Bantai 8 Pendulang Emas di Yahukimo, Pasukan Khusus TNI Habema Buru OPM

JAKARTA - The TNI Habema Operations Command (Koops) deployed special forces supported by a helicopter fleet to pursue the Free Papua Organization (OPM) group in the Korowai area, Yahukimo Regency, Papua.

The separatist group is suspected of being the perpetrators of the sadistic murder of eight civilians who worked as gold miners.

The massacre was reported to have occurred because the OPM group accused the traditional miners as spies for the security forces.

Head of Information Koops TNI Habema, Lieutenant Colonel Inf M. Wirya Arthadiguna, strongly denied the one-sided accusation and ensured that the victims were purely civilians who were making a living.

"The eight people are not security personnel as alleged by the OPM group, but civilians who are engaged in gold panning activities in the area," said Wirya as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, May 26, 2026.

Wirya explained that the heinous murder took place. Based on the results of field investigations, the perpetrators were identified as part of the TPNPB-OPM Kodap XVI Yahukimo group.

The action was led directly by Major Kopitua Heluka with the troops of the Yamue Battalion under the command of Major Dejang Heluka.

After executing eight civilians cruelly, the armed group immediately fled into the forest and moved to another area to avoid being chased by officers.

In response to the brutal action, Koops Habema has prepared a large-scale hunting force complete with air logistics support and combat helicopters to comb the escape route of the Kopitua Heluka group.

In addition to focusing on the power to hunt down the perpetrators, the main priority of the TNI forces in the field at this time is to evacuate the bodies of eight civilians who were victims of the OPM group's sadistic actions from the scene.

The Indonesian military has strongly condemned the acts of terror that continue to target unarmed civilians in the land of Papua.

The TNI also ensured that the escalation of security in Yahukimo Regency would be massively increased to prevent new casualties.

"Koops TNI Habema strongly condemns the acts of violence and murder of civilians carried out by the OPM group. The TNI will pursue the perpetrators and continue to improve security in the Yahukimo area," said Wirya.

In addition to intensive pursuit, the addition of tactical patrol intensity at vulnerable points in the Yahukimo area continues to be encouraged in order to ensure security and restore the wheels of economic activity of local residents who were paralyzed by the terror.