Joint military and police forces are investigating a shooting allegedly carried out by an armed criminal group (KKB) against civilians in the area of the closing ceremony of the Baliem Valley Cultural Festival 2026 in Walesi District, Jayawijaya Regency, Highland Papua, on Saturday (8/8). The attack wounded two civilians who were watching the annual cultural festival event.
Laode Muhammad, 43 years old, suffered a gunshot wound to the knee, while Salbia, 50 years old, was shot in the right thigh. Both victims have been evacuated and are receiving intensive medical treatment at Wamena General Hospital.
Commander of Military Region 172/PWY Brigadier General Robbi Suryadi said the condition of both victims is currently stable. He explained that after the incident, the primary focus of security personnel was to evacuate and secure residents in the festival area.
Robbi stated that security personnel are still conducting a thorough investigation to identify which armed criminal group carried out the shooting. "Security personnel immediately worked to secure residents in the area of the FBLB-2026 event, so we have not yet been able to confirm which group the perpetrators of the shooting came from," he said to Antara on Saturday (8/8) evening local time.
The Baliem Valley Cultural Festival 2026 programme ended on Saturday (8/8) after the situation was brought under control and secured by joint security personnel.
