Ten Gold Miners Killed in Papua Highlands; Suspected KKB Involved
Satgas Operasi Damai Cartenz is continuing to investigate the killings of gold miners in Awimbon District, Kabupaten Pegunungan Bintang, Papua Pegunungan, which occurred on Monday, 18 May. According to preliminary data, the death toll stands at 10, though the number could rise as several miners are reported to be hiding in the forest around the scene.
From initial investigations and analysis of circulating video footage, the perpetrators are suspected to be from the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) Battalion Yamue, led by Ronald Hiluka alias Dejang Hiluka. The group is estimated to number around 15 people, armed with one AR-15 rifle and several improvised firearms.
Head of the Damai Cartenz 2026 Operational Task Force, Inspector General Faizal Ramadhani, said all personnel will maximise evacuation and investigation efforts to ensure the situation remains under control and that the victims can be located promptly.
‘Our main focus at this time is to rescue the survivors, evacuate the deceased, and pursue the perpetrators in a professional and measured manner,’ he said in a written statement on Friday, 22 May.
Although the incident occurred in Bintang Mountains Regency, access to the site is known to be closer via Tanah Merah, Boven Digoel Regency. Due to the difficult geographic conditions and the area being within a dense forest, evacuation involves opening a route or clearing through the forest to the location.
A temporary aid post and evacuation point are centralised at Tanah Merah with the support of joint personnel to speed up the search and evacuation of victims.
In addition to evacuating the deceased, officers are also conducting searches for survivors who are still reportedly hiding in the forest.
Faizal noted that the terrain’s weighty conditions present a challenge to field operations, and all personnel are asked to prioritise safety in carrying out their duties.
Meanwhile, Deputy Head of the Damai Cartenz 2026 Operational Task Force, Senior Commissioner Adarma Sinaga, urged the public not to undertake mining or ore extraction activities in the conflict-prone area. According to Adarma, the area is a protected forest zone with no official activity and has historically been the site of security disturbances by armed criminal groups.
‘We urge the public not to engage in illegal mining in areas with a high risk because it is extremely dangerous for safety,’ he said.
Further, the Head of the Public Relations Task Force for Damai Cartenz 2026, Senior Commissioner Yusuf Sutejo, urged the public not to be easily swayed by information whose veracity cannot yet be confirmed and to continue following official information from authorities.
‘We ask the public to remain calm, not to be provoked by unverified information, and to support the ongoing operations by the officers on the ground,’ he said.