JAYAPURA: At least seven civilians were killed when armed rebels targeted a gold mine in the remote mountainous Yahukimo district of Papua, Indonesia. Indonesian police reported that the assailants opened fire on mine workers, killing several individuals and injuring others.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. However, authorities have pointed fingers at The West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB) separatist group led by Egianus Kogoya as the alleged perpetrators of the violence. Faizal Ramadhani, head of the Cartenz Peace Taskforce, a specialized unit formed to pursue separatists in Papua, expressed determination to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“We will chase the perpetrators and take legal action against the separatists and Egianus Kogoya,” stated Ramadhani in an official statement.
Attack on Gold Mine in Indonesia
Efforts to retrieve the bodies and rescue survivors were met with further violence, as the police deployment sent to the location was fired upon by the rebels upon their arrival. “As soon as we arrived at the location, our personnel were attacked, and the gunfire lasted 1.5 hours,” reported Ramadhani.
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However, the authorities successfully recovered seven bodies from the site, while 11 other persons were rescued alive. Most of the deceased were migrants from the South Sulawesi region.
The rebels also caused extensive damage, burning down excavators, trucks, and the workers’ camp, exacerbating the impact of the attack on the mining operation.
