This year is the 64th anniversary of the first official flying of the Morning Star flag in 1961, in the then Dutch colony of Netherlands New Guinea.

Kristo Langker, Kiwirok, West Papua – On September 25, 2025, Lamek Taplo, the guerilla leader of a wing of the West Papua National Liberation Army (Tentara Pembebasan Nasional Papua Barat, or TPNPB), left the jungle with his command to launch a series of raids on Indonesian military posts.

Jayapura – Amnesty International Indonesia is calling for a thorough investigation into a fatal drone attack in Dekai city, the capital of Yahukimo regency, in the Papua Highlands.

Amnesty International Indonesia's Executive Director Usman Hamid said that they condemn the attack on Tuesday evening November 25, which killed one civilian and injured one other person.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – The Finance Ministry will take over unpaid scholarship obligations for dozens of Papuan students studying abroad, after President Prabowo Subianto instructed the central government to resolve the long-running issue, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said on Thursday.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – Prolonged armed conflict in Papua has forced more than 100,000 indigenous people, most of them women and children, to flee their homes. The government's failure to provide adequate protection has also left many displaced families struggling to meet basic needs, prompting serious concerns from rights advocates.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Army is enforcing security in Papua with a "smart approach" that combines proportionate force and community-focused programs, a senior official said Tuesday.

Colonel Donny Pramono, head of the Army Information Service, said the dual strategy has improved safety on the ground while helping stimulate the local economy and strengthen public welfare.

On 16 and 17 November 2025, Mrs Irene Sokoy, a pregnant indigenous Papuan woman living on one of the small islands in Lake Sentani, Jayapura Regency, Papua Province, died together with her unborn baby after being denied emergency care by four hospitals in Jayapura Regency and Jayapura City, Papua Province, in West Papua (see photo on top).

On 25 November 2025, at around 9.00 pm, residents on Gunung Street in Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan province, observed a military drone repeatedly circling above their neighbourhood. According to eyewitnesses, the drone flew several loops over the area and then hovered for a few minutes above a cluster of civilian houses.

Antara, Jayapura, Papua – The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) has called for calm and warned against any armed conflict or political mobilization ahead of the December 1 commemoration of the West Papua independence movement.

Jakarta – A pregnant woman and her unborn child in Jayapura regency, Papua, died after a series of local hospitals reportedly declined to treat her during labour, underscoring chronic problems in the region's healthcare system.

Aida Uli, Jayapura – The Papuan Council of Churches (PCC) has recorded that as of October 2025 the number of refugees in various regions of Papua has reached 103,218.

The majority of refugees are indigenous Papuans. They have fled to other areas considered safe due to military operations and armed conflict with the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).

Aida Ulim, Jayapura – PT Freeport Indonesia workers who were laid off (PHK) in 2017 are demanding that the company immediately fulfill their rights, and convey the Inspectorate's findings to the Papuan House of Representatives (DPRP).

Indonesia, West Papua – On 19 November 2025, judges at the Makassar District Court in Makassar City, South Sulawesi Province, sentenced four Papuan political prisoners from Sorong City to seven months' imprisonment on treason charges.

Brent Patterson – On Tuesday November 18, PBI-Canada hosted a webinar that featured Indigenous West Papuan environmental defenders Dina Danomira and Teddy Wakum along with Global Witness policy advisor Javier Garate.

Silpester Kasipka, Jayapura – Students from the group Papuan Student Solidarity held a peaceful demonstration in the Lingkaran area of Abepura district in Jayapura city, Papua, on Wednesday November 19.

Pes Yanengga, Sentani – The commemoration of the 17th anniversary of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) on November 19 is a moment to reflect on the history of the organisation's founding.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta - Indonesia's Ministry of Law and Human Rights has called for an immediate end to armed violence in Papua, following reports of civilian casualties linked to a recent Indonesian military operation in Lanny Jaya Regency, PapuaPegunungan Province.

Jeff Hutton – The Indonesian administration of President Prabowo Subianto is pushing ahead with a multibillion-dollar plan to build a vast string of plantations in South Papua province that it hopes will secure domestic supplies of rice as well as sugarcane, as the government seeks to ramp up production of biofuel as a means of weaning itself off foreign sources of oil.

Responding to the verdict by the Makassar District Court which found four Papuan political activists from Sorong guilty of treason, Amnesty International Indonesia Deputy Director Wirya Adiwena said:

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has confirmed that PT Freeport Indonesia has resumed mining operations at its Grasberg site following last month's deadly landslide.

