The Indonesia National Armed Force (TNI) operation in Maybrat ended in a deadly gunfight on Saturday night, October 3, 2026, when TNI personnel confronted an armed group identified by authorities as members of the West Papua National Liberation Army from the Free Papua Movement (TPNPB OPM) War Regional Command (Kodap) IV Sorong Raya in South Aifat District, Maybrat Regency, Papua Barat Daya (Southwest Papua) province.
According to the TNI, the exchange of fire resulted in the deaths of two group members, Arso Aisnak and Yohanes KY. Authorities said both held senior positions within the Sorong Raya group.
The confrontation took place in a forested area north of Aifat. The operation involved personnel from Denkul IV of Satgas Rajawali V under Koops TNI Habema and the Yonif 9 Marine Border Security Task Force, reinforced by Yonif 764-IB under the command of Kogabwilhan III.
The incident is the latest armed confrontation in Papua’s continuing security challenge, where Indonesian authorities have combined military operations with calls for members of armed groups to abandon violence and return to civilian life.
How the Maybrat Operation Unfolded
Movement of Armed Group Detected
According to Lt Gen Lucky Avianto, commander of Kogabwilhan III, the location and movement of the armed group had first been identified through field information and technological support.
Indonesian authorities linked the group to Manfred Fatem, who is described as the operations commander of the Sorong Raya group. The TNI detected the group’s movement as it approached a populated area in Aifat.
The information was subsequently assessed before the joint military team moved towards the suspected location.
Indonesia Defence reported that the operation was planned before troops moved into the target area, with the TNI saying the action was conducted selectively and according to operational procedures.
The terrain presented a familiar challenge for security forces operating in Papua. The confrontation took place in a forested area, away from major urban centres, where movement and communication can be difficult.
Soldiers Sought a Surrender Before the Gunfight
According to Lucky’s account, the troops attempted a persuasive approach before the shooting began.
The armed group was reportedly asked to surrender and put down its weapons.
The TNI said the request was rejected and that members of the group opened fire. Lucky said Manfred Fatem was the first to fire, followed by other members of the group.
Because this sequence comes from the TNI’s account, it cannot independently establish every detail of what happened during the opening moments of the confrontation. Other accounts of the incident have not provided an independently verified reconstruction of the exchange.
The subsequent exchange of fire resulted in the deaths of Arso Aisnak and Yohanes KY.
According to Lucky, Arso served as Commander of Defence Area II of Kodap IV Sorong Raya, while Yohanes KY served as commander of the Karef Hamit Battalion.
Manfred Fatem Reportedly Escaped
The TNI said Manfred Fatem and several other members of the group escaped into the surrounding forest following the confrontation.
Troops subsequently continued searching the area and pursuing members who had fled.
The reported escape means that the operation did not conclude with the deaths of the two senior figures. Indonesian forces said follow-up efforts were continuing to locate other members of the group.
For residents of Maybrat, the continuing security operation is significant because the immediate consequences of an armed confrontation can extend beyond the battlefield, affecting movement, access to services and normal economic activity.
Weapons and Equipment Recovered
After the exchange of fire, Indonesian troops conducted a sweep of the location.
The TNI reported recovering several items that it identified as belonging to the armed group.
Among them was one revolver and 10 rounds of ammunition, along with a handheld radio, a Bintang Kejora flag and other supporting equipment.
Other reports citing Lt Gen Lucky Avianto described additional items, including dozens of automatic rifle rounds, several bladed weapons and communication equipment. The reports differ somewhat in the level of detail concerning the quantities of weapons and ammunition recovered, so the more specific figures should be treated as claims from the TNI rather than independently verified inventories.
The recovery of weapons and communications equipment is important to the TNI’s assessment of the operation because it provides physical evidence concerning the group’s activities in the area.
It also illustrates the operational objective of securing terrain and disrupting the ability of armed groups to move and operate from remote locations.
TNI Says Humanitarian Principles Remain Important
Brig. Gen. Riyanto, commander of Koops TNI Habema, described the operation as the result of coordination and cooperation among personnel deployed in the field.
But his statement also emphasised the limits that the TNI says should govern security operations.
“The success was the result of the hard work and synergy of all soldiers serving in the field,” Riyanto said, while stressing that humanitarian values remained a principal consideration in operational decisions.
He said every life has value and that actions taken by troops must remain based on applicable rules and procedures.
That emphasis is significant in a region where military operations take place in areas that can be close to civilian communities.
The TNI has repeatedly said that its security operations in Papua are intended not only to confront armed groups but also to create conditions in which communities can carry out daily activities and development programmes with greater security.
A Call for a Peaceful Way Forward
Alongside the continuing pursuit of members of the armed group, Riyanto issued an invitation to those still operating in forests and mountainous areas to abandon violence.
He said an opportunity remained for members of armed groups who wanted to return to the Republic of Indonesia and pursue a peaceful path.
