PAPUA - The National Command of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) issued a stern warning and shooting threat against the Minister of Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia, Natalius Pigai, demanding that he immediately stop all visit plans and conflict resolution activities in the land of Papua.
Spokesperson for the TPNPB National Command, Sebby Sambom, emphasized that Natalius Pigai's current status is no longer a representative of an independent human rights enforcement institution, but a flatterer of the government in Jakarta.
"Natalius Pigai is no longer part of Indonesia's National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) or staff at the UN Human Rights Commission, but Natalius Pigai's status now is a puppet of Jakarta, a cleaner for President Prabowo Subianto," said Sebby Sambom, Wednesday (8/19/2026).
TPNPB asked Natalius Pigai together with his staff not to try to conduct investigations into alleged human rights violations or the handling of refugees in the Papua conflict area. TPNPB considers the civilian displacement crisis a direct impact of the prolonged armed conflict that has lasted for 64 years.
"We are not asking you to go into the field to investigate human rights violations or to handle internally displaced persons, because internal refugees are the result of armed conflict for 64 years," said Sebby Sambom.
Meanwhile, TPNPB emphasized that the official mechanism for handling residents affected by armed conflict must follow international standards under the authority of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) based in Geneva, Switzerland. TPNPB warned it would take firm action against any entity with political nuances attempting to enter using the humanitarian container.
TPNPB even urged the Indonesian government under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto to be open by providing the widest possible access for the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteurs and the UN Human Rights Commission to conduct independent investigations directly in the land of Papua.
To anticipate the arrival of the Minister of Human Rights, TPNPB gave open instructions to all soldiers in 36 Defense Regional Commands (Kodap) under the Central Headquarters Management to carry out shootings if they encounter the presence of Natalius Pigai in the field.
"Note to indigenous Papuans and especially TPNPB in 36 Defense Commands, if you get an opportunity to shoot this traitor, shoot," stated Sebby Sambom.
Sebby Sambom also criticized Natalius Pigai's statement who once mentioned that he had known human rights since the age of five. TPNPB considers the statement a form of arrogance without proper knowledge, so all communities in every regency as well as activists are asked to reject his presence.
TPNPB doubts the Indonesian Human Rights Minister's intention to visit Papua because it believes his arrival only aims to restore the image of the Indonesian government in the eyes of the international community. TPNPB touched upon the sovereignty of Melanesian nations in the Pacific such as the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Fiji, which are led by their own native people without external power intervention.
Sebby Sambom also denied the perception of the land of Papua as a poor region. TPNPB emphasized that Papua is rich in natural resources and abundant food materials, unlike the hunger crisis in Somalia recorded in world history.
In addition, Sebby also recalled the time when he pursued higher education at the Village Community Development High School (STPMD) APMD Yogyakarta alongside Natalius Pigai and several other senior Papuan figures. TPNPB recalled the history of student activism in Yogyakarta that consistently rejected various regional autonomy agendas presented by the Indonesian military and the central government.
TPNPB also emphasized its commitment to continue monitoring the humanitarian situation in Papua through working networks and international diplomacy communications connected worldwide. TPNPB demanded that Natalius Pigai halt all of his ministry's work programs in the land of Papua. (One Papua)