2023 Oksibil attacks

Events in Highland Papua, Indonesia

2023 Oksibil conflict

Part of the Papua conflict
| Date| 7–12 January 2023 (5 days)

|

Location|

Oksibil, Bintang Mountains, Highland Papua

Result|  Indonesian victory
Combatants
Indonesia|  West Papua National Liberation Army
Units involved
Indonesian Army|  35th Regional Defence Commando
Casualties and losses
3 wounded
150 civilians internally displaced
1 civilian airplane damaged

* v
* t
* e

Papua conflict

1960s

* Arfai, 1965
* Sadar, 1965
* Bharatayudha, 1966
* Wibawa, 1968
* Act of Free Choice, 1969

1970s

* Pamungkas, 1970
* Jayapura, 1976
* Baliem Valley, 1977

1980s

* 1984 refugee crisis
* Gagak, 1986

1990s

* Mapenduma, 1996
* Timika, 1996
* Biak, 1998

2000s

* Wamena, 2003
* Yalengga, 2003
* Abepura, 2006

2010s

* Paniai, 2014
* Mimika, 2017
* Nduga, 2018
* Cartenz's Peace, 2018
* Mugi, 2019
* 2019 protests

2020s

* Maybrat, 2021
* Kiwirok, 2021
* Beoga, 2022
* Nogolait, 2022
* Timika, 2022
* Oksibil, 2023
* Nduga, 2023
* Gome, 2024
* Intan Jaya, 2024

The 2023 Oksibil attacks were conducted by the separatist West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) periodically on Oksibil, the seat of Bintang Mountains Regency, Highland Papua from 7 January to 12 January 2023. According to the Regional Police of Papua, the Bintang Mountains is one of 7 regencies that are vulnerable to separatist attacks.[1]

## Background

[edit]

Sebby Sambom [id], the spokesman for TPNPB and OPM, disclosed on January 7 that the 35th Regional Defense Commando "Eastern Stars" (Indonesian: Kodap XXXV Bintang Timur) planned to kill Indonesian policemen, destroy police vehicles, and burn down a 4G tower in Oksibil.[2]

## Timeline

[edit]

### 7 January: Shootout with TPNPB armed group

[edit]

Combined TNI-Polri forces engaged in a shootout with an armed group on Kabiding Road for two hours. The altercation began when La Ode Jamaludin, a motorcycle taxi driver (Ojek), reported to local police that he had been shot on a bridge on Yapimakot Road. After the combined forces successfully repelled the armed group, they fled into a nearby forest.[3] According to Inspector General Mathius D. Fakhiri, three police officers—Second Inspector Jenudin, Police Brigadier Freying, and First Brigadier Romsumbre—were injured in the shootout.[4]

### 9 January 2023: Burning of a school and airliner attacks

[edit]

An armed group, possibly led by Nelson Mimin[5] or Ananias Ati Mimin,[6] burned down a classroom[7] and the teachers' room in the state vocational school SMKN 1 Oksibil building at around 10:30 AM local time. They also shot at Trigana and Dimonim Air aircraft, at 10:21 AM and 10:35 AM local time, respectively.[6] For Trigana Air, a cargo Ikairos Caravan registered under PK-HVV,[8] piloted by Captain Tohirin, was attacked when landing from Tanahmerah, Boven Digoel Regency.[5] After the attack, the aircraft returned to Tanah Merah.[9]

Because of the airliner attacks, Trigana Air temporarily suspended flights to and from Oksibil.[10] On January 12, the state-owned air traffic controller, AirNav Indonesia [id], evacuated all personnel from Oksibil Airport to Jayapura.[11] The armed group threatened to harm the newcomers if they did not leave the Bintang Mountains area.[6]

Spokesperson of the Free Papua Movement National Army - West Papua Revolutionary Organization (TPN-OPM), Sebby Sambom, declared his party's responsibility for the terrorist attack in the Bintang Mountains on Tuesday. The attack, which claimed the life of Police Brigadier Rudi Agung, was orchestrated by Anaias Mimin. "We will continue targeting the TNI-Polri forces stationed in the Bintang Mountains. Our objective is singular: to attain a referendum for Papua," Sebby asserted.

