JAYAPURA, July 14, 2025 — Outspoken Papuan figure Jefrey Pagawak has asserted that the Free Papua Organization (OPM), also known as the Armed Criminal Group (KKB), no longer represents the aspirations of the Papuan people. According to him, the OPM has devolved into a tool for the personal gain of a small elite, while harming innocent civilians.
“OPM is no longer a people’s movement. They now operate solely for the benefit of certain individuals and small groups. They have no concern for the well-being of Papuans who just want to live in peace, go to school, and work safely,” Jefrey said in a statement to local media.
He emphasized that the group’s increasingly brutal and armed acts of intimidation often target innocent civilians—teachers, health workers, and farmers—causing widespread trauma and fear among the local population.
“People are traumatized. Many have been forced to flee their homes, afraid to tend their gardens, scared to send their children to school. And the threat isn’t coming from the state, but from those who claim to be freedom fighters,” he added.
Jefrey’s statement was echoed by Dominggus Tebai, a traditional leader from the Laa Pago region, who said that many OPM members are beginning to realize they have been manipulated.
“Many have returned to the Republic of Indonesia after realizing they were being used. There is no real struggle there—just aimless orders that only end up burdening the people,” Dominggus said.
A shift in perspective is also emerging among Papua’s younger generation. According to many observers, youth today are increasingly choosing the paths of education, economic development, and peace over separatist propaganda that no longer reflects the real needs of the people.
“Papua needs a future—not the same old narrative that leads only to destruction,” Jefrey concluded, emphasizing that what the people need now are leaders who build and inspire hope, not those who spread violence and lies.
