Kelly Kwalik (? - December 16, 2009) was a senior separatist leader and military commander with the Free Papua Movement (OPM), a separatist organization based in Indonesia's West Papua region.[1]
Kwalik, a known separatist, had been on Indonesia's most wanted list for years.[2] Indonesian police had accused Kwalik of being responsible for a series of shooting incidents and attacks targeting the United States mining company, Freeport-McMoRan, which operates large copper and gold mines on West Papua.[2] In 2009 meeting with police, Kwalik repeatedly denied responsibility for the attacks.[1]
On December 16, 2009, Kwalik was shot in a police raid on one of his hideouts in the Gorong-Gorong neighborhood of Timika.[1] Police claimed that Kwalik was armed when he was shot while trying to flee.[1] Kwalik died at a hospital in Timika.[1]
Kwalik's funeral was held at local Papua government's Regional Representative Council building in Timika.[3] Kwalik's family and supporters had requested that they be permitted to fly the Morning Star flag at the funeral. However, the request was denied by Indonesian and local Papuan police, as the flag, which symbolizes the Free Papua Movement, is banned in West Papua.[3]
Kwalik's Catholic funeral Mass was officiated by Bishop John Philip Saklil of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Timika.[3] He was buried in Timika.[3]
In January 2010, the Free Papua Movement (OPM) appointed Jeck Kemong as the new Supreme Commander of its military wing, the West Papuan National Liberation Army (TNP) and regional commander of Nemang Kawi following Kwalik's death.[4]