TPNPB-OPM Reveals Reasons for Shooting Three Civilians in Yahukimo

The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organisation (TPNPB-OPM) has disclosed the reasons behind the shooting of three civilians in Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan, on Monday, 21 July 2026. TPNPB Central Headquarters spokesman Sebby Sambom stated that the shooting of Yantinus, also known as Kumis Kogoya, his wife Shelly Wenda, and a woman from the Unaukam tribe was carried out because the three were accused of being intelligence agents for the security forces. ‘Traitors must be executed, and we have proof they betrayed the Papuan people,’ Sebby said via WhatsApp message on Saturday, 25 July 2026. Sebby explained that Kumis Kogoya and Shelly Wenda were recorded as having opened access for heavy equipment belonging to a company in the Yahukimo area. The entry of this heavy equipment was allegedly accompanied by the placement of TNI soldiers, which threatened the presence of TPNPB militias. Furthermore, Sebby said, Kumis Kogoya was also accused of having facilitated TNI soldiers in locating TPNPB militia hideouts in Yahukimo, resulting in the deaths of several TPNPB members in a surprise attack. Sebby did not deny that Kumis Kogoya was formerly part of the TPNPB militia. However, his meeting with the Yahukimo Deputy Police Chief was considered strong evidence by the TPNPB from Kodap XVI Yahukimo and III Ndugama to label him a traitor. Nevertheless, Sebby did not provide any documentary evidence or supporting documents to validate the accusations. He only emphasised that his group’s actions were based on the law of the jungle in war, namely executing traitors or civilians who collaborate with the authorities for the sake of Papuan independence. ‘We are the ones who know the situation on the ground. So, stop building opinions without knowing the situation,’ Sebby said. Previously, a video recording that circulated widely on social media showed TPNPB militias executing Kumis Kogoya and his wife on the side of the Trans Papua road in Yahukimo, accusing them of being intelligence agents responsible for casualties on the TPNPB side. Responding to the accusations, the Head of the TNI Information Centre, Brigadier General Muhammad Nas, strongly denied the allegations that Kumis Kogoya and his wife were military intelligence agents or had ever provided information to the TNI. ‘That is an old OPM tactic to cover up their atrocities,’ Nas asserted.