Komnas HAM: 15 Residents Killed in Central Papua One of the Heaviest Incidents in 2026
The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) is giving full attention to the incident in which 15 civilians were killed in a firefight between the armed group of the Free Papua Organisation (OPM) and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) in Kembru District, Puncak Regency, Central Papua. Komnas HAM has described the case as one of the heaviest incidents in 2026.
“This is receiving our full attention with the deaths of 15 people. The Puncak incident is one of the heaviest events we have encountered in 2026; I think this is very serious,” said Komnas HAM Monitoring and Investigation Commissioner Saurlin P. Siagian during a press conference viewed on the Komnas HAM YouTube channel, on Thursday (24/4/2026).
Saurlin said that his side is currently having difficulty accessing the two conflict districts. However, Saurlin stated that they have already been able to speak with the victims who managed to leave the district.
“We can also communicate with our colleagues in the field that we have not yet been able to penetrate the districts where the conflict is occurring, but the people who have left the district have been interviewed; we have spoken with the victims so we have confidence,” said Saurlin.
Saurlin revealed that his side is still delving deeper into this incident. He also disclosed preliminary findings.
“When this incident occurred, we already had indications that there was a TNI operation there that implicated the occurrence of this event, and of course, we must also investigate the cause of each death one by one,” he stated.
The Komnas HAM team is currently still attempting to enter the two conflict districts. Saurlin hopes the conflict will end soon so that there are no more victims.
“We are still waiting for the right moment to enter the two currently turbulent districts; this must be ended immediately to stop the victims from both sides. We have received information that several TNI personnel have also become victims, so this sacrifices everyone and sacrifices humanity,” he explained.
Furthermore, Saurlin described the deaths of more than a dozen civilians in Puncak, Papua, as a humanitarian tragedy. He mentioned that the incident resulted in 15 civilians killed and 7 others injured.
“We must remember the Puncak incident as a humanitarian tragedy with the deaths of these 15 people and seven injured; we hope there will be no more subsequent victims,” he said.
Previously, Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai stated that 15 civilians were killed in this incident. Pigai said the data was obtained after his side gathered information and coordinated with the Central Papua Provincial Government and the Puncak Regency Government.
“We obtained that 15 people died as a result of the attack in Kembru,” said Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai at the Ministry of Human Rights Office, Jakarta.
Pigai revealed that 7 other people were also reported to have been injured.
“Then 7 people injured, and those who became victims are currently being investigated, data searched, facts, information, and could experience further developments,” he continued.
As reported by detikSulsel, this OPM-TNI firefight incident occurred on 14 April 2026. The incident led to the Puncak area being declared a security emergency response status. This policy applies for 14 days to accelerate evacuation and recovery.
“During the emergency response period, our main focus is to identify all victims, both those injured and those who have died,” said Acting Puncak Regional Secretary Nenu Tabuni in his statement, quoted on Sunday (19/4).