TEMBAGAPURA – The Central Headquarters Management of the National Command of the West Papua National Liberation Army (KOMNAS TPNPB) has officially denied the accusations made by Indonesian security forces regarding the shooting incident in the mining area of PT Freeport McMoRan. The TPNPB emphasized that the shooting which killed civilians and minors in the Kali Kabur area, Tembagapura District, on May 7-8, 2026, was a planned operation carried out by the Indonesian military.
The spokesperson for the TPNPB, Sebby Sambom, stated in his official release that the accusations directed at his troops are a manipulation of facts. He revealed that based on intelligence reports, the attack was a direct instruction from military high-ranking officials in the region to clear the people's panning area.
"We officially respond to the statements of Captain Koops TNI Habema, Pangkogabwilhan III Lieutenant General TNI Lucky Avianto, and the Indonesian National Police that all accusations directed at TPNPB forces for the murder of civilians are untrue, because the real perpetrators are the Indonesian military apparatus themselves," said Sebby Sambom in a press release received on Sunday, May 10, 2026.
According to the chronology gathered by the TPNPB, this event began with provocative shots fired by the apparatus at the Wini Kalikuluk Post on the night of May 7. This triggered the movement of police forces from Camp David to conduct a sweep throughout the Kali Kabur area. Sebby explained that a siege occurred which resulted in civilians, who were panning for gold from tailing waste, becoming targets of gunfire, leading to mass displacement.
Furthermore, the TPNPB alleges that the motive behind this deadly attack is economic interest to secure the waste management project of PT Freeport McMoRan. "The scenario of the TNI and Polri apparatus was carried out to vacate the area of civilians so that the government could bring in companies to manage waste into construction materials for the interests of the government and collaborating foreign companies," Sebby Sambom asserted.
Following this incident, the TPNPB management issued a stern warning to TNI Commander Agus Subyanto and National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo to immediately stop military operations in Land of Papua. TPNPB also called for all non-Papuan working as intelligence agents in various sectors to immediately leave the armed conflict zone.
Sebby Sambom closed his statement by reaffirming the TPNPB's political stance in rejecting all forms of colonial government-version development. "Our struggle is to reclaim the independence of the Papuan nation, not to ask for development, so if foreign involvement continues to be carried out to seize the rights of indigenous people, then we are ready to take firm action as a final warning," he concluded. ***