YAHUKIMO – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) has stated responsibility for the shooting of a pilot from the United States, Nicholas F. Goselin, and the burning of an aircraft belonging to Associate Mission Aviation (AMA) in Yahukimo Regency, Highland Papua.
TPNPB emphasized this action is a form of political pressure on the United Nations (UN), the United States, and the Netherlands. TPNPB demands a review of the history of Papua's political integration which is considered to have ignored the rights of indigenous people.
The General Operations Commander of TPNPB, Lekagak Telenggen stated, the shooting against Nicholas F. Goselin on July 2, 2026 is a strong warning so that the international community immediately resolves the root of the political conflict in Papua, Saturday (4/7/2026). Lekagak Telenggen emphasized that TPNPB in 36 Defense Regional Commands (Kodap) will not stop armed actions if the demand is ignored. The conflict between the Indonesian military and TPNPB which has lasted for more than six decades is assessed to require serious international law intervention.
TPNPB assesses the root of the conflict stems from the 1962 New York Agreement and the 1962 Rome Agreement which did not involve the genuine representation of the Papuan people. Rejection is also directed at the legality of the mining operations of PT Freeport McMoRan in Tembagapura which have been running since 1967, before the implementation of the 1969 Act of Free Choice (Pepera). TPNPB claims the Pepera process proceeded under military pressure, where out of the 815,904 Papuan population at that time, only 1,024 people were chosen to cast votes.
Meanwhile, TPNPB issued an appeal to non-Papuan citizens, infrastructure workers, and motorcycle taxi drivers in the conflict area to increase vigilance to avoid subsequent casualties. Civil airlines are also urged to stop the mobilization of logistics and Indonesian military personnel to the interior regions of Papua. TPNPB emphasized that the primary target of this escalation is to urge the Indonesian government to recognize the independence of Papua which was proclaimed on December 1, 1961.
Responding to domestic policy, TPNPB openly rejects the entire economic development agenda launched by the administration of President Prabowo Subianto. TPNPB stated readiness to take decisive action against personnel of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) and the Indonesian National Armed Forces Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS TNI) operating in the combat zone. Lekagak Telenggen stated readiness to be fully responsible for the entire series of armed operations, including the seizure of weapons and firefights with members of the TNI in various regions.
The Spokesperson of the National Command (Komnas) TPNPB-OPM, Sebby Sambom also added that all regional operational commands have been instructed to tighten surveillance in their respective areas until there is a response from the UN. (One Papua)