“Let us build Papua together through peace, unity and togetherness,” Riyanto said, adding that Papua’s future was a shared responsibility and that development could proceed when communities lived in a secure and peaceful environment.
The message provides a second dimension to the TNI’s response.
While the immediate operation was kinetic, Indonesian authorities also presented reintegration and peaceful participation in society as an alternative for members of armed groups.
This combination of security enforcement and an invitation to abandon armed activity has increasingly featured in official statements concerning operations against armed groups in Papua.
Why Maybrat Matters
Maybrat occupies an important position in Papua Barat Daya and has experienced armed violence incidents in recent years.
The district is also home to communities whose daily lives depend on access to roads, markets, public services and other basic infrastructure.
For that reason, security incidents cannot be viewed solely through the lens of military operations.
When armed violence occurs, the consequences can affect the ability of civilians to travel, conduct business and access government services. A reduction in armed criminal group, including the TPNPB OPM activity, conversely, can create more space for public institutions and communities to resume normal activities.
The Indonesian government’s broader development agenda in Papua therefore depends partly on the security environment in which programmes are implemented.
The Maybrat operation, in this context, is not simply about the loss of two members of an armed criminal group. It also raises the larger question of whether continued security pressure can reduce the operational space available to armed criminal groups while allowing communities to experience greater stability.
The Significance of the Two Deaths
Arso Aisnak and Yohanes KY were described by Indonesian authorities as senior figures within the Sorong Raya structure.
Their deaths could affect the group’s organisational capacity in the short term, particularly if the two men played important operational roles.
However, it would be premature to conclude that the wider security challenge has been resolved.
Reports indicated that Manfred Fatem and other group members escaped, prompting Indonesian forces to continue their pursuit after the confrontation.
Armed criminal groups operating in Papua have historically relied on difficult terrain, local mobility and dispersed structures. As a result, the removal of individual commanders does not necessarily mean that armed criminal group activity will immediately disappear.
For security planners, the more meaningful test will be what happens in the weeks and months that follow.
Security and Development Remain Closely Connected
Papua’s security situation is closely connected to the region’s development trajectory.
Road construction, health services, education, investment and local economic activity all require a minimum level of security. In remote districts, even a temporary disruption can have consequences because communities often have fewer alternative routes and services.
This is why the TNI’s stated emphasis on protecting communities has a broader significance.
Riyanto said that the TNI’s presence in Papua was connected not only with security but also with creating conditions that allow people to conduct their activities safely. The statement reflects the government’s wider position that stability is a prerequisite for sustainable development.
The challenge, however, remains substantial.
Maintaining security in remote and rugged terrain requires continuous coordination between military units, police, civilian authorities and local communities. It also requires careful attention to civilian protection and compliance with applicable rules during operations.
What Comes Next in Maybrat?
The immediate priority following the October 3 clash is the continuation of the security operation and the monitoring of the situation around Aifat.
Indonesian forces have said they are pursuing members of the group who fled the area. At the same time, officials have reiterated that armed members have an opportunity to abandon violence and choose a peaceful route.
The longer-term outcome will depend on whether the operation results in a sustained reduction in armed activity.
For local residents, the most meaningful measure will not necessarily be the number of weapons recovered or commanders removed. It will be whether people can travel without fear, farmers can reach markets, children can attend school, health workers can reach communities and public institutions can operate normally.
That is where security operations ultimately meet the daily reality of Papua’s people.
Conclusion
The October 3 confrontation in Maybrat represents another significant episode in Indonesia’s ongoing efforts to address armed groups in Papua.
The TNI reported that field information and technological support detected the movement of the Sorong Raya group, prompting the operation’s initiation. Joint forces subsequently moved towards the suspected location, attempted to persuade the group to surrender and then became involved in an exchange of fire. Two members identified as Arso Aisnak and Yohanes KY were killed, while Manfred Fatem and other members reportedly escaped into the forest.
The TNI also reported recovering a revolver, ammunition, communications equipment and other items from the site. Brig. Gen. Riyanto described the operation as a product of coordination among the troops involved, while stressing that humanitarian principles and operational rules remained essential.
The significance of the Maybrat operation will ultimately extend beyond the immediate tactical result.
If security operations are followed by sustained stability, improved civilian safety and continued development, the impact could be felt well beyond the forest where the gunfight occurred.
For the people of Maybrat, that is the outcome that matters most: the ability to live, work, travel and build their future without the shadow of recurring armed violence.
For Indonesia, the continuing challenge is to maintain security while ensuring that every operation remains subject to law, professional standards and protection of civilians. The government’s stated invitation to armed group members to choose peace offers another path alongside enforcement.
The next chapter in Maybrat will therefore be measured not only by what happened on the night of October 3, but by whether the days that follow become quieter, safer and more conducive to the development of local communities.
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