PAPUA — The Central Headquarters Management of the National Command of the West Papua National Liberation Army (KOMNAS TPNPB) has issued an official statement regarding the escalation of armed conflict in the Puncak Regency, Papua. In their second press release issued on Saturday, April 18, 2026, the TPNPB strongly condemned the denials made by Captain of the TNI Habema Operations Command, Lt. Col. Inf. Wirya Arthadiguna, regarding civilian casualties in recent military operations.
TPNPB-OPM Spokesperson, Sebby Sambom, stated that the Indonesian military's claim labeling the reports of civilian deaths as "hoaxes" is a deliberate attempt to evade responsibility for crimes against humanity. According to reports gathered by the TPNPB from eyewitnesses and victims on the ground, aerial bombardment carried out by six military helicopters and drones, combined with ground operations in the Kembru District, resulted in the deaths of 12 civilians, including children, while many others sustained injuries.
The attacks, which took place from April 13 to April 15, 2026, targeted areas identified as civilian displacement camps. Witnesses at the scene revealed that in addition to the airstrikes, Indonesian security forces allegedly threw grenades into civilian homes during the ground assault. The TPNPB emphasized that these actions constitute a gross violation of human rights carried out under the command of President Prabowo Subianto, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, and National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo.
In response to this situation, the Central Headquarters Management of KOMNAS TPNPB urged Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro, the Indonesian representative serving as President of the UN Human Rights Council, to immediately dispatch a special envoy to Papua. An independent investigation is deemed urgent, not only for the incidents in Puncak Regency but also for the ongoing violence in Intan Jaya, Yahukimo, Dogiyai, Paniai, Wamena, and the Bintang Mountains. The TPNPB also highlighted the internal displacement crisis in Papua, which is currently estimated to exceed 107,039 people due to prolonged armed conflict.
Beyond international demands, the TPNPB called upon all Papuans to unite against policies viewed as colonial practices and the exploitation of natural resources. As a form of resistance, the TPNPB Headquarters instructed forces in all 36 Defense Regional Commands (KODAP) across Papua to take action against state assets, which they claim are frequently used as military bases to conduct torture and arbitrary arrests of civilians.
In the closing statement, Sebby Sambom issued a special appeal to global church authorities, including Pope Leo XIV and international Christian organizations, to pay serious attention to the Christian and Catholic populations in Papua facing a humanitarian crisis. The TPNPB urged for immediate medical aid and food supplies for the tens of thousands of displaced persons currently surviving in the forests without adequate healthcare access due to ongoing military operations. ***