### 11 January 2023: Burning of Dukcapil office

[edit]

The 35th Regional Defense Commando (Kodap) of TPNPB ignited a fire at a Department of Population and Civil Record (Disdukcapil) office around 01:30 AM local time, which was finally extinguished around 03:15 AM local time.[12]

### 12 January 2023: Damaging of water pipe

[edit]

In Mabilabol village, Oksibil, an armed group led by Ananias Ati Mimin damaged a water pipe at 2:00 PM local time. Two days later, they also fired at a TNI aircraft ten times in Yapimakot village, Serambakon district, near Oksibil.[13]

## Impacts

[edit]

Commander of Korem 172/PWY, Brigadier General JO Sembiring, stated that the economy in Oksibil was paralyzed by the separatist conflicts.[14] Impacted civilians evacuated themselves to the Koramil 1705-01 base and An-Nur Mosque.[15] By 13 January, 150 civilians in Oksibil had been internally displaced due to the engagement.[16] The Head of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) Representative in Papua, Frits Ramandey, stated that there were two new autonomous regions, Central Papua Province and the Papua Highlands,[17] that were at risk of security disturbance in 2023.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Santoso, Audrey (11 January 2023). "Daftar Daerah Jadi Perhatian Polda Papua Terkait Kejahatan KKB". news.detik.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
2. ^ "Sebby Sambom Umumkan Tiga Aksi TPNPB Selama Seminggu". suarapapua.com. 8 January 2023. Archived from the original on 9 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
3. ^ "Kontak Tembak dengan KKB di Pegunungan Bintang, Satu Polisi Terluka". wartaplus.com. 7 January 2023. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
4. ^ Batkorumbawa, Omega (7 January 2023). "Ini Identitas 3 Polisi Terluka Saat Kontak Tembak dengan KKB, Dievakuasi ke RSUD Oksibil". buddyku.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
5. ^ a b Firdaus, Fahmi (9 January 2023). "KKB Teroris Nelson Mimin Bakar Sekolah dan Tembaki Pesawat, Jenderal Kopassus Ini Geram". okezone.com. Archived from the original on 9 January 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
6. ^ a b c Haryadi, Rohmat (1 September 2023). "TPNPB Ananias Mengganas, SMKN 1 Oksibil Dibakar, Ancam Makan Para Pendatang". gatra.com. Archived from the original on 9 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
7. ^ Putra, Nanda Perdana (9 January 2023). "Polisi Duga Pelaku Pembakaran SMK Negeri 1 Oksibil Anggota KKB Papua". merdeka.com. Archived from the original on 9 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
8. ^ Alfarizi, Mohamad Khory (11 January 2023). Silaban, Martha Warta (ed.). "Pesawat Kargo Ditembaki KKB, Kemenhub: Bandara Oksibil Papua Belum Kondusif". tempo.co. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
9. ^ Majid, Rofi Ali (9 January 2023). Putra, Edy (ed.). "Situasi Terkini Setelah KKB Papua Tembaki Pesawat dan Bakar Sekolah di Oksibil". kompas.tv. Archived from the original on 9 January 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
10. ^ "Penerbangan Trigana Air ke Bandara Oksibil Papua Dihentikan Sementara". idntimes.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
11. ^ Karina, Dina (13 January 2023). Afrianti, Desy (ed.). "AirNav Putuskan Tarik Seluruh Personel di Bandara Oksibil, Anggotanya Trauma Penyerangan KKB". kompas.tv. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
12. ^ Tangkepayung, Nugie (11 January 2023). "KKB Bakar Kantor Dukcapil Pegunungan Bintang Papua". beritasatu.com. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
13. ^ Haryadi, Rohmat (14 January 2023). "Komplotan Ananias Ati Mimin Rusak Pipa Air Bersih Oksibil, TembaKi Pesawat TNI". gatra.com. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
14. ^ "Ekonomi di Distrik Oksibil Disebut Runtuh Akibat Rentetan Serangan KKB". cnnindonesia.com. 11 January 2023. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
15. ^ Qasim, Jamil, ed. (11 January 2023). "Masyarakat Oksibil Berlindung di Koramil dan Masjid". batampos.co.id. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
16. ^ Tim Detikcom (14 January 2023). "4 Ulah Mengerikan KKB di Awal 2023 Hingga 150 Warga Oksibil Papua Mengungsi". detiksulsel (in Indonesian). Retrieved 13 November 2023.
17. ^ "Two Papuans Shot by Armed Criminal Group". 19 September 2023.

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template