PAPUA – The Central Headquarters Management of the National Command of the West Papua National Liberation Army (KOMNAS TPNPB) has officially declared its firm rejection of the planned visit by the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, to the Yahukimo region. According to an official report received from the Operational Commander of TPNPB Kodap XVI Yahukimo, Major Kopitua Heluka, TPNPB forces have stated their readiness to take military action should the Vice President enter the war zone in Yahukimo, including the city of Dekai and its surrounding airspace.
This threat is based on intelligence gathered by the Papua Intelligence Service (PIS) TPNPB on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. Major Kopitua Heluka reported that his personnel have been deployed and claim to have secured strategic access points, ranging from public roads to the airport area in Dekai. They emphasized that they will not hesitate to target the vice-presidential entourage or any aircraft used if the visit is forced despite the warnings.
The KOMNAS TPNPB management views the presence of Gibran Rakabuming Raka in Papua as a failure to provide a genuine solution to the root causes of the armed conflict, which has persisted for over 64 years. TPNPB asserts that the visit is merely a public relations move by the Indonesian government for the international community, while the humanitarian situation and political conflict remain fundamentally unresolved. Furthermore, TPNPB explicitly stated its rejection of all development programs implemented by what they term the Indonesian colonial government in Papua.
TPNPB-OPM Spokesperson, Sebby Sambom, urged President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka to take immediate responsibility for the humanitarian crisis affecting Papuan civilians. TPNPB highlighted the plight of 107,039 internally displaced persons (IDPs) scattered across various regions due to the conflict. They also demanded accountability for various instances of shootings, torture, and arrests of civilians allegedly carried out by the Indonesian military.
As a diplomatic solution, TPNPB demands that the Indonesian government immediately open access for UN humanitarian teams and foreign journalists to enter the armed conflict zones. TPNPB further asserted that the armed confrontation will continue until the Indonesian government recognizes the independence of the Papuan people and agrees to sit at the negotiating table to resolve the root causes of the conflict, mediated by neutral third parties or the United Nations. ***