PAPUA - The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) issued an official clarification regarding allegations of an incident involving the hostage-taking of nine women as well as a shooting in Jila District that coincided with the celebration of Indonesia's independence day on 17 August 2026.

​"We are issuing a clarification and a call to TPNPB troops across the entire land of Papua regarding the case in Jila," said the Spokesperson for the National Command of the West Papua National Liberation Army, Sebby Sambom, Tuesday (8/9/2026).

​TPNPB, Sebby said, had previously received a report from a party claiming to be the Defense Regional Command (Kodap) 10, which stated that there was no action of taking nine women hostage in Jila by the TPNPB. Kodap 10 mentioned that the women were actually part of the struggle because they joined together with the TPNPB.

​Further, Kodap 10 emphasized that those young women were actually taken hostage by the Indonesian military. The Kodap side even mentioned that a mother fell into a ravine after being shot by members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI).

​Regarding this matter, Sebby emphasized that within the structure of the National Command under the leadership of Commander General Goliath Tabuni, there is no unit registered as Kodap 10 in the Jila area.

​Furthermore, Sebby said that TPNPB, which officially oversees 36 Kodaps, has asked the party claiming to be Kodap 10 to provide an open clarification regarding the origin of their command within the TPNPB forces.

​Next, another report came from Kodap 3 Ndugama Derakma under the leadership of Commander Egianus Kogoya, who rejected and took no responsibility for the attack and abduction.

​TPNPB asked the people of the Amungme and Damal tribes in the Kodap 3 Ndugama Derakma area to study the situation and not throw wild accusations.

​At the same time, Sebby also called on the troops under the leadership of the late Kelik Kwalik in the Kali Kopi area to humble themselves and officially register with the National Command.

​Kali Kopi troops wishing to continue the struggle are advised to apply for registration as Kodap 37, as the Kodap 3 designation is already used by the Ndugama Derakma area.

​The step to merge all armed elements into one national command is considered essential so that the accountability of the struggle complies with the law of revolution.

​TPNPB even urged all armed forces in the Jila, Alama, to Arwanop areas to immediately merge into the official structure of the TPNPB National Command. (One Papua)