TNI Ultimatum OPM After Attack that Killed Four Road Workers in Tolikara

The Commander of the Joint Command for the Defense Region (Pangkogabwilhan) III, Lieutenant General TNI Lucky Avianto, together with the TNI leadership, held a press conference in Timika, Central Papua some time ago. (ANTARA)

TIMIKIA - The Commander of the Joint Command for the Defense Region (Pangkogabwilhan) III, Lieutenant General TNI Lucky Avianto, ultimatum the armed separatist group of the Free Papua Organization (OPM) to stop the violence and immediately surrender to the security forces.

The statement was made following an attack on road construction project workers in Wonimo District, Tolikara Regency, Papua Mountains, which resulted in four workers dying on Sunday, August 2 night.

Lucky Avianto emphasized that armed groups were asked to stop terror acts targeting civilians and hand over weapons to the authorities.

"Immediately surrender and weapons to the nearest TNI security post, return to the motherland, before the TNI takes firm action," Lucky said in a statement received in Timika, quoted from Antara, Monday, August 3.

The ultimatum was delivered in response to an attack on workers from PT Sutan Harauli Jaya (SHJ) who were working on a national road construction project.

The four victims who died have been identified, namely Barengga, Alfons, Arman Sibarani, and Erlin Aritonang.

They are workers on a road construction project being carried out for the National Road Implementation Agency (BPJN) Wamena, a technical implementation unit under the Directorate General of Road Construction.

According to the statement from Kogabwilhan III, the workers were resting at the company camp after completing activities at the project site when the attack occurred.

Based on information from Kogabwilhan III, the perpetrators of the attack were suspected to be a group of OPM led by Serius Wanimbo alias Joni Wanimbo alias Botak Wanimbo along with the Teranus Enumbi group.

It is said that the armed group came suddenly and fired at the workers' camp. As a result of the attack, three workers died at the scene, while another victim was found not far from the camp in a dead state.

A total of 20 TNI Task Force personnel from Koops Habema were deployed to evacuate the victims and carry out a pursuit of the group suspected of being involved in the attack.

During the operation, the police also found one SS1-type assault rifle that was left behind when the perpetrator fled.

"Because of fear and haste to flee into the jungle, one of the OPM members left one barrel of his SS1 assault rifle," said Lucky.

In addition to evacuating the deceased, TNI personnel also managed to find seven other workers in a safe state. All victims have been evacuated to Mulia Hospital, Puncak Jaya Regency for further treatment.

Kogabwilhan III said the pursuit process for the perpetrators was still being carried out. During the operation, the police heard about six gunshots from the armed group within a radius of about 1.5 kilometers from the scene.

Security forces continue to strengthen security in the surrounding area while continuing to search for those suspected of being involved in the attack.