Indonesia evacuates mining workers in Papua after armed attack

Nabire Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Samuel Tatiratu said the evacuation was launched after an attack led by Aibon Kogoya’s armed criminal group (KKB), which killed two people. “We are currently trying to evacuate employees, including 26 Chinese nationals, from the mining site,” he told state news agency Antara on Sunday. Tatiratu added that search operations are underway along the Musairo River, with around 75 people already evacuated on Saturday, February 21. He emphasized the evacuation aims to prevent further security threats. Authorities are still working to identify one of the victims, with autopsy results pending at Nabire Regional Hospital. “I have not yet received a report on the autopsy results for the body found at the PT Kristalin post,” Tatiratu said. PT Kristalin management expressed regret over the attack, which included the burning of a public order and security post near the Kali Musairo SP1 Lagari Dam. Deputy Director Teguh Arief Herlambang confirmed the incident occurred Saturday afternoon, between 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., and stressed that the location was outside the company’s area. Translator: Evarukdijati, Resinta Sulistiyandari Copyright © ANTARA 2026