TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The personnel of the Indonesian Police's Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force captured a member of the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) with the initials AB a.k.a. UB. The police suspect AB to be a member of the Heluk Battalion, Seng, Sulo Baliem, Indol, or HSSBI.
The Head of Public Relations of the Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force, Commissioner Yusuf Sutejo, stated that his personnel apprehended AB on Friday, June 19, 2026, around 16:30 WIT. At that time, AB was in the Block A area, Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency. "At the time of the apprehension, the individual attempted to flee, so the officers took measured and decisive action to stop the escape," Yusuf said in a written statement on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
After apprehending AB, the police seized two rounds of 5.56 millimeter ammunition, a mobile phone, and some personal belongings of the suspect. The police then searched AB's house and arrested an individual with the initials BK.
According to Yusuf, AB alias UB is suspected to be involved in the shooting of a Marine Corps armored vehicle in the Dekai District on December 13, 2025. The police also suspect AB of involvement in the criminal possession and use of firearms and ammunition without authorization as stated in the Police Report Number LP/A/25/VI/2026/SPKT.Satreskrim/Polres Yahukimo/Polda Papua.
The investigators charged AB with Article 306 of Law Number 1 of 2023 regarding the Criminal Code (KUHP) concerning the alleged possession and use of firearms without authorization. In addition, the investigators also charged the suspect with Article 458, juncto Article 459 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) regarding the attempted murder due to the dangerous shooting action that endangered the lives of others. The police stated that the maximum penalty for these actions is 15 years in prison.
Read: TPNPB-OPM Claims Restriction of Indonesian Health Workers Access in Papua
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