INTAN JAYA — The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) has declared responsibility for a firefight in Agisiga District, Intan Jaya Regency, which killed one Indonesian military member and wounded seven other personnel.
The armed incident involving the Rajawali IV Task Force/Infantry Battalion (Yonif) 744/Satya Yudha Bhakti (SYB) of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) occurred on June 27, 2026.
The TPNPB attack killed Private First Class (Praka) Batu Oktara due to a gunshot wound to the right shoulder. The victim was reported deceased in Taosiga Village while the fierce firefight was ongoing.
Meanwhile, three other TNI personnel sustained serious gunshot wounds in a separate clash in Danggoa Village. The wounded victims were identified as Private Second Class (Pratu) Stefanus Milikor Mali, who was shot in the left thigh, Private Second Class (Pratu) Bayu in the chest, and Private First Class (Praka) Burhan in the right thigh. Four other Indonesian military members were also reported wounded in the series of clashes in the area.
All personnel of the Rajawali IV Task Force/Yonif 744/SYB have been evacuated from the scene by the Commander of the Joint Defense Regional Command (Pangkogabwilhan) III. The medical evacuation was carried out using an Elang Air civilian aircraft with registration number PK-AKR toward Timika for the handling of the body and intensive medical treatment for the wounded victims.
"The Central Headquarters Management of KOMNAS TPNPB has received an official report from the West Papua National Liberation Army in Intan Jaya that Major Aibon Kogoya and his troops are responsible for the death of Praka Batu Oktara and seven other wounded individuals," said TPNPB Spokesperson Sebby Sambom, Monday (29/6/2026).
The TPNPB reported that the situation in Agisiga District escalated sharply following the evacuation of the military personnel. The Indonesian military apparatus was said to have launched a retaliatory attack using helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). The aerial operation was accompanied by the dropping of bombs and Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) fire around residential areas.
The Indonesian military operation was said to have increased massively since June 26 to 29, 2026, during the late-night to early-morning hours. Barrages of aerial fire destroyed a number of residents' houses, residential facilities, and church buildings in Agisiga District. Simultaneously, the movement of ground troops was reported to have also burned down the houses of civilians in the conflict area.
The impact of this battle has forced hundreds of civilians to leave their homelands to seek refuge inside the forest. Most residents walked toward safe areas in Sugapa District up to the center of Sugapa Town to avoid casualties from the airstrikes.
Responding to the widening humanitarian crisis, the TPNPB urged the United Nations (UN) to provide a mandate to the UN Security Council and the UN Human Rights Council. International intervention is required to conduct a thorough investigation into allegations of war crimes violations in the armed conflict in the Land of Papua.
The TPNPB also requested the Indonesian government to immediately stop the use and deployment of landmines in civilian residential areas. This prohibition is considered urgent so that the implementation of international humanitarian law can proceed to minimize casualties from the general public. (One Papua)