2) Indonesia, Papua New Guinea eye stronger defense ties
----------------------------
A google translat.
Original Bahasa link
1) Kapendam: It is Not True that the TNI Used the Puncak Regent's House as a TNI Post
Author: Larius Kogoya
Editor: Alberth Yomo
Published July 8, 2025
Last updated: July 8, 2025 4:21 pm
The burning of the house of Puncak Regent, Elvis Tabuni, and the Omukia District Office, Puncak Regency, Central Papua, is seen. IST
Jayapura, Jubi – The Head of Information for the XVII/Cenderawasih Military Command (Kapendam), Colonel Inf Candra Kurniawan, stated that the TPNPB and its sympathizers always seek justification and spread hoax issues when carrying out their actions. This is in response to the TPNPB's statement about the Puncak Regent's house, which they say was used as a TNI Post.
"It is not true that the TNI used the Puncak Regent's house and the District Office as a TNI headquarters or post," said Kapendam Candra Kurniawan to Jubi via text message when asked for confirmation, Tuesday (8/7/2025).
According to Candra, on July 6, 2025, the TPNPB carried out a house burning action in the Omukia District area, Ondugura Village, and one of the buildings that was burned was allegedly a house that was once occupied by the Puncak Regent.
"Security forces took action against the OPM who carried out the burning action, as a firm step by the TNI to protect the community," he said.
Previously, the management of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) National Commission Headquarters stated that the TPNPB Regional Defense Command (Kodap) XVIII Puncak Ilaga was responsible for burning two houses belonging to the Puncak Regent, Elvis Tabuni, and the Omukia District Office, Puncak Regency, Central Papua, on Sunday (6/7/2025).
The statement was conveyed by the TPNPB Spokesperson, Sebby Sambom, through a press release received by Jubi some time ago.
Sebby Sambom said that the TPNPB troops burned the house and office because they were suspected of having been used as military posts by Indonesian authorities to launch operations in the Omukia District area.
"The reason we burned them was because the Indonesian military always used village halls, school buildings, hospitals, churches, and district offices and then turned them into military posts at will. So we burned down the houses and the Omukia District Office," he said.
The TPNPB spokesperson appealed to the Puncak Regent, TNI Commander, Pangdam XVII/Cenderawasih, Koops Habema, Ops Damai Cartenz, and all elements of the Indonesian Government military who are carrying out special operations in Papua, to immediately stop using civilian buildings in conflict areas.
"All civilian buildings that were once occupied by Indonesian military personnel in war zones, TPNPB is ready to execute all of them. Because President Prabowo Subianto and TNI Commander Agus Subiyanto have deployed military troops and taken over the function of civilian buildings as state defense posts. For us, this has violated international humanitarian law," he said.
Regarding the TPNPB's claim of burning the regent's house and district office, which are referred to as TNI headquarters,
TPNPB Affirms Burning of Puncak Regent's House Was Not Due to Political Opponents
TPNPB Spokesperson, Sebby Sambom, said that the information circulating among the Puncak community, that the burning of the regent's house and district office was carried out by political opponents, is not true. He emphasized that the action was purely carried out by the TPNPB Kodap XVIII Ilaga, and his party is fully responsible for the incident.
"We, the TPNPB troops, are the ones who burned it. So the burning of the Puncak Regent's house, Elvis Tabuni, and the Omukia District Office is our responsibility, not political opponents," he said.
Several field leaders said that among the Puncak community there is a growing issue that those responsible for the burning are the Regional Commander of Kodap XVIII Ilaga, Brigadier General Peni Murib, and the field command troops from Kepalah Air to Muarah.
Sebby Sambom stated that according to the report from the war field command, Lesmin Waker, which was conveyed via a voice recording clip in the Intelektual Puncak group, it was very clear that the burning of the house of Regent Elvis Tabuni and the district office was an order from the TPNPB leadership, namely General Goliat Tabuni, Major General Titus Murib, and Brigadier General Peni Murib.
"Our reason is clear, on the orders of the leadership because the TNI/Polri used the house and district office as a military post. So, there is no connection with practical politics," he said. (*)