Manokwari, West Papua. An Indonesian Army soldier was killed in an ambush by separatist rebels affiliated with the Free Papua Movement (OPM) in West Papua’s North Moskona District, Teluk Bintuni Regency, on Saturday, military officials confirmed.

The victim, Private Amin Nurohman, was fatally shot while meeting with local residents when his unit came under attack, said Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Manalu, spokesperson for Regional Military Command XVIII/Kasuari.

“The attackers also seized the victim’s firearm,” Manalu said on Sunday, identifying the group as militants led by Demi Moss, believed to be affiliated with the OPM.

Amin’s body is being evacuated from Teluk Bintuni to his hometown of Kebumen, Central Java, the military said.

“We are committed to pursuing and arresting those responsible for the shooting,” Manalu added.

The incident is the latest in a series of violent attacks in Indonesia’s restive Papua region, where OPM-linked insurgents have intensified assaults on both security personnel and civilians.

In June 2025, two construction workers building a rural church were killed by suspected rebels in Jayawijaya. A month earlier, two police officers were shot dead in an ambush in Puncak Jaya Regency, allegedly carried out by a separatist group led by Ternus Enumbi, another known OPM figure.

Violence in Papua has escalated sharply in recent months. In April, 11 gold miners were massacred in Yahukimo Regency, followed by a separate shooting that left one female teacher dead and six others injured.

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