NDUGA - Military operations using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) in Nduga Regency, Highland Papua, have reportedly damaged citizen settlements and civilian agricultural plantations.
The Central Headquarters Management of the National Command of the West Papua National Liberation Army (KOMNAS TPNPB) stated that the series of airstrikes took place in the Yuguru region from May 31 to June 4, 2026.
Reports received from the Commander of TPNPB Defense Regional Command (Kodap) III Ndugama-Derakma Yuguru Battalion, Major Yibet Gwijangge, and the Operations Commander of the Yuguru Battalion, Soa-Soa Karunggu, mentioned that the intensity of airstrikes in the central highlands region has continued to increase in recent months. The use of unmanned aircraft by the Indonesian military is said to focus on mapping and assaulting TPNPB defense areas.
Conflict escalation in the Mount Kemandobo area had actually been recorded since March 15, 2026, which damaged a number of public facilities and agricultural lands. Although there were no casualties in the initial attacks, the situation triggered a subsequent firefight on Mount Lobe Alma on April 28, 2026, which killed the Operations Commander of the Mugi Battalion, Major Ket Gwijangge, as well as two members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI).
The bombardment then continued on the banks of the Yuguru River on April 30, 2026, where civilians were forced to evacuate to the forest to avoid the impact of explosions. Meanwhile, an airstrike on May 18, 2026, hit the TPNPB Yuguru Battalion Headquarters and killed a member named Enggenpi Gwijangge, followed by the deaths of three other TPNPB members in the Kilmid region on the same day.
TPNPB assesses that the use of heavy weapons in this domestic zone is disproportionate and violates the principles of international humanitarian law. TPNPB urges President Prabowo Subianto, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, and TNI Commander Agus Subyanto to immediately stop the use of drones in the conflict area.
"These attacks have not only resulted in casualties among TPNPB forces, but many civilians, buildings, and civilian settlements have also become victims," said Yibet Gwijangge, Saturday (6/6/2026).
TPNPB also affirmed its commitment not to retreat from the conflict area because they feel they are on their own ancestral land. TPNPB even demands the Indonesian military to immediately vacate civilian houses used as command posts in order to restore the function of civilian facilities and guarantee the human rights of citizens in the battle zone.
The armed conflict and ecological impacts in Papua were previously also highlighted in the documentary film "Pesta Babi" made by Dandhy Laksono along with Jubi media and the Merauke Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH). The film portrays the reality of mass displacement as well as the impact of the National Strategic Project (PSN) on indigenous communities in Merauke.
Yibet Gwijangge is said to confirm all material in the documentary as a portrait of the humanitarian crisis occurring in Papua.
TPNPB also urges the United Nations (UN) to intervene to resolve the root of this problem internationally in order to prevent the widening impact of the conflict in the Asia-Pacific region.
Sebby Sambom as the Spokesperson (Jubir) of TPNPB Free Papua Organization (OPM) also requested the Indonesian government to stop criminalization efforts against Dandhy Laksono, the Director of LBH Papua Merauke, Mama Yasinta Moiwend, as well as the film crew. As a democratic country, Indonesia is required to provide legal protection for humanitarian and environmental activists, rather than conducting repressive actions. (One Papua)