Commander of Kogabwilhan III: Two OPM Leaders Killed in Armed Clash
Timika (ANTARA) - The Commander of the III Regional Defence Command (Pangkogab/Kogabwilhan III), Lieutenant General TNI Lucky Avianto, stated that two leaders of the Free Papua Organisation (OPM) were killed in an armed clash with TNI troops in the Aifat District, Maybrat Regency, Southwest Papua.
The two deceased OPM leaders have been identified as the Commander of the TPNPB-OPM Defence Region Command II Sorong Raya Kodap IV, Arso Aisnak, and the TPNPB-OPM Battalion Commander of Sorong Raya Kodap IV, Yohanes KY.
In a statement received in Timika on Sunday, Lieutenant General Lucky Avianto explained that joint forces from Denkul IV Satgas Rajawali V Koops Habema and the Marine Infantry Battalion, supported by Yonif 764 - I B under the control of Kogabwilhan III, engaged in combat with the TPNPB-OPM group led by Manfret Fatem on Saturday (3/10) night in the forests of northern Aifat District.
“The presence of the TPNPB-OPM group led by Manfret Fatem was identified through BIN (State Intelligence Agency) monitoring, which detected their movement as they were attempting to enter civilian settlements in the Aifat District, Maybrat Regency,” he said.
Before the clash occurred, TNI forces first attempted a persuasive approach, requesting the group to surrender and lay down their weapons; however, this appeal was met with indiscriminate live fire directed at the TNI task force.
He emphasised that Manfret Fatem was the first to rain live bullets upon the TNI troops, followed by the rest of the TPNAB-OPM Kodap IV Sorong Raya members.
“All of our troops emerged safe, while the two ringleaders acting as Manfret Fatem’s subordinates, namely Arso Aisnak and Yohanes KY, were killed in the skirmish,” he stated.
Following the deaths of Arso Aisnak and Yohanes KY—noted for their roles as executors of humanitarian crimes committed by the group—the leader Manfret Fatem chose to flee into the forest with the remaining members of his group.
“At the site, we recovered several items belonging to the OPM, including one revolver with ammunition, dozens of automatic machine gun rounds, several blades, communication equipment, and two Bintang Kejora flags,” he added.
He stated that forces are currently pursuing Manfret Fatem and the remaining members of the group to prevent further humanitarian crimes, such as rape, assault, robbery, and murder, in Papua, particularly in Sorong, Southwest Papua.
“I remind all members of the TPNPB-OPM, wherever you may be: the TNI-Polri and all law enforcement agencies will continue to hunt and capture all perpetrators of humanitarian crimes in Papua, whether alive or dead,” he warned.
He further noted that all TNI personnel under Kogabwilhan III will take decisive action based on applicable laws and regulations, ensuring that the Rules of Engagement (ROE) are prioritised to maintain professionalism and uphold human rights.
The Commander of Kogabwilhan III assured that the TNI task force will never hesitate to take firm and measured action in urgent situations, as the principle of ‘the safety of the people is the highest law’ (salus populi suprema lex esto) remains the guiding principle for the troops when facing OPM atrocities.