows and arrows, axes, and limited numbers of revolvers and rifles, however the number of rifles have increased since the 2020s.
Between 2018 and 2021, the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict estimated as a "best guess" that 34 TPNPB fighters and 52 Indonesian government soldiers have been killed in 183 clashes.[7]
Actions
edit2018 Nduga massacre
editOn 1 December 2018, the TPNPB shot at construction workers, which the TPNPB believed them as military personnel disguised in civilian attire in the Nduga Regency, Papua (now in Highland Papua), Indonesia.[8] The TPNPB declared responsibility for the attack, in which at least twenty-four Indonesian construction workers were killed and which the Indonesian government labeled "the Nduga massacre."(Indonesian: Pembantaian Nduga) [9]
2022 Nogolait shooting
editOn 16 July 2022, a group of around twenty TPNPB gunmen entered the Kampung Nonggolait (or Nogolait) in Nduga Regency, Highland Papua, Indonesia. The attackers opened fire on a grocer, and then shot seven other traders who were riding on a freight truck. Four bystanders were also shot.[10] On many occasions, rebel spokesman Sebby Sambom has said the group’s fighters had warned civilians to leave areas the rebels consider a “war zone.” He also urged workers to leave all Indonesian government projects, or they would be considered part of the security forces. Indonesian authorities stated that the Free Papua Movement's military wing was responsible for the shooting, and specifically the Tabuni and Egianus Kogoya group.[10][11][12]
2023 Oksibil attacks
editFrom 7 January until 12 January 2023, the TPNPB periodically attacked Oksibil, the seat of the Bintang Mountains Regency, in Highland Papua. According to the Regional Police of Papua, Bintang Mountains is one of seven regencies that are vulnerable to separatist attacks.[13]
2023 hostage taking
editIn February 2023, the TPNPB captured pilot Philip Mehrtens, who was employed by the Indonesian private charter airline company Susi Air and had landed his plane at the Paro Airport in the remote highlands of the Nduga regency of West Papua. Military authorities stated they had begun a search for the pilot and identified his approximate location when they were ambushed by the West Papua Liberation Army. At least six soldiers died, and twenty-one others fled into the jungle, according to military reports seen by journalists. The TPNB claimed they killed thirteen Indonesian soldiers.[14][15] The military authorities stated that one Indonesian soldier was killed, from a fall "into a deep ravine." In April 2023, the TPNPB issued a call to the New Zealand government for a negotiation about the pilot's release. They stated that New Zealand and the United Nations have an “obligation to urge the Indonesian Government to stop military operations” against them.[16][15] On August 20, 2024, Mehrtens was released after nearly 600 days in captivity.[17]
Presence
editPrior to 2018, TPNPB actions were largely limited to the regencies (kabupaten) of Puncak Jaya, Lanny Jaya, and Mimika. However, in the early 2020s the group expanded to other neighboring kabupaten, taking control of an airstrip at Ilaga for some time.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Ini Kata Menhan Soal Kelompok Kriminal Bersenjata di Papua" [This is what the Minister of Defense said about armed criminal groups in Papua]. Kemhan-go-id (in Indonesian). Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "Label Teroris untuk KKB Papua Akhirnya Jadi Nyata" (in Indonesian). April 2021.
- ^ Strangio, Sebastian. "In Papua Fighting, Indonesian Forces Claim Rebel Commander Killed". The Diplomat. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ Perkasa, Vidhyandika Djati; Satria, Alif (7 May 2021). "Conflict Resolution in Papua and the Label of Terrorism". The Diplomat. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
- ^ Baderi, Firdaus (27 January 2017). "Meski Goliath Tabuni Berulah, Pembangunan Papua Terus Berjalan" [Even though Goliath Tabuni is acting up, Papua's development continues]. Harian Ekonomi Neraca (in Indonesian). Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ Nedabang, Alfons (4 January 2023). "KKB Papua - Juru Bicara TPNPB Sebby Sambom: Kami Tidak Akui Benny Wenda dan Damianus Yogi" [KKB Papua - TPNPB Spokesman Sebby Sambom: We Don't Recognize Benny Wenda and Damianus Yogi]. Pos Kupang (in Indonesian). Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Escalating Armed Conflict and a New Security Approach in Papua" (PDF) (in Indonesian). Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict. 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ^ "Dozens killed in Papua attack". Radio NZ. 5 December 2018. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ Smith, Mackenzie (5 December 2018). "West Papua Liberation Army claims responsibility for Papua killings". Radio NZ. Archived from the original on 5 December 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ a b Kartono, Alfian (16 July 2022). "Gunmen kill 10 traders, hurt 2, in Indonesia's restive Papua". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ Lamb, Kate (16 July 2022). Mallard, William (ed.). "Nine shot dead in Indonesia's restive Papua, say police". Reuters. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ "Nine shot dead at Nduga in Papua's highlands". ABC News. 16 July 2022. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ Santoso, Audrey (11 January 2023). "Daftar Daerah Jadi Perhatian Polda Papua Terkait Kejahatan KKB" [List issued by the Papua Regional Police of Areas of Concern for KKB Crimes]. detik.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "Rebel gunmen attack Indonesian troops searching for New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens, leaving dozens missing". ABC Australia. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
- ^ a b Whiteman, Hilary (7 April 2023). "Rebels holding New Zealand pilot hostage claim they've killed at least 13 Indonesian soldiers". CNN. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ Wirawan, Jerome; Wright, George (7 April 2023). "NZ pilot's kidnappers tell Indonesia to negotiate". BBC News. Jakarta & London. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ Readfearn, Graham (21 September 2024). "New Zealand pilot held captive in West Papua for 19 months 'very happy' after being freed". The Guardian.