West Papua separatists burned down the Okbab State Elementary School building in Borban Village, Okbap District, Bintang Mountains Regency, Papua Mountains Province, West Papua, on Friday 12 July 2024.

Head of Cartenz Peace Operations Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhani said that the SDN Okbab building was allegedly burned down by members of the West Papua Separatists in the name of Memokon, Jender Siktaop alias Usoki, Aquino Kaladana, Yuni Mimin, and Enos Kakyarmabin.

According to Faizal, the school burning represents an extraordinary crime that must be dealt with firmly. He emphasized that security forces would continue to make maximum efforts to arrest and punish the perpetrators.

The Cartenz Peace Task Force succeeded in identifying the perpetrators of the burning of the Okbab State Elementary School building. Currently, the Cartenz Peace Task Force is hunting for the perpetrators. The Okbab State Elementary School building was deliberately set on fire by the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) consisting of Memokon, Jender Siktaop alias Usoki, Aquino Kaladana, Yuni Mimin, and Enos Kakyarmabin.

“The five people are part of the West Papua Separatists Kodap XXXV Bintang Timur in the Bintang Mountains Regency. “We are currently hunting,” said Damai Cartenz Public Relations, Bayu Suseno. The Cartenz Peace Task Force succeeded in identifying the perpetrators who set fire to the school building. “We identified them. After setting the fire, the perpetrators ran away and hid,” he said.

Based on data collected by the Cartenz Peace Task Force, during the period 2023 to 2024, West Papua Separatists have burned down many school buildings in several districts in West Papua.

The following is a list of schools burned by West Papua Separatists in 2023:

1. Gome 1 Middle School, Gome District, Kab. Peak on Friday, November 10 2023

2. DEKAI State Elementary School (arson attempt) Dekai District, Kab. Yahukimo On March 14 2023

3. Inpres Gome Elementary School, Gome District, Kab. Peak on Tuesday, March 28 2023

4. Oksibil 1 State High School in Oksibil, Kab. Governor’s Office on Monday, January 9 2023

5. YPK Metanoia Inpres Elementary School in Dekai, Yahukimo, Papua Mountains on Thursday, March 16 2023

6. Oksibil State High School 1 Serembakon District, Pegubin District on Monday, September 18 2023

7. Ilaga 1 State High School in Ilaga District. Peak on Thursday, August 17 2023

List of schools burned by West Papua Separatists in 2024

1. Inpres Pogapa Elementary School, Homeyo District, Intan Jaya, Central Papua on Wednesday, May 1 2024

2. Kepas Kopo Preschool, Elementary School and Junior High School of the Evangelical Churches Education and School Foundation (YPPGI) in Madi Village, East Paniai District on Wednesday, May 22 2024

3. Okbab State Elementary School, Borban Village, Okbap District, Kab. Bintang Mountains on Friday, July 12 2024