DEKAI — Management of the West Papua National Liberation Army National Command (KOMNAS TPNPB) has released an official report regarding alleged acts of violence committed by Indonesian military apparatus against civilians in Yahukimo Regency. Based on information gathered from monitoring teams in the field, the incident of arrest and torture was reported to have occurred in the Kali Biru area, Dekai City, on Sunday, May 10, 2026, precisely in the residential area behind the residence of Tanton Giban.
TPNPB-OPM Spokesperson, Sebby Sambom, revealed that these repressive actions took place amidst increasingly intensive military operations in the region. According to him, the military apparatus not only carried out physical violence but also silenced witnesses by prohibiting residents from taking visual evidence in the form of photos or videos. Threats of arrest also loomed over residents if they dared to disseminate the incident on social media, so the identities of the victims are still difficult to ascertain due to the tight siege at the scene.
The condition in Yahukimo is currently described as being on high alert status with the deployment of heavy weaponry systems. Reports from the field mention the use of tactical vehicles (rantis), drones, to grenade launchers and RPGs in the pursuit operation.
This situation has a direct impact on the survival of the local community who are now trapped in fear and food shortages. Civilians are reported to no longer dare to carry out activities in gardens or hunt in the forest because their productive land has been occupied by military forces in an effort to pursue TPNPB Kodap XVI Yahukimo forces under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Elkius Kobak and Major Kopitua Heluka.
Responding to this escalation of conflict, the TPNPB has issued strong demands to the Indonesian Government, specifically to President Prabowo Subianto, to immediately stop all forms of intimidation and shooting of civilians throughout the Land of Papua. TPNPB urged the Indonesian military to withdraw from residential areas and people's plantations and stop making civilian areas a shield in the ongoing armed conflict.
"We emphasize to President Prabowo Subianto to stop carrying out these arrests and shootings of civilians throughout the Land of Papua and urge the Indonesian military apparatus to stop its activities in civilian areas and residents' plantations and stop carrying out terror and intimidation against civilians who are in their homes," Sebby Sambom stated in his press release.
Furthermore, Sebby challenged the Indonesian military to conduct direct confrontation with TPNPB forces at their headquarters rather than conducting operations in the middle of civilian settlements. He called for the military to no longer establish posts in civilian areas which only cause suffering to the local community.
TPNPB emphasized that vacating civilian areas from military activities is a fixed price to guarantee the security and human rights of indigenous Papuans who are currently threatened by increasing security operations in Yahukimo. ***