The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN PB) has proposed to Indonesian security forces to move the armed conflict into a designated area to prevent civilian casualties and reduce the stresses for indigenous civilians living in the Puncak Regency. The TPN PB spokesperson, Sebby Sambom, suggested the Puncak estuary in the Ilaga District as the new combat area. According to Sambom, the TPN PB has gathered its guerrilla groups in the estuary area, where they wait for Indonesian security forces to move in.
Sambom explained that security forces conduct raids and other activities mainly near indigenous villages in Ilaga and Gome’s districts, causing fear among residents and preventing them from following essential daily activities, such as gardening and collecting firewood. Moreover, TPN PB informants in Puncak had reported that security forces seize mobile phones to prevent residents in Puncak from sharing information on human rights violations with NGOs and the media. Sambom underlined that the TPN PB will not hide among civilians but is ready to fight the security forces in the designated combat area.
