Pain envelops Lambera Village, Yugumoak District, Puncak Regency, after a brutal attack carried out by the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) led by Kalenak Murib, Wednesday (6/18/2025). Three innocent civilians were killed, four others were injured, and 11 honai of Papuan traditional houses were burned.
For the families of the victims and the survivors, this tragedy left deep wounds, not only physically but also psychologically. Many of them are now forced to flee to Megeabume and Sinak Districts to save themselves, leaving behind their homes and gardens that have been a source of livelihood.
“We don’t know what to do. All destroyed. The house burned down, our family was killed. We can only cry,” said Eman Tabuni, one of the surviving residents, while staring blankly at the honai debris that was left with charcoal.
The violence started from the personal motive of the leader of KKB Kalenak Murib who was angry because of domestic problems, but the anger was vented in a sabaric way against innocent people. A total of 23 people armed with long-barreled fire invaded the village blindly.
Casualties in this incident include:
- Minanggen Wijangge, a resident who is said to be involved in the internal conflict of the KKB leadership
- Patiago Tabuni and Oriup Murib, civilians who have no direct connection with the dispute
As for the injured victims, some of them experienced gunshot wounds and serious trauma:
- Amos Tabuni (gunshot wound on the right arm)
- Anis Tabuni (gunshot wound on the left arm)
- Amote Tabuni (wound on the head)
- Perdus Tabuni (recoset of bullets on the foot)
“We are just ordinary farmers. We don’t know about politics or conflict. All we want is to live in peace and gardening,” said Mrs. Murib, a mother who is in disple with her children.
Meanwhile, joint officers from the Sinak Police and the Task Force Operation Peace Cartenz have gone directly to the scene to help evacuate the victims and ensure the safety of residents. Head of Operasi Peace Cartenz, Brigadier General Police Faizal Ramadhani, firmly called this incident a crime against humanity.
“This saric act cannot be tolerated. We will hunt down the perpetrators and make sure they are responsible before the law,” he said.
Head of Public Relations of Operation Peace Cartenz, Chief Commissioner of Police Yusuf Sutejo, also urged residents to remain calm and entrust the handling completely to the authorities.
But for people who now live in fear and lose everything, recovery will not be easy. Children who witnessed the violence directly experienced deep trauma, and the parents now have to start everything from scratch, in a new place, without certainty when they can return to their hometown.
“What we ask for is only one: security. We want to live like other people calm, work, send children to school, and no longer live in the shadow of bullets,” said Eman Tabuni, full of hope.
The Lambera tragedy is a reminder that behind every armed conflict, there are ordinary human faces that become victims. Papuans are now waiting with the hope that justice will be upheld and security will be restored in a real and sustainable way.
