TNI Denies Involvement in Recent Intan Jaya Regent's Office Break-In, Clarifies Viral Video

The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) has denied that its personnel were involved in a recent break-in and theft of computers at the Intan Jaya Regent’s Office in Papua, clarifying that a viral video circulating on social media is from a different event in 2021. The clarification was issued by the Head of Information for the TNI Habema Operations Command, Lieutenant Colonel (Inf.) Wirya Arthadiguna, in a press statement received in Jakarta on Saturday.

Lieutenant Colonel Wirya explained that the video clip, which was recently re-uploaded by several Instagram accounts including @kata_rakyat, depicts a security inspection conducted by the 501/BY Infantry Battalion Task Force at the regent’s office in 2021. The inspection was carried out after a report was received from a civil servant of the Intan Jaya Regency Government. The video shows TNI personnel forcing open a door in the regent’s office, an action Wirya said was necessary because several rooms were inaccessible, and was done to secure the building and its facilities, not to commit an illegal act as the current narrative suggests.

Wirya confirmed that the 2021 incident was resolved amicably through deliberation between the then-military commander, Brigadier General Taufan Gestoro, and the Regent of Intan Jaya, Natalis Tabuni, including the settlement of any damages. Regarding a separate incident on Friday, 24 July, the Intan Jaya Regency Government reported a suspected break-in and theft in several rooms of the regent’s office. Wirya stated that this recent case is a different event and is currently under investigation by the Intan Jaya Police. He emphasised that linking the 2021 video to the alleged criminal act in 2026 is inconsistent with the verified facts.