The First Day Of School Entering, OPM Burns Middle School Building In Papua

TIMIKA - Kodam XVII Cenderawasih condemned the action of an armed separatist group of the Free Papua Organization (OPM) that burned the Okbab State Junior High School building in Bintang Mountains Regency, Papua Mountains, last Friday.

The arson was carried out ahead of the first day of school admission today, Monday 15 July 2024. Kapendam XVII/Cenderawasih Lieutenant Colonel Inf Candra Kurniawan said OPM had repeatedly set fire to school buildings because it did not want Papuan children to go to school. "The action of burning schools is repeated and OPM wants children not to go to school," said Candra, Monday, July 15. According to Candra, this OPM crime has destroyed the future of Papuan children who are enthusiastic about learning. Security forces are currently pursuing a group of OPMs who set fire to the school. "After setting them on fire," he said. TPNPB spokesman OPM Sebby Sambom admitted, his group from the East Star XXXV Kodap led byEY Ati Mimin who set fire to school buildings in the Bintang Mountains. TPNPB Troops Kodap XXXV Bintang Timur once announced to the President of Indonesia since December 5, 2021 that TPNPB will burn the entire school building in our operating area, "said Sebby.

According to Sebby, the Indonesian version of the education curriculum implemented in Papua undermines the cultural, historical and ideological values of local citizens. "School children are forced to memorize the Indonesian State Law and Indonesian heroes, which for us is a trick for the Papuan generation," he said.