2023 Oksibil Conflict

From 7 January until 12 January 2023, the separatist West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) periodically attacked Oksibil, the seat of Bintang Mountains Regency, Highland Papua. According to the Regional Police of Papua, Bintang Mountains is one of 7 regencies that are vulnerable to separatist attacks.

Background

, the spokesman for TPNPB and OPM, revealed on January 7 that the 35th Regional Defense Commando "Eastern Stars" ( id, Kodap XXXV Bintang Timur) planned to kill Indonesian policemen, destroy police vehicles, and burn down a 4G tower in Oksibil.

Timeline

7 January: Shootout with TPNPB armed group

Combined TNI-Polri forces were involved in a shootout with an armed group at Kabiding Road for 2 hours. The shootout began when La Ode Jamaludin, a motorcycle taxi driver (ojek) reported to the local police that he was shot on a bridge at Yapimakot Road. After the combined forces successfully defeated the armed group, they escaped to a forest. According to Inspector General Mathius D. Fakhiri, three police officers: Second Inspector (equivalent to Second Lieutenant) Jenudin, Police Brigadier (equivalent to Staff Sergeant) Freying, and First Brigadier (equivalent to First Sergeant) Romsumbre were injured in the shootout.

9 January 2023: Burning of a school and airliner attacks

An armed group whose leadership is unclear (possibly Nelson Mimin or Ananias Ati Mimin) burned the teachers' room and a classroom of the state vocational school SMKN 1 Oksibil building at around 10:30 AM local time. They also shot at Trigana and Dimonim Air aircraft, at 10:21 AM and 10:35 AM local time, respectively. For Trigana Air, a cargo Ikairos Caravan registered under ''PK-HVV'' and piloted by Captain Tohirin was attacked when landing from Tanahmerah, Boven Digoel Regency. After the attack, the aircraft returned to Tanah Merah.

Because of the airliner attacks, Trigana Air temporarily stopped flights from or to Oksibil. The state-owned air traffic controller also withdrew all personnel from Oksibil Airport on 12 January, evacuating to Jayapura. The armed group threatened to eat the newcomers if they did not leave Bintang Mountains.

Spokesperson of the Free Papua Movement National Army - West Papua Revolutionary Organization (TPN-OPM), Sebby Sambom, stated that his party took responsibility for the terrorist attack in Bintang Mountains on Tuesday. The attack, which resulted in the death of Police Brigadier Rudi Agung, was led by Anaias Mimin.We will not stop attacking the TNI-Polri forces stationed in the Bintang Mountains. Our goal is only one, to achieve a referendum for Papua," said Sebby.

11 January 2023: Burning of Dukcapil office

The 35th Regional Defense Commando (Kodap) of TPNPB burned a Department of Population and Civil Record (Disdukcapil) office at around 01:30 AM local time. The fire was only extinguished at around 03:15 AM local time.

12 January 2023: Damaging of water pipe

In Mabilabol village, Oksibil, an armed group led by Ananias Ati Mimin damaged a water pipe at 2:00 PM local time. Two days later, they also shot at a TNI aircraft ten times at Yapimakot village, Serambakon district, not far from Oksibil.

Impacts

Commander of Korem 172/PWY, Brigadier General JO Sembiring stated that the economy in Oksibil was paralyzed by the separatist conflicts. Impacted civilians evacuated themselves to the Koramil 1705-01 base and An-Nur Mosque. By 13 January, 150 civilians in Oksibil have been internally displaced due to the engagement.
The Head of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) Representative in Papua, Frits Ramandey, stated that there are two new autonomous regions that are at risk of security disturbance in 2023. These two regions are Central Papua Province and the Papua Highlands.https://www.kompas.id/baca/english/2023/09/19/en-setelah-tembak-anggota-brimob-kkb-serang-dua-warga-pegunungan-bintang

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oksibil conflict, 2023
January 2023 events in Indonesia
Conflicts in 2023
Papua conflict
History of Highland Papua