JAKARTA – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) stated on Monday that it holds strong suspicions that Indonesian soldiers may be responsible for the deaths of 12 civilians during a military operation against a separatist group in Kembru village, Central Papua, last week. The Indonesian Military (TNI) has denied these claims. The government-sanctioned independent body’s preliminary investigation indicates that the victims died from gunshot wounds during what the TNI described as an "enforcement operation" against rebels from the West Papua National Liberation Army.
Komnas HAM commissioner Saurlin Siagian noted that the preliminary findings are based on information from local authorities and other verified sources, stating, "We are deeply concerned that all the victims were civilians. This clearly indicates a human rights violation." The commission is awaiting a more conducive situation in Papua to gather further evidence. Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai later confirmed that a total of 15 people were killed in the incident, without specifying the number of civilian casualties. While he did not confirm or deny Komnas HAM's suspicions regarding the TNI's involvement, he urged any identified perpetrators to come forward and stated that suspected individuals should be investigated transparently.
The incident has placed the TNI's Habema task force, which is conducting operations against the West Papua National Liberation Army–Free Papua Movement in Central Papua, under scrutiny. The West Papua National Liberation Army–Free Papua Movement is the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement. Komnas HAM chairwoman Anis Hidayah confirmed the suspicion that TNI soldiers might have been involved, stating, "It's true [that we have that suspicion]. Our preliminary findings are that 12 civilians died." The commission emphasized that attacks against civilians constitute violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, noting that the right to life and the right to security are non-derogable.