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Kiwirok bombings

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Kiwirok bombings
Part of The Papua conflict
Date10–24 October 2021 (2 weeks)
Location
Oksibil, Bintang Mountains, Highland Papua
Combatants
 Indonesia Free Papua Movement West Papua National Liberation Army
Casualties and losses
50 – 297 dead, up to 2,000 displaced

The Kiwirok bombings were a series of aerial bombardments carried out by the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) against civilians in the Kiwirok district of the Bintang Mountains Regency of West Papua in October 2021.

Background

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After gaining independence from the Netherlands, Indonesia claimed all Dutch colonial territories of the Malay Archipelago, including West Papua (formerly Dutch New Guinea). Following a controversial referendum known as the Act of Free Choice, the Papua conflict began as separatists from the Free Papua Movement (OPM) and West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) have conducted a low-intensity guerrilla war against the Indonesian forces, while Indonesia has been accused of conducting a genocidal campaign against the local indigenous tribes.[1]

On 8 September 2021, members of the TPNPB burnt machinery used for the construction of the Trans-Papua Highway.[2] 5 days later, riots broke out in Kiwirok when members of the TPNPB attacked public buildings, including a school and a medical centre,[3] injuring nine people, one of whom later died.[4] This incident was quite unusual for Kiwirok as TPNPB attacks have usually focused on other areas such as Oksibil. As a result, Indonesia has strengthened their military presence in Kiwirok, further intensifying the conflict. This included carrying out several raids during the months of September and October, in which Indonesian security forces took villagers' belongings, and in extreme cases, killed their livestock and even removed roofing from their homes.[2]

Bombing

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On 10 October 2021, 14 bombs were dropped onto two buildings, including the TPNPB's local headquarters.[5] According to Papuan People's Assembly [id] chairman Timotius Murib, this was then followed by a series of bombings between 14 and 21 October, in which 42 bombs were dropped in residential areas within 4 villages. Eyewitness testimony obtained by the BBC corroborates this account,[4] while later reporting has identified 9 villages which were bombed in the campaign: Depsus, Kotopib, Fomdin, Pemas, Lolim, Delepkrin, Kiwi, Kiwi station, and Babinbahkon.[6]

According to information obtained by Tempo, and confirmed by Indonesian forces, Serbian-made Krušik mortars were used in the bombings.[7] Witness testimony states that 4 helicopters, as well as one drone were used to carry out the bombings.[2] According to Conflict Armament Research, Indonesia's State Intelligence Agency (BIN) had purchased roughly 2500 mortars in February 2021. The purchased mortars had been modified in Indonesia. Questions have also been raised by whether or not the bombs were dropped from BIN or TNI aircraft, the latter of which would constitute a violation of the ammunition purchase agreement according to Serbia.[8][9] Later reporting also stated that Thales FZ-68 rockets were also used during the bombardments,[6] while the drone was likely identified as a Ziyan Blowfish A3 based on drawings from witnesses.[10]

Aftermath

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Estimates regarding the casualties following the bombings vary wildly. According to Indonesian media, 500 people were reportedly forced to flee their homes as a result of the conflict as a whole,[11] while the BBC has stated that the number "could be in the hundreds or thousands".[4] Later reporting based on eyewitness reports puts this number as high as 2000 from the bombings alone, and states that 15 people died as a direct outcome of the bombings, while 284 died as a result of starvation after having to flee their homes.[6] Numbers obtained by church workers were lower, putting the total death toll to approximately 50 people. Several villages also became inhospitable as a result, with Human Rights Monitor identifying 206 buildings which were destroyed, 127 were residential buildings destroyed by the Indonesian Security Forces, while the rest were public buildings destroyed by either the Indonesian forces or TPNPB.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Brundige, Elizabeth; King, Winter; Vahali, Priyneha; Vladeck, Stephen; Yuan, Xiang (April 2004). "Indonesian Human Rights Abuses in West Papua: Application of the Law of Genocide to the History of Indonesian Control" (PDF). Allard K. Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic, Yale Law School. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d "Destroy them first... discuss human rights later: An investigation of Indonesian Security Forces' operations in Papua's Kiwirok under international law" (PDF). Human Rights Monitor. August 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Residents Evacuate Restive Kiwirok Town in Papua". Jakarta Globe. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Utama, Abraham (30 November 2021). "Konflik bersenjata Papua: Kisah bocah yang jadi korban tembak, bom mortir, dan pihak ketiga". BBC. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  5. ^ Riana, Friski (24 October 2021). "Aparat Keamanan dan KKB Diminta Menahan Diri dalam Kasus Serangan Bom di Kiwirok". Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Jamieson, Matthew (4 August 2023). "Report on the continuing aggravated attack serious human rights violations of Ngalum Kupel people". PNG Integral Human Development Trust. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Serbian Mortars in Kiwirok". Tempo. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  8. ^ "Insight: Mystery surrounds how munitions imported for Indonesia's civilian spies were used in attacks on villages". Reuters. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  9. ^ "How Accountable is Indonesia's National Intelligence Agency?". Australian Institute of International Affairs. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  10. ^ Shanks-Markovina, Jordan (4 August 2023). "Paradise Bombed". friendlyjordies. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Displaced people return to Kiwirok and treated by health workers". Jubi. 5 December 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
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