OPM makes Thousands of Papua Kids Absent from School

The insurgents have often blackmailed drivers passing on Tingginambut.

Gunshots and killings that have been taken place in Tingginambut, Puncak Jaya, Papua, within the last two years have caused thousands of children to be absent from school. The reason for this is that the alleged armed separatists from the Free Papua Movement (OPM) have burnt many schools.

“Thousands of children have no longer gone to school due to school burning set by the OPM,” said Head of Tingginambut District, Eranus Kogoya, in Puncak Jaya on Monday, June 28.

According to him, the said group intimidated people to avoid schooling after they set fire on school buildings. If the warning is denied, the group will kill the locals and loot the available livestock. “People can’t do nothing about it,” he said.

The insurgents have often blackmailed drivers passing on Tingginambut. “They at times destroyed the bridge. They would only fix it after they receive Rp 30 million from those who are willing to pass by,” he said.

The base of the OPM which is helmed by Goliat Tabuni is situated in Tinggineri Village, Tingginambut District. The separatist group consists of around 300 armed men.

The population in Tingginambut District today reaches 26 thousand people which consists of 13.5 thousand women and 12.5 thousand men.

Source: VIVANews