The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) has condemned constructing a military post in Yuguru village, Mebarok District, Nduga Regency, Highland Papua. They became aware of post construction after receiving information about a meeting between the Mebarok District Head, senior TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces) officials, and the Indonesian military team at Taipur Yuguru on 9-11 February 2025.
TPNPB-OPM spokesperson Sebby Sambom stated that the Mebarok District Head drafted three letters during the meeting. The Mebarok District Head, the church, the village chief, and the tribal chief have signed these letters.
“The proposal formed by these three letters was handed over to the regional military commander and the Indonesian military at the Yuguru airfield,” said Sebby Sambom in a written statement on Wednesday, 5 March 2025.
After signing the letters, Sebby stated that the Mebarok District Head and his entourage disappeared. According to Sebby, the incident was similar to when Nduga Regent Acting Deputy Edison Gwijangge released Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens in September 2024.
Sebby requested that the Mebarok District Head refrain from exploiting the situation for personal gain under the guise of serving the Nduga community. He stated that TPNPB-OPM Kodap III Ndugama Battalion Yuguru did not trust the district head, village chief, or tribal chief.
In response to the planned military post construction, TPNPB-OPM Kodap III Ndugama Battalion Yuguru has requested the return of the Mebarok District Head and Edison Gwijangge. Sebby suspected that post construction in the Yuguru region was a directive from Edison Gwijangge.
He asked for the abandonment of the military post construction and for the military to leave their region. Sebby stated that the military presence was very disturbing and disruptive to the community, and it also caused trauma to the residents of Yuguru. “The Yuguru region is not a war zone, but a place for Nduga refugees.”