Joint Indonesian military and police operations in the Korowai region between 24 and 30 July 2026 reportedly resulted in three civilian deaths, displacing hundreds of indigenous Papuans, including children, pregnant women, and elderly individuals, according to a report by Humanrightsmonitor. The operation area spans the border of Yahukimo Regency in Highlands Papua Province and Boven Digoel Regency in South Papua Province.
Security Operations and Civilian Casualties in Yahukimo
Preliminary ground reports identified the deceased as Yatimin Wonda, Wanengga Kogoya, and an unidentified member of the Korowai indigenous community. Local sources and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) alleged that security forces fired into civilian settlements and utilized helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles during ground operations. These allegations have not been independently verified.
/data/photo/2026/07/23/6a617ecb13139.jpg "Photo: regional.kompas.com")
The security operation followed the 2 July 2026 killing of American pilot Nicholas F. Gosselin in Balinggama Village, Sobaham District, Yahukimo Regency, by TPNPB Kodap XVI Yahukimo members after his aircraft allegedly entered a classified red zone. According to a TPNPB statement, Indonesian security forces began mobilizing in the Korowai region on 19 July 2026.
Earlier Killings Along the Trans Papua Road
Prior to the Korowai operations, three civilians were killed on 20 July 2026 near the Trans Papua Road in Seradala District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan, as reported by Kompas. The victims consisted of a married couple—identified in various reports as Yentinus Kogoya (also known as Kumis Kogoya) and Pam Wendakwe or Shelly Wenda—alongside a woman from the Unaukam tribe.
The killings were captured in a circulating 4-minute and 10-second video. The TPNPB-OPM, led by Kopitua Heluka, claimed responsibility for the execution. TPNPB headquarters spokesperson Sebby Sambom stated that the victims were accused of acting as military intelligence agents and facilitating TNI soldiers, though no supporting documents were provided to validate the claims.
Indonesian military authorities firmly rejected the insurgent group’s assertions. Letkol Inf Wirya Arthadiguna, Head of Information at Koops TNI Habema, stated that the victims were strictly civilians with no ties to the military. Brigadier General Muhammad Nas similarly dismissed the intelligence accusations as an outdated method used by the OPM to justify violence against non-combatants.
Official Responses and Broader Conflict Statistics
Government and parliamentary figures condemned the violence against non-combatants in Yahukimo. Mafirion, a member of Commission XIII of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) from the National Awakening Party (PKB), strongly denounced the 20 July killings and urged law enforcement to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators, emphasizing the state’s constitutional duty to protect residents in conflict-prone regions, as detailed by mediaindonesia.com.
Koops TNI Habema announced ongoing coordination for pursuit and law enforcement operations to protect the local population and prevent further violence. Meanwhile, broader regional violence figures released by Komnas HAM indicated that 59 people died due to armed conflict and violence across Papua between January and June 2026, including 43 civilians, 8 security personnel, and 8 armed separatist group members, according to data covered by idntimes.com.
Keep reading
