WAMENA - The West Papua National Liberation Army Headquarters of Defense Region III Ndugama Derakma (TPNPB Kodap III Ndugama Derakma) announced the closure of land transportation routes on the Trans Wamena Road and declared combat readiness ahead of the 81st Independence Day commemoration of the Republic of Indonesia (RI).
The statement was delivered directly by the Commander of the Albu Battalion of TPNPB Kodap III Ndugama Derakma, Major Ebarowak Gwijangge, from the battlefield in Wamena City.
Ebarowak asserted that TPNPB rejects all forms of independence celebrations of other nations on the Land of Papua.
His side banned all Papuan people, including regional officials and students, from participating in the 81st RI Independence Day ceremony in Wamena City and other regencies.
"Please, agents of the Indonesian colonial government and its intelligence agents hold the ceremony together with Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta, do not in Papua," stated Ebarowak, Sunday, August 9, 2026.
TPNPB also imposed a threat of execution by shooting on the spot for anyone caught violating the prohibition.
In addition to the RI Independence Day commemoration issue, TPNPB issued an instruction for the total closure of several access points on the Trans Wamena Road.
Road users passing through the Trans Wamena route toward Nduga, Tolikara, Lanny Jaya, and Yalimo are urged to roll down car window glass, remove helmets, and reduce vehicle speed for safety.
TPNPB even prohibited civilians from moving about along the Trans Wamena Road until the city center at night because they will directly be considered part of the Indonesian military intelligence apparatus.
This escalation of conflict is motivated by the shooting incident that killed the former Commander of the Albu Battalion, Major Wisilul Gwijangge, by the Indonesian military in Asa Village, Mam District, Nduga Regency, on March 24, 2023. As a form of retaliatory action, TPNPB launched an attack on April 15, 2023, which killed 15 members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and seized nine long-barreled firearms along with thousands of rounds of ammunition.
After undergoing evaluation and an internal meeting in June 2026, Ebarowak was officially appointed as the new Commander of the Albu Battalion to continue the armed resistance.
Ebarowak ensured that all military logistics and the nine seized firearms are now ready to be fully deployed in combat in the center of Wamena City against the Indonesian military.
TPNPB also reminded all people from Sorong to Merauke that the independence day of the Papuan nation that is valid falls on December 1, 1961.
Therefore, TPNPB considers any form of independence celebration of other parties on the land of Papua as an illegal act that violates the law and will be met with firm action in the field. (One Papua)