PAPUA — The Management Controller of the National Command Headquarters of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) issued a stern warning and prohibited internal refugee recount activities in the Papua region on August 21, 2026.

​The TPNPB considers the actions of Indonesian Minister of Human Rights, Natalius Pigai, as ignoring the human rights of Indigenous Papuans (OAP) and attempting to cover up alleged crimes against humanity carried out by the Indonesian military and police for 64 years in Papua.

​The TPNPB strongly rejects the central government's policy narrative, which is deemed to restrict the political aspirations of the Papuan people.

​Sebby Sambom, Spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army on Friday (21/8/2026), stated that Natalius Pigai's statement—saying Indigenous Papuans are allowed to demonstrate for welfare and justice but are forbidden from demanding Papuan independence—is a systematic effort to eliminate the Papuan Nation's political right to independence and sovereignty.

​The TPNPB condemned the action and likened him to President Prabowo Subianto, who was described as a war criminal over events in Timor-Leste, Aceh, and Papua.

​Based on evidence from Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai's statement in Nabire on August 17, 2026, the TPNPB instructed all forces to block access for the Ministry of Human Rights team. The TPNPB asked forces across 36 Defense Commands to shoot Natalius Pigai and his team if they force their way into refugee locations within armed conflict zones.

​The TPNPB emphasized that the right to self-determination for the Papuan nation is guaranteed under international law through the United Nations (UN) Universal Declaration on Civil and Political Rights.

​The TPNPB also cited international provisions to strengthen their rejection of Indonesian government intervention.

​In the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights adopted by the UN General Assembly through Resolution 2200A (XXI) on December 16, 1966, Part I Article 1 asserts that all peoples have the right to self-determination.

​By virtue of that right, a people freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development. A similar point is affirmed in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on September 13, 2007, Article 3, which states that indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination.

​On the grounds of this international law, the TPNPB urged the UN to blacklist Natalius Pigai from world organizations for allegedly negating the right to self-determination for the Papuan Nation. The TPNPB has even placed the Human Rights Minister on a Most Wanted List (DPO) to be hunted down. (One Papua)