DEKAI - The Central Headquarters Management of the National Command (Komnas) of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) of the Free Papua Organization (OPM) reported the shooting incident of a civilian in the center of Dekai City, Yahukimo Regency. The victim died after being shot on June 17, 2026, at around 16.00 WIT in an Indonesian military operation involving the Marine Post and the Dekai District Military Command (Kodim).
"The Indonesian military apparatus shot dead a youth in Dekai City in a follow-up operation from the Marine Post and Dekai Kodim," said Sebby Sambom, Thursday (18/6/2026).
TPNPB assesses that the deployment of personnel is not in accordance with regional defense procedures. The dispatch of the Indonesian military from the 521/Dadaha Yodha Infantry Battalion (Yonif) by President Prabowo Subianto, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, and Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Commander Agus Subyanto is said to deviate from the border security mandate.
The Indonesian military unit conducted operations in Kurima District, Yahukimo Regency from June 16, 2026, to June 18, 2026. Indonesian military personnel entered plantations and interrogated civilians regarding the presence of the XVI Yahukimo Defense Regional Command (Kodap) forces. TPNPB stated that the Indonesian military issued threats so that citizens would be careful when entering forests and gardens.
Meanwhile, TPNPB urges President Prabowo Subianto, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, and TNI Commander Agus Subyanto to take full responsibility for the shooting incident of the civilian. The mobilization of hundreds of thousands of Indonesian military personnel to the Papuan armed conflict area is judged not in accordance with the regulations for securing the border area of Papua and Papua New Guinea (PNG).
The geographical distance between Yahukimo Regency and the PNG border reaches more than 200 kilometers without direct land road access. TPNPB emphasizes that the placement of the Indonesian military in the civilian residential area of Yahukimo does not have the proper legal basis for operations.
The Indonesian government is urged to immediately issue a Presidential Decision to evaluate the deployment of Indonesian military forces in Papua. The evaluation step is needed because current field operations trigger civilian casualties, outside the official battle agenda against the 36 TPNPB Defense Regional Commands throughout the Land of Papua.
Sebby also emphasized that the large-scale dispatch of the Indonesian military without transparent regulation worsens the security stability of civilians in the conflict area. TPNPB will continue to monitor the movements of the Indonesian military to protect the right to life of the indigenous Papuan people. (One Papua)