Jayapura — Students from Puncak Regency, Central Papua, have urged both the Puncak regency administration and the Central Papua provincial government to immediately address the situation facing residents in several villages in Kembru District following a military operation in the area on April 14, 2026.
The operation reportedly resulted in civilian casualties, with several people said to have been killed by gunfire and others sustaining gunshot injuries.
The call was conveyed by the students to Jubi after they held a press conference and a peaceful protest in Jayapura City, Papua, on Monday (April 20, 2026).
According to the students, the most urgent needs of affected residents include medical treatment for the injured, as well as access to medicines and basic food supplies.
Residents of several villages, including Tenoti and Kumikomo in Kembru District, have reportedly fled their homes to areas they consider safer following the military operation. As a result, they are in urgent need of security guarantees and access to basic-necessities.
“We, the students, hope that the regent of Puncak, the Puncak Regional Legislative Council, and various legal aid institutions will step in and pay serious attention to this issue, so that residents can have a proper place to live and feel safe,” said Aiton Kogoya, the field coordinator of the protest.
The students added that the situation in Puncak Regency has deteriorated in recent weeks, particularly in Pogoma, Kembru, and Sinak districts, which they described as no longer being in a stable condition.
Earlier, the Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI) was reported to have conducted a military operation in Pogoma District on April 13, 2026. The area had been designated as a conflict zone by security forces and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).
Military operations by Indonesian security forces were reported to have expanded into several villages in Kembru District on April 14, 2026. As a result, nine residents from Tenoti and Kumikomo villages were reported killed by gunfire, while five others sustained gunshot injuries.
Those who died were identified as Wundilina Kogoya (36), Kikungge Walia (55), Pelen Kogoya (65), Tigiagan Walia (76), Ekimira Kogoya (47), Daremet Telenggen (55), Inikiwewo Walia (52), Amer Walia (77), and a five-year-old child, Para Walia. The injured included Onde Walia (5), Aliko Walia (5), Nokia Kogoya (21), Anite Telenggen (17), and Daniton Tabuni. Anite Telenggen was referred to a hospital in Jayapura for further treatment, while Onde Walia was transferred to a hospital in Nabire, Central Papua.
On the other hand, the TNI stated that the TPNPB had attacked two women and a child in Sinak District on April 15, 2026. The victims were reportedly shot and later evacuated to the Mulia Regional General Hospital in Puncak Jaya Regency for medical treatment.
“Regarding the situation in Puncak today, it is indeed not stable, particularly in Sinak, Pogoma, and Kembru districts. Large-scale military operations are taking place in Kembru,” said Aiton Kogoya.
Students urged both local and central governments to open access for the Indonesian Red Cross and civilian humanitarian workers to enter villages in Kembru District to assess the condition of residents. They said several areas remain inaccessible, reportedly still under military control, making it difficult to verify whether additional casualties have occurred.
“We call on the Regent of Puncak, the Puncak Regional Legislative Council, and the Central Papua provincial government to take action. Residents of Kembru District are displaced and scattered in various locations. Some have fled to Sinak, Bina, and other districts. The government must take notice and gather the displaced, as many are currently left without proper support,” he said.
In other press statement delivered at the Mimika student dormitory in Waena, Jayapura, students from Puncak and Puncak Jaya condemned what they described as acts of violence by security forces against civilians in Puncak.
They urged the Government of Indonesia to grant full access to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to directly assess the situation in the region.
According to the students, the continued presence of military forces in Puncak has contributed to alleged serious human rights violations occurring in a systematic and widespread manner, triggering large-scale displacement from 2022 to 2026. They said the situation has made it difficult for residents to access essential services such as healthcare and education.
Many internally displaced persons are now living in temporary shelters under inadequate conditions, lacking sufficient protection from weather and security threats. Vulnerable groups, including women and children, are at heightened risk of violence and trauma.
Given these conditions, the students emphasized the need for an immediate response from the government, humanitarian agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure that the basic needs of affected communities are met.
Deputy field coordinator Otty Telenggen said the alleged acts of violence by security forces against civilians in Puncak could constitute serious human rights violations and are inconsistent with Indonesian law, including legislation on human rights and human rights courts.
“We believe these actions have had a significant impact on vulnerable groups such as women and children, who should receive special protection from the state,” he said.
The students called on the government to conduct a thorough, transparent, and fair investigation into the shootings in Puncak, to halt military operations in civilian areas, and to withdraw security forces to prevent further violations.
They also urged the President of Indonesia to instruct the TNI Commander to take legal action against personnel involved in the incidents in Kembru District.
“We call on Komnas HAM to immediately conduct a direct investigation in Puncak. We demand that humanitarian access be opened for national and international organizations to assist affected communities, and that access be granted to national and international media so that information about the situation in Papua can be reported transparently,” he said. (*)
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