YAHUKIMO — The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) Defense Regional Command (Kodap) XVI Yahukimo from the Bakusip Company stated responsibility for the shooting of a pilot from the United States, Nichloas F Goselin, as well as the burning of one aircraft unit belonging to PT Associated Mission Aviation (AMA).
The incident occurred in Balinggama Village, Sobaham District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua, Thursday (2/7/2026) morning.
The action was carried out because the civil aviation airline was considered to violate the TPNPB ultimatum which prohibits flight activities in 36 Defense Regional Commands across the entire Land of Papua. TPNPB mentioned civil aircraft are often used to mobilize troops and logistics of the Indonesian military to the interior region, which triggers military operations and the falling of victims among Indigenous Papuans (OAP).
"The shooting of the United States nationality pilot in Yahukimo was under my order, because we have issued an ultimatum that all civil aircraft are prohibited from entering the operation area of TPNPB Kodap XVI Yahukimo," stated Commander of TPNPB Kodap XVI Yahukimo, Brigadier General Elkius Kobak, Thursday (2/7/2026).
Meanwhile, TPNPB conveyed to the Government of the United States through its embassy in Indonesia as well as the United Nations (UN) that this incident is an impact of the failure to resolve the armed conflict which has lasted for 64 years. The prolonged conflict between the Indonesian military and TPNPB is said to have killed tens of thousands of civilians.
Based on data from the Central Headquarters Management of the National Command (KOMNAS) TPNPB, this situation also forced as many as 122,931 OAP residents to displace to various regions without access to humanitarian assistance from the International Red Cross.
Responding to the crisis, TPNPB urged the UN to immediately facilitate international negotiations between the Government of Indonesia, TPNPB, and representatives of the Papuan society to resolve the root of the conflict.
TPNPB even warned they will continue to shoot civil aircraft proven to assist the dropping of Indonesian military logistics across the entire Land of Papua. This warning is aimed at all pilots and commercial civil aviation airlines to immediately stop flight activities to the conflict area before a comprehensive political solution is reached.
The chronology of the event began when TPNPB troops conducted a patrol passing through Balinggama Village toward their headquarters and caught one aircraft unit landing in the area. TPNPB accused the Government of Indonesia of intentionally allowing civil aviation to enter the red zone without giving prior danger warnings to the pilots.
Following the incident in Balinggama Village, all TPNPB troops were reported to continue their tactical journey toward the center of Dekai Town, Yahukimo Regency. TPNPB requested TNI-Polri apparatus not to conduct military operations or sweeps targeting civilians, and challenged the apparatus to directly go to their headquarters on Gunung Road, Dekai Town, which is now used as the operation area.
Spokesperson of TPNPB West Papua Liberation Organisation (OPM), Sebby Sambom also emphasized the demand so that President Prabowo Subianto immediately opens an international multilateral dialogue space. Resolution of the root problem is assessed to be the only way to stop the violence and prevent further loss of civilian lives in the future. (One Papua)