Indonesian troops recover last Papua attack victim

3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian military personnel have recovered the body of the last of three civilians that several armed members of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) recently killed on the Trans Papua road in Yahukimo District, Papua Highlands Province, officials said.

The victim, identified as Teina Alya, was found in the Kolof River in Seradala Subdistrict days after the three civilians were killed on Tuesday (July 21) in an attack launched by an OPM faction led by Kopitua Heluka.

“One of the three local civilian victims has been found by Habema Joint Regional Defense Command personnel in the Kolof River area of Seradala Subdistrict on Friday,” Habema Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Wirya Arthadiguna said in a statement on Friday (July 31).

Wirya said troops located the body after searching the area surrounding the attack site. The body was discovered about 50 meters below the riverbank, roughly 100 meters from where the killings occurred.

The location suggested an attempt by the attackers to dispose of the victim’s body, Wirya said, blaming the act on the OPM group. He added the recovery operation was complicated by steep terrain and hazardous conditions.

The body could only be reached using vertical rescue and rappelling techniques because it lay at the base of a landslide beneath a steep cliff, he added. Troops eventually retrieved the body and completed the evacuation.

The remains were taken to Dekai Regional General Hospital before being handed to the victim’s family, local authorities, community leaders, church representatives, and tribal elders for burial under local customs.

Wirya explained the security forces would continue pursuing those responsible despite recovering all three victims. The military had recovered the other two victims near the attack site on Thursday (July 23).

Wirya said the operation was disrupted by an exchange of gunfire after troops encountered the armed separatists near the evacuation area.

“The evacuation team came under fire after the group was detected near the scene,” he said.

Despite the clash, troops prioritised the safety of personnel and successfully evacuated the two bodies to Dekai Regional General Hospital.