Jayapura, Jubi — Residents of Puncak Regency are calling for an open and independent investigation following military operations in Central Papua that reportedly left multiple civilians dead, according to Thomas Tabuni, head of the Puncak Legislative Council (DPRK).

Indonesian military (TNI) operations were carried out in Pogoma District on April 13, followed by Kembru District on April 14. At least nine civilians were reported killed in Kembru, while five others sustained gunshot wounds.

Tabuni said the public is demanding a transparent inquiry to verify the number of victims and determine accountability, as conflicting claims persist between the TNI and the West Papua National Liberation Army, who have accused each other of responsibility.

“DPRK also went to the ground to verify the shooting incident. Once there, it was confirmed that there were indeed casualties from the civilian side,” Tabuni said in a phone interview on Tuesday (April 21, 2026).

He added that the council is unable to identify the perpetrators at this stage due to the absence of an independent investigation.

Tabuni urged national human rights institutions, including the National Commission on Human Rights Indonesia and the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, along with relevant NGOs, to form an independent fact-finding team to be deployed to Puncak.

“We are calling for the immediate establishment of an independent investigation team. Based on public aspirations, the DPRK Puncak will, within this week or next, form a Special Committee on Humanitarian Affairs,” he said.

The Puncak Regency Government has also established a special task force to assist affected residents. The team is led by the acting regional secretary and includes representatives from the regional disaster management agency, the Indonesian Red Cross, and the local health office.

Tabuni said the death toll in Kembru could reach 10, noting that one of the victims was pregnant and her unborn child also died. However, he said the exact number of casualties remains unclear, with some reports suggesting as many as 12 to 15 victims.

He said DPRK officials have been dispatched to several villages in Kembru District to verify the number of deaths, identify victims, and collect accurate data.

“There are claims that the number of victims is 12, others say 15, and so on,” he said.

Earlier this week, community groups and youth organizations staged a peaceful demonstration at the DPRK Puncak office, voicing a range of concerns.

These included security conditions, the shooting of civilians, and the presence of non-organic TNI forces in the region. Protesters also called for the withdrawal of Indonesian military personnel from Puncak Regency.

“The main demand voiced by the public is the withdrawal of TNI forces and an evaluation of the deployment of non-organic troops in several areas of Puncak,” Tabuni said.

He added that residents are also calling for an independent investigation regardless of who is found responsible.

“If it is proven that the perpetrators are from the TNI-Police or, conversely, from the TPNPB, the public wants an open and independent investigation to identify those responsible,” he said. (*)