Spread Terror, 12 School Buildings In Papua Burned By OPM Throughout 2023-2024

TPNPB OPM burned school buildings in the Bintang Mountains. (Special)

JAKARTA - The Armed Criminal Group (KKB) or the Free Papuan Spatist Organization (OPM) continues to spread terror in Papua. Specifically for school burning, this group of separatists has been recorded 12 times since 2023 to 2024.

Kasatgas Humas Operasi Damai Cartenz-2024 Kombes Bayu Suseno detailed the school burning action carried out by OPM. First, SMK Negeri 1 and opened fire on a cargo plane that was about to land at Oksibil Airport, Bintang Mountains, Papua.

"KKB burned the State 1 SMK school at around 10:00 WIT," said Bayu in his statement, Wednesday, July 17.

KKB also burned SD YPK Metanoia in Yahukimo Regency, Distirk Dekai, Papua Mountains, March 12, 2023.

In fact, previously, the KKB opened fire on a commercial plane at NopJermanuh Dekai Airport, on March 11, 2023.

"As a result of the arson, the students of YPK Elementary School were closed to avoid casualties caused by the KKB," he said.

Not long after, this separatist group attempted the burning of the Dekai State Elementary School located on Jalan Seredala, Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, on March 14, 2023.

Luckily, the principal was able to extinguish the fire that at that time had burned the ceiling of one of the classes.

"Based on the results of the crime scene, the Yahukimo Police Criminal Investigation Unit secured several pieces of evidence, namely a trash can that was burned, a white tarpaulin was burned and a wood charred," said Bayu.

Then, the KKB was also recorded as burning SMP N 2 Dekai, Yahukimo Regency, on March 16. The perpetrators are two members of the Pepatist group who are currently being hunted.

"The school fire also occurred on August 17, 2023, precisely in Puncak Regency, Central Papua. The school that was burned was SMA N 1 Ilaga at 13.28 WIT," said Bayu.

Three months later, the KKB again burned down the school building of SMPN 1 Gome, Puncak Regency, Gome District, on November 10, 2023.

Meanwhile, for the 2024 period, the KKB is said to have burned three schools, one of which was SD Inpres Pogapa in Homeyo District, Intan Jaya, Central Papua, on May 1.

"The fire at the Pogapa Inpres State Elementary School Building was carried out by the Keni Tipagau KKB group from Kodap VIII Kemabu, the leaders of Undius Kogoya and Aibon Kogoya," explained Bayu.

Furthermore, KKB carried out its action again by burning down the schools of Paud, SD, and YPPGI Kepas Kopo, on Wednesday, May 22 at around 02.55 WIT

Finally, the KKB burned SDN Okbab, in Borban Village, Okbap District, Bintang Mountains Regency, on Friday, July 12.

"The building of the Okbab State Elementary School was allegedly burned by the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) on behalf of the Memokon KKB, Jender Sikap Alias Usoki, Aquino Kaladana, Yuni Mimin, and Enos Kakyarmabin," said bayu.

This act of burning schools by KKB adds to the long list of violence perpetrated by the group, which continues to disturb the public and disrupt security stability in Papua.

The government and security forces continue to strive to overcome this security disturbance and restore conditions in the affected areas so that people can return to their activities in peace.