PAPUA – The Central Headquarters Management of the National Command of the West Papua National Liberation Army (KOMNAS TPNPB) has officially issued a stern statement urging the United Nations (UN) to immediately take over the investigation into the alleged systematic massacre of Papuan civilians. This demand refers to a series of violences characterized as genocide that has spanned over 64 years, dating from the 1960s through April 2026.
In an official press release on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, TPNPB-OPM Spokesperson Sebby Sambom stated that the Indonesian government military is responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent civilians during various military operations across the land of Papua. He emphasized that the current humanitarian situation is critical, particularly with 107,039 civilians forced into displacement across various conflict zones.
Beyond highlighting the actions of the Indonesian military, the TPNPB directed demands toward the international community. Sebby Sambom asserted that the UN must investigate and impose sanctions on foreign countries that have been actively involved in providing military training and supplying war logistics to the Indonesian government. According to him, logistical support from foreign nations has directly contributed to the escalation of violence against Indigenous Papuans.
In their report, the TPNPB expressed deep concern over the perceived lack of professionalism of Indonesian security forces in utilizing foreign military technology. The use of heavy weaponry such as RPGs, helicopter-borne bomb attacks, and drones has reportedly targeted civilian settlements and displacement camps. The most recent incidents were reported to have taken place from April 13 to 15, 2026, in Puncak Regency, where air strikes and the deployment of active grenades from foreign stocks were allegedly used in missions against the TPNPB but resulted in civilian casualties instead.
"The West Papua National Liberation Army also reports to the UN, international human rights organizations, and the global community to investigate the use of heavy weapons, specifically Phosphorus Bombs in Nduga in 2018 and mortar attacks in Pegunungan Bintang Regency in October 2021, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians," Sebby Sambom said in his statement.
Furthermore, he explained that in 2025, the Kiwirok District witnessed the use of Brazilian-made Super Tucano aircraft by the Indonesian military to bombard residential areas, which not only killed humans but also destroyed livestock and community plantations. Similar series of operations continue to be launched in Intan Jaya, Yahukimo, Maybrat, and other conflict regions utilizing foreign military supplies.
The TPNPB further emphasized that these crimes against humanity must not be left without international legal consequences. The TPNPB demands that the Indonesian government take full responsibility for all cases of genocide that have occurred. The UN is expected to intervene immediately to conduct a thorough investigation to provide justice for the civilians in Tanah Papua who continue to fall victim to this prolonged armed conflict. ***