TPNPB Claims to Have Shot Dead TNI Personnel After Jeki Murib's Death
The Central Headquarters of the National Liberation Army of West Papua Organisation for a Free Papua (TPNPB-OPM) has claimed to have shot dead one TNI personnel during a firefight on Tuesday, 28 April 2026. The shooting occurred a week after one of TPNPB’s central figures, Jeki Murib, was killed by TNI gunfire.
Spokesperson for the Central Headquarters Management of TPNPB, Sebby Sambom, explained that TPNPB forces under Operational Commander HSSBI Major Wene Kobak had engaged in a firefight against TNI apparatus in Kali Wo, Dekai City, since 18 April 2026. The exchanges of fire continued until the night of Tuesday, 28 April 2026.
During the operation, Sebby claimed that special forces from the HSSBI Battalion successfully entered the Dekai City Koramil and shot dead one TNI member who was at the headquarters. “The attack was carried out on the orders of TPNPB Commander Kodap XVI Yahukimo Brigadier General Elkius Kobak and Operational Commander Major Kopitua Heluka,” Sebby said in a written statement on Wednesday, 29 April 2026.
According to Sebby, the successive TPNPB attacks on Indonesian military personnel were retaliatory strikes for the deaths of three TPNPB soldiers: Anggin Kobak, Sel Siip, and Muruin Suhun. The operation orders in Dekai City were issued by HSSBI Battalion Chairman Enos M Yual and his deputy, Jinak Sobolim, as well as Operational Commander Major Wene Kobak.
“The three figures are fully responsible for the entire series of attacks against the Indonesian military,” Sebby said.
Furthermore, Sebby reminded that TPNPB Kodap XVI Yahukimo HSSBI Battalion forces are still conducting open operations across all locations in Dekai City. The open operations are said to continue until Papua’s independence is achieved. “Therefore, its forces will continue to resist the Indonesian military,” he said.
Sebby urged immigrant civilians in Dekai City to immediately leave Yahukimo Regency. “If our appeal is not heeded, we will consider them all as Indonesian military intelligence and we are ready to execute them,” he stated. Additionally, civil society in Yahukimo who are active using motor vehicles are asked not to wear helmets and must lower the windows for every passing car.
The TPNPB group also demanded that the TNI not arbitrarily arrest civilians, as those carrying out the successive attacks in Yahukimo are purely OPM forces. Finally, Sebby issued an ultimatum to Yahukimo Regent Didimus Yahuli and Deputy Governor Ones Pahabol to stop all state programmes in Yahukimo.
“If the ultimatum is not heeded, whoever implements state programmes, we TPNPB are ready to pursue and execute them,” he said.
Tempo has sent a confirmation message regarding Sebby’s claim about the death of TNI personnel in the operation to the Head of the TNI Information Centre, Major General Aulia Dwi Nasrullah. However, Aulia has not yet responded.
Previously, Captain of the Habema Operational Command Forces or Koops Habema TNI, Lieutenant Colonel Wirya Arthadiguna, claimed that his forces had shot dead Jeki Murib in a firefight that occurred in Pinapa Village, Omukia District, Puncak Regency, Papua, on Monday, 20 April 2026.
“Jeki Murib was forced to be neutralised after he and his group carried out a sudden attack on TNI soldiers,” said Wirya Avianto through a video statement sent by Aulia on Tuesday, 28 April 2026.
Wirya recounted that the shooting incident occurred when TNI personnel were conducting patrols around the location. According to him, Jeki and his group fired weapons first at the TNI soldiers. The patrolling soldiers then carried out a counter-attack.