Jakarta. Separatist group Free Papua Movement, commonly known as OPM, killed eight civilians working as gold prospectors in the Korowai area of Yahukimo Regency, the Indonesian Military (TNI) said on Thursday.

Military spokesperson Wirya Arthadiguna said the victims were accused by the separatist group of acting as informants for Indonesian security forces.

However, the military insisted the victims were civilians engaged in gold mining activities in the remote area.

“The victims were not security personnel as alleged by the OPM, but civilians carrying out gold prospecting activities,” Wirya said.

He said the attack took place on Tuesday and was allegedly carried out by the Yahukimo faction of the OPM’s armed wing led by Kopitua Heluka and Dejang Heluka.

After the attack, the group reportedly fled to another area, he said.

The military has deployed additional troops and helicopter support to pursue the perpetrators, Wirya added.

Authorities are also focusing on evacuating the victims’ bodies from the attack site.

“The TNI strongly condemns the killing of civilians carried out by the OPM group. We will continue pursuing the perpetrators and strengthen security in the Yahukimo area,” Wirya said.

He added that patrols and security monitoring would be intensified to protect local communities.

According to a report by Kompas, Kopitua released a five-minute video claiming responsibility for the killings.

In the video, he alleged that the eight men were intelligence operatives disguised as illegal gold miners to monitor OPM movements in Yahukimo.

“OPM forces successfully shot dead eight members of the military and police who were disguised as illegal gold miners in Korowai,” Kopitua said in the video.

He said the attack was carried out in retaliation for the deaths of two OPM members who were killed by Indonesian security forces last week.

“We take responsibility for this shooting,” Kopitua said.

The Papua conflict has persisted for decades, with separatist groups demanding independence for the resource-rich easternmost region of Indonesia. Violence involving rebels and Indonesian security forces has periodically intensified, particularly in remote mountainous districts.