Checkpapuanow.com – Colonel Infantry Corps Lieutenant Colonel Candra Kurniawan, the spokesman for Kodam XVII Cendrawasih, confirmed that the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) had set fire to the Okbab State Junior High School building in Borban Village, Okbab District, Pegunungan Bintang Regency. The incident occurred on Saturday, July 13, 2023, at 11:30 AM local time, according to an official report received by Tempo.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Candra, OPM has once again resorted to violence by burning down educational facilities that should have been places of learning for local children. “We deeply regret this destructive act, which robs children of their right to education,” he said in an interview with Tempo.
Earlier, OPM spokesperson Sebby Sambom claimed that OPM had burned down all school buildings, including elementary, junior high, high schools, and vocational schools in Borban Village. However, Colonel Candra confirmed only the burning incident at Okbab State Junior High School.
This action is not the first time carried out by OPM. Previously, they have been involved in similar acts in Paniai Regency and Intan Jaya Regency, where schools were burned down because the education provided by the Indonesian government in West Papua was deemed misleading, as it teaches values and history that are considered contrary to their beliefs.
Sabby Sambom explained that these arson attacks are part of their efforts to oppose the presence of the Indonesian government in West Papua and to fight for the region’s independence. “We will continue to burn down buildings that represent Indonesian sovereignty in West Papua,” he emphasized.
In May 2024, OPM also carried out arson attacks on stalls and schools in Paniai Regency, and the previous month at the Pogapa Inpres Elementary School in Intan Jaya Regency. This series of destructive actions indicates the escalating intensity of conflict in West Papua.
In this context, the Indonesian government, through its security forces, is actively pursuing the perpetrators of these crimes. Colonel Candra emphasized that the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) will continue to strive to protect the population and restore security in the affected areas.
OPM’s violent actions against education have also drawn condemnation from various quarters, including the international community, which strongly condemns actions that obstruct children’s access to education. The conflict in West Papua, particularly in the education sector, poses a serious challenge to government efforts to improve welfare and stability in the region.
Therefore, the burning of Okbab State Junior High School by OPM not only threatens the education of children in West Papua but also indicates a disturbing escalation of conflict in the region. Security forces are urged to take firmer action to protect the population and restore peace in West Papua.
Read also: Papua Police Chief Condemns Domestic Violence Following Tragic Incident
Source: Tempo.
