DEKAI - The West Papua National Liberation Army Defense Regional Command (TPNPB Kodap) XVI Yahukimo Korowai declares responsibility for the action of burning a number of public facilities in the Downtown of Dekai, Yahukimo Regency.
The armed operation launched on 24 to 25 May 2026 targets buildings referred to as strategic assets belonging to the military as well as Indonesian intelligence agents.
The Central Headquarters Management of the National Command of the West Papua National Liberation Army (KOMNAS TPNPB) confirms, a number of kiosks and shop-houses (ruko) in the Terminal 88 area, have been burned down.
Besides that, TPNPB also stresses responsibility in the incident of burning schools as well as the execution of more than ten people identified as Indonesian intelligence agents under the guise of illegal gold miners.
The mass cleansing action against Indonesian assets and intelligence in the Yahukimo region, is driven directly under the order of a centralized command. The operation order was issued by Major Kopitua Heluka, Major Kumis Passe, Major Dejang Heluka, as well as Lampion Heluka as the field leadership in Korowai.
"The whole series of burning schools, kiosks, and cleansing intelligence agents in Yahukimo is our operation, and we are ready to take full responsibility," said Mackar Sobolim, Monday (25/5/2026).
Major Mackar Sobolim together with Lampion Heluka stress, TPNPB will continue to intensify patrols as well as sweeping operations for a full 24 hours throughout the entire Yahukimo region. The main target of this movement is the Indonesian military command headquarters along with the entire intelligence network that still operates in the field.
Considering the security situation which is increasingly critical, TPNPB issues a firm mandate so that all immigrants originating from Indonesia immediately vacate the Yahukimo region.
Independent evacuation towards Jakarta or regions of origin outside the land of Papua is deemed as the best solution because the Indonesian military is no longer able to provide physical protection guarantees in the conflict zone.
Meanwhile, the burning of educational facilities is deemed as a strategic step to break the chain of instilling the spirit of Indonesian nationalism in the Papuan youth generation.
TPNPB views the education system, economic mastery, as well as the wheels of bureaucracy currently as instruments of colonial occupation that must be totally paralyzed before an open war begins.
The action of destroying physical buildings is intentionally done as a form of warning so that immigrant residents immediately leave without having to sacrifice lives. Immigrant citizens are urged to voluntarily return to their respective hometowns to avoid the bad impacts of the armed escalation which is certain to continue increasing.
TPNPB also gives a sharp warning to the Regent of Yahukimo, Didimus Yahuli, who is deemed not sensitive to the suffering of hundreds of thousands of Papuan people in refugee camps.
The regional government is considered to ignore the real humanitarian crisis and instead occupies itself with ceremonial agendas that have no impact on the conflict settlement.
The entire infrastructure development program in the form of highways, bridges, to new settlements in the TPNPB Kodap XVI operation region, is requested to be immediately stopped.
TPNPB threatens to drop a sentence of execution on the spot for every construction worker or Indonesian military member involved in the development project.
The attitude of total rejection towards all forms of this development program is also directed straight to the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto.
TPNPB closes the door to all infrastructure diplomacy before the Indonesian government is willing to settle the root of political problems and the history of conflict that has lasted for more than 60 years.
Sebby Sambom, the Spokesperson for TPNPB West Papua Liberation Organisation (OPM) stresses the struggle to reclaim the independence of the Papuan nation will never recede. The Indonesian government is demanded to immediately recognize the proclamation of West Papua independence which has been declared since 1 December 1961. (One Papua)