Two Papuan separatist leaders were killed in a shootout between security forces and their rebel group near one of the world’s largest gold mines in Indonesia’s restive Papua region. The incident occurred near the mining town of Tembagapura in Central Papua province.
The clash, which took place on Thursday, involved independence rebels of the Free Papua Movement and a joint police and military force. The confrontation resulted in the deaths of two regional commanders of the group, Abubakar Kogoya (Abubakar Tabuni) and Damianus Magay (Natan Wanimbo), who were part of the West Papua Liberation Army, the group's military wing.
Rebels in Papua have been engaged in a low-level insurgency since the early 1960s when Indonesia annexed the region. The simmering insurgency stems from a U.N.-sponsored ballot that incorporated the former Dutch colony into Indonesia, a move widely viewed as controversial.
Security forces confirmed the identities of the two commanders by finding their identity cards on them. Several other rebels were wounded in the shootout but managed to escape into the jungle. The rebels were armed with military-grade weapons, axes, and arrows, with security forces seizing a gun in the area.
The area where the clash occurred is home to the Grasberg gold mine, nearly half-owned by U.S.-based Freeport-McMoRan and operated by PT Freeport Indonesia. Separatists consider the mine a symbol of Indonesian rule and have targeted it on multiple occasions.
The shootout was triggered by reports of attackers, believed to be members of the liberation army, storming a traditional gold panning facility in Kali Kuluk, causing panic among locals in surrounding villages. Kali Kuluk is situated within the operational area of PT Freeport Indonesia.
One of the deceased commanders, Tabuni, was described as a central figure in the liberation army and had been involved in previous security disturbances near Freeport areas. The Grasberg mine, known for its vast gold and copper reserves, has faced criticism from environmental groups for alleged damage to the surrounding territories, primarily through waste dumping.
The mine contributes significantly to the Indonesian government's tax revenue, as reported by local sources. Indigenous Papuans in the region are reported to suffer from poverty, sickness, and a higher likelihood of premature death compared to other parts of Indonesia, according to multiple non-governmental organizations.
