PAPUA – The Central Headquarters Management of the National Command of the West Papua National Liberation Army (KOMNAS TPNPB) has officially issued a stern warning to the management of Metro TV, including presenter Marselina Tumundo, President Director Arief Suditomo, and founder Surya Paloh. This warning was triggered by a news broadcast on April 19, 2026, which TPNPB deemed inaccurate and lacking independence regarding the shooting of a dozen civilians in Puncak Regency.
TPNPB strongly denies accusations naming the organization as the perpetrator of shootings against children, pregnant women, and the elderly during incidents that occurred throughout April 12-15, 2026. TPNPB emphasized that the broadcast by the television station was false information that cornered West Papuan fighters as the cause of the mass displacement of residents.
The Spokesperson for TPNPB-OPM, Sebby Sambom, explained that based on an investigation by the Puncak Regency Human Rights Investigation Team and Puncak Students throughout Indonesia, no indications of TPNPB attacks were found in the Kembru area before the shooting of residents occurred. Sebby Sambom mentioned that the report actually showed a different reality on the ground.
"We report to all parties that during the Indonesian military operations in Puncak Regency from April 12 to 15 and April 19 to 23, 2026, there was absolutely no activity by TPNPB troops in armed contact. These operations were carried out unilaterally by the Indonesian military using six military helicopter units, where they conducted brutal shootings and aerial bomb attacks," said Sebby Sambom in an official statement, Sunday, April 26, 2026.
Furthermore, TPNPB revealed that ground attacks were also launched by the authorities using high explosives or Cartridge Cal 40 mm HE. As a result, many civilian houses suffered severe damage or were burned after being hit by bullets and hand grenades. TPNPB alleged that these brutal actions forced approximately 14,003 Puncak residents to flee for safety.
Based on this situation, TPNPB urged the Indonesian Government under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto to open wide access for international media and foreign journalists to conduct transparent investigations in Kembru, Omukia, and Pogoma Districts. This step is considered vital to ensure the facts of what occurred at the military operation sites involving civilians and refugee camps.
Sebby Sambom emphasized that TPNPB demands full accountability from the state for the casualties among civilians. TPNPB also requested the United Nations (UN) to immediately intervene and conduct a thorough investigation into the use of foreign military logistics in operations in Papua.
"The UN must investigate the use of foreign military logistics that killed tens of thousands of civilians and resulted in hundreds of thousands of people being displaced without adequate humanitarian assistance from the Indonesian government or national and international human rights institutions," Sebby Sambom concluded, ending his statement. ***