By 
Lola Louise-Alexandrine| Asia Team Researcher, Global Human Rights Defence.
On April 14, 2026, a military operation in West Papua resulted in the deaths of at least 12 civilians. The Indonesian Human Rights Commission’s (Komnas HAM) exposed that these deaths were caused by gunshot wounds and explosive projectiles, highlighting a failure to fulfill the obligation to protect vulnerable populations and a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
The Incident
On April 14, 2026, an “enforcement operation” took place in Kembru Village, Puncak Regency, Central Papua. The operation was launched by the Indonesian military’s Habema Task Force targeting the TPNPB-OPM (West Papua National Liberation Army). First, on April 13, 2026, Indonesian military (TNI) helicopters were reported to have dropped explosive munitions on an area suspected of being a rebel base of the TPNPB-OPM group. These attacks triggered a population displacement when a number of villagers fled to the town of Kembru. The next day, on April 14, military operations continued in Kembru involving both air and ground forces. Ever since, different narratives have arisen. The military initially claimed they had killed four “rebels” in an armed encounter, and denied presence in areas where civilian deaths, and specifically a child, were reported.
Lack of Protection for Trapped Civilians
Indonesia’s National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) reported that at least 12 civilians, including women and children, were killed by gunshot wounds during the operation. Functioning as a vital independent monitor within the Indonesian state, Komnas HAM stated there is a “strong suspicion” of military responsibility for the civilian fatalities. The commission has formally condemned the attack, stating that civilian deaths in military operations constitute a violation of both fundamental human rights and International Humanitarian Law. Komnas HAM’s chairwoman Anis Hidayah has been categorical in her statement, explaining that “operations, whether classified as military or non-war operations, that result in civilian casualties cannot be justified under any circumstances”. The commission further demanded that legal proceedings should be conducted professionally and transparently, rejecting “military necessity” as a shield for human rights violations. By calling for security operations to comply with professional legal standards, Komnas HAM emphasises that the legitimacy of the state in Papua cannot be based on force alone but must be grounded in the protection of its most vulnerable citizens.
The Protracted Conflict
Papua is a region that has seen simmering separatist conflict since the 1969 Act of Free Choice. This military operation in Central Papua once again highlights the devastating consequences of such large-scale military interventions in densely populated civilian areas. As mentioned in a report by Komnas HAM, this “act of violence” is part of a long-standing pattern of violence in West Papua, where the principle of distinction, the legal obligation to separate military targets from civilians, appears to be frequently compromised.
