Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) – Indonesian security forces are pursuing armed separatists killing road construction workers at a project camp in Papua’s Tolikara District, the military said after an overnight attack left several civilians dead.
Colonel Tri Purwanto, spokesperson for the Cendrawasih Military Command, said a joint military and police task force is searching for the armed rebels led by Botak Wanimbo and Teranus Enumbi.
The armed group attacked a workers’ camp operated by PT SHJ in Wokini Subdistrict on Sunday night, killing employees involved in a government road construction project, Tri told ANTARA in Jayapura on Monday.
The workers were resting when the attackers entered the camp, he said. Those who survived were staying in separate rooms from the victims during the assault.
Three employees managed to escape to Mulia, carrying the bodies of three of their co-workers, Tri said.
Authorities have so far identified four victims, including one body evacuated to Karubaga, the capital of Tolikara District.
The identified victims were Arman Sibarani, Erlin Aritonang, Alfons and Barengga, according to the military.
The victims were employed on a road construction project overseen by the Papua Central National Road Development Agency (BPJN).
The project is part of the government’s broader effort to improve transport infrastructure in Papua, where road construction has frequently been targeted by armed separatist groups.
Security forces are continuing search operations in the rugged highland area while investigators work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the attack.
The military did not immediately disclose how many attackers were involved or whether additional casualties or injuries had been confirmed.
Authorities are also assessing security conditions around infrastructure projects in the region following the latest violence.
Armed separatist violence has persisted for years in Papua, with insurgent groups frequently targeting security personnel, government facilities and civilian workers involved in state-backed development projects.
The Cendrawasih Military Command condemned the attack, saying the killings targeted civilians building infrastructure intended to benefit communities across Papua.
“The Cendrawasih Military Command strongly condemns this act of violence, which claimed the lives of civilians working to develop infrastructure for the people of Papua,” Tri said.
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Translator: Evarukdijati, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Primayanti
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