Members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN PB) have claimed responsibility for killing two teachers in the Beoga District of Puncak Regency, Papua Province. One week later, the TPN PB again killed a senior high school student in the Illaga District. According to local media sources, the TPN PB alleged the three victims of acting as undercover agents for the military. The police denied that the teachers were working for the police or the army. On 8 April 2021, teacher Oktovianus Rayo was shot in Julogoma Village dead with two bullets in his back (see photo, source: independent HRD). On the following day, TPN PB members shot dead a second teacher named Yonathan Renden as he was on his way to the Ogolan Village. Their bodies were flown to Timika and later delivered to their home towns outside of West Papua. The killing of a pupil named Ali Mom occurred on 15 April 2021.
Shortly after the incident, all teachers in Beoga were evacuated and brought to a temporary shelter. Authorities feared further TPN PB attacks against them. Observers are concerned that the incident will affect the education situation in other central highlands’ regencies, where the education system is already in devastating condition. In many areas across the central highlands, school facilities are dysfunctional due to a lack of teachers and adequate school facilities. The education system in the regencies Nduga and Intan Jaya has entirely collapsed after ongoing clashes. Military raids between the TPN PB and Indonesian security forces have caused the displacement of thousands of residents, teachers and health workers.
