PUNCAK — The security situation in Puncak Regency has heated up again following military operations conducted by Indonesian security forces in the Omukia District area on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Based on reports received by the Central Management of the TPNPB National Headquarters from the PIS TPNPB team on the ground, the operation, which lasted from 10:00 AM until late at night, caused heavy damage and widespread fear among local residents.
​Tensions peaked in Ondugura, the capital of Omukia District, when civilian homes were reported to have been set on fire at 5:30 PM. In addition to the burning of property, the intensity of gunfire occurring in the middle of civilian settlements forced residents from five villages in Omukia District to flee to the forests and surrounding areas. Until now, the whereabouts of the residents from these villages are not known for certain as the sound of gunfire continued to be heard until near midnight.
​The Spokesperson for TPNPB OPM, Sebby Sambom, in his official statement, strongly condemned these actions and stated that residents in Pinapa Village and four other villages are now living in deep trauma. "The Central Management of the KOMNAS TPNPB urges the Indonesian military to immediately stop military operations in civilian residential areas in Puncak Regency and throughout the land of Papua," stressed Sebby Sambom in a press release received on Thursday night.
​Furthermore, the TPNPB emphasized that military operations targeting densely populated areas are a clear form of human rights violations. Sebby stated that the most vulnerable groups, such as women, children, and pregnant women, are the ones most disadvantaged and frequently become casualties in this prolonged conflict. He referred to this series of events as a form of structured crimes against humanity in the context of the war in Papua.
​In its demands, the TPNPB accused the administration of President Prabowo Subianto of being the party most responsible for the loss of life and injuries during the operation period from April 12 to 23, 2026, in Puncak Regency. "We emphasize to President Prabowo Subianto and his staff to be responsible for all victims of shootings who were killed or injured during the Indonesian military operations," said Sebby Sambom.
​He also added that the impact of military operations that have lasted for 64 years in the Land of Papua has resulted in tens of thousands of civilians becoming victims and hundreds of thousands of others having to flee from their homelands. The condition in Omukia District currently serves as a reflection of the humanitarian crisis that still haunts the Papua highlands, where the sound of weapons is heard more often than guarantees of safety for civilians. ***