Papuan Separatist Violence in Indonesia – Feb'22
Dear reader, welcome to a monthly commentary on separatist-related (TPNPB) developments in Indonesia, a beautiful archipelago of over 17,000 islands.
Well, the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) started the year off with a promise of more violence against Indonesian forces in the Papuan provinces. So far, it has kept its promise (to a degree – last month 3 Indonesian soldiers were killed in Puncak, a high casualty count). Some details here. If you would like a background on the TPNPB, check out my piece for MilitantWire (which you should also check out).
Puncak
The most intense clashes occurred in parts of Puncak Regency, in the highlands in Papua province. Attacks occurred over two days, in multiple districts of Puncak. Interesting attacks, showing a modus operandi that the TPNPB is increasingly adopting. It ambushes targets, then attacks them again when they are being evacuated from the nearest airstrip. Kind of a double-tap. So, on a Saturday, the TPNPB attacked Indonesian forces, injuring a soldier near an airstrip. It also attacked a civilian employed by an Indonesian company. Then, it burned the mess hall of the said company. The next day, it conducted at attack in the morning, targeting forces evacuating the wounded from the previous day. Then, it conducted arson attacks, apparently burning a market or houses in a residential area. The violence resulted in the death of one TPNPB fighter, while one Indonesian military personnel and one civilian were injured. Details are still messy; the TPNPB claimed more casualties.
Intan Jaya
The TPNPB claimed to have killed one Indonesian soldier in a clash in Intan Jaya in early February. Gunfire was also heard in Intan Jaya capital, Sugapa, at the turn of the month. Interestingly, the shots targeted the Intan Jaya regent’s house. Hint hint: some political plays behind the curtains, which I cannot detail here.
A gunfight also allegedly took place near the Sugapa police station in that attack. Authorities also arrested a suspected Intan Jaya TPNPB subleader in Timika. The suspect apparently wanted to buy ammunition. Indonesian security forces are known to sell arms and ammunition to the TPNPB, that’s a story for another day, contact me if you’d like to know more.
Fool’s Gold?
Let’s get into the background of Intan Jaya. It is a regency also in the Papuan highlands, in Papua province. Intan translates to diamond. It has been a restive regency for years now. At the heart of conflict, like nearly all conflicts in the world, are resources. There is an area, called the Wabu Block, that is believed to have gold and silver reserves. How much you ask? Over 116 million tons, according to some estimates.
A Papuan interest group recently protested in Jakarta, against Indonesia’s planned mining in Intan Jaya. It said that this was the cause of conflict between the TPNPB and Indonesia forces. They are not wrong. A very prominent Indonesian minister has been implicated in this conflict, but talking about him is a whole other story.
Keep in mind that the Grasberg Mine, which has driven conflict in Papua (read my article above), once had the world’s largest gold reserves and second largest copper reserves. It’s been exploited enough; it no longer stands as such. There is a massive caveat regarding the potential exploitation of the Wabu Block, however I cannot disclose that openly.
A Curious Case
At the start of February, a video started circulating on social media. In it, a foreigner is seen waving the banned Morning Star flag, a symbol of Papuan independence. He is flanked by several TPNPB fighters, a couple of them armed with what looks like an AK variant and an M16 rifle. The backdrop is the beautiful Papuan highlands. I have not been able to verify when and where the video was taken yet, I will give an update when I have concrete details. Very, very curious. Most areas of the Papuan provinces are a no-go zone for foreigners; tourists have been only allowed to the beautiful Raja Ampat in West Papua, one of the last pristine diving zones in the world. Journalists are not allowed into restive areas of the provinces, which is why information, unless you have on-ground sources, is hard to get by. Indonesians are allowed if they are working for companies; they need approval from authorities. What I’m trying to say is that one cannot simply walk into Mordor, I mean Papua.
In 2019, a Polish citizen was jailed, the first foreigner to be charged with treason in Indonesia. Now there’s very conflict reports. He claims that he met someone who introduced him to some separatists, and maintained innocence. Indonesian prosecutors said that he attempted to help buy separatists weapons, and supported causes to overthrow the Indonesian government in Papua. Even these details are messy, the prosecution did not mention that he allegedly had ammunition for separatists, which police earlier claimed. Did I say messy?
Still from the video circulating
Back to the video, so many questions. How does a very-obviously-white person end up somewhere in the Papuan highlands? More so, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when travel has been severely restricted? What visa is he on? How has he not been caught by Indonesian forces (a Caucasian in Papua cannot be under the radar)? If he has been detained, why are there no credible sources on his arrest? How does he go into a very militarized zone? A very curious case, indeed.
Anyway, for now: