Nine Girls in Jila District Held Hostage by Papuan Separatists, Military District Commander: This Is Very Inhumane!

The Commander of Military District Command 1710/Mimika, Lieutenant Colonel Infantry Jozanda, has stated that the hostage-taking and forced abduction of nine women in Jila District, Mimika Regency, Central Papua, carried out by an armed group, is an inhumane act. Lieutenant Colonel Infantry Jozanda said in Timika that the group’s actions were cruel and inhumane. “Forcibly taking young women and even shooting their parents when they tried to prevent their children from being taken by force. This is a very inhumane act,” he said on Thursday (21/8/2026). He said that efforts to pursue the armed group are currently being carried out by TNI-Polri personnel in the field. “May the TNI-Polri soldiers serving there be granted ease and safety in carrying out these duties,” he said. TNI personnel will also continue to coordinate with the local government to send food aid to residents in Jila District who are currently experiencing food shortages.