Members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) killed Mr Frengki Kogoya, 21, in the vicinity of the Jayawijaya District Military Command (Kodim 1702) in Wamena, Jayawijaya Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province, on 11 November 2025.

Indonesia, West Papua – People across West Papua have been protesting against the growing militarisation and ongoing expansion of military operations in the Papuan central highlands.

On 6 November 2025, at around 06:00 am, joint Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), including Task Force Rajawali 2 and 3, Task Force Mandala VI, Infantry Battalion 712/WT, Infantry Battalion 631/ATG, and Infantry Battalion 500/Sikatan, launched a large-scale military operation in the area around the Eknemba Village, Sugapa District, Intan Jaya Regency, to "crack down" on position

On 27 October 2025, residents of Kinmom-Snerbo Village in Biak Regency, Papua Province, staged a road blockade to protest the Indonesian Air Force's (AURI) continued construction activities on their traditional farmland.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, Djamari Chaniago, visited Papua with the Head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) Muhammad Herindra on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. They directly observed activities at the Papua Youth Creative Hub.

An Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) air-and-ground operation in Yigemili Village, Melagi District, Lanny Jaya Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province, on 05 October 2025, allegedly resulted in the enforced disappearance of two civilians named Mr Yoban Kine Wenda, 60, and Mr Wiringga Walia Wenda, 23.

Jakarta – At least 15 people, mostly children, are missing and are likely to be dead after floods and landslides hit Papua after torrential rain, a local official said on Monday.

Thirteen of the victims were children aged between eight and 17 years old, Adj. Sr. Comr. Alfredo Agustinus Rumbiak, the police chief of the remote Nduga region, told Reuters.

Jayapura – The trial of four Papuan political prisoners (tapol) at the Makassar District Court in South Sulawesi has been sharply criticised by the West Papua National Committee's (KNPB) Indonesian Consulate in the Makassar region.

This 12-page document outlines cases and developments, including human rights violations and their patterns, the escalation of armed conflict and its impact on civilians, significant political shifts in Indonesia affecting West Papua, and international responses and initiatives. It covers the period from 1 July to 30 September 2025.

Human rights

Eskop Wisabla, Makassar – The University and High School Student Papua People's Solidarity Forum/Papuan People's Concern (FSPM-PRP) in Makassar city, South Sulawesi, held a protest action as support in the ongoing treason trial of four Papuan political prisoners, Abraham Goram Gaman, Piter Robaha, Nixon Maay and Maksi Sangkek, which was held in front of the Makassar District Court.

A panel of judges at the Wamena District Court sentenced four Indonesian police officers on Tuesday, 28 October 2025, for their roles in the fatal shooting of Mr Tobias Silak and the serious injury of Naro Dapla in Dekai, Yahukimo Regency, on 20 August 2024.

Between 1 and 7 October 2025, Mrs Selly Selegani, a Papuan female human rights activist known for her advocacy against the Wabu Block gold mining project in Intan Jaya Regency, was subjected to a series of acts of intimidation, harassment, and physical violence after returning to Jayapura from advocacy activities in Jakarta.

Between September and October 2025, West Papua experienced widespread internal displacement affecting more than 102,966 civilians across multiple regencies due to military operations and armed conflict (see table below).

On the morning of 8 September 2025, around 30 police officers from the Jayapura District Police, using three police cars and six patrol motorcycles, dispersed members of the National Committee for West Papua (KNPB) Sentani Region and Yahim residents while they were carrying out a community service activity to clean the Yahim Sentani highway, Sentani Town, Jayapura Regency, Papua Pro

Antara, Jakarta – Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni has apologized to the entire Papuan community for the burning of the Cenderawasih Crown by the Papua Natural Resource Conservation Agency (BKSDA).

Julie Wark – The United Nations has recently come under attack from the Trump Administration and, much as it goes against the grain, it's difficult to argue with real-estate-developer-cum-ambassador-Representative for U.N. Management and Reform [sic], Jeff Bartos:

On 21 October 2025, plainclothes police officers riding motorcycles arbitrarily arrested 17-year-old Cansius Yawiwa in Jalan Kuda Mati, Kamundu Subdistrict, Merauke City, South Papua Province.

On 3 October 2025, members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) reportedly arrested Mr Mumak Nirigi, 35, a resident of Mebarok District, near the Wisigi area, amidst intensified military operations.

On 16 October 2025, members of the Police and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) reportedly tortured ten Papuans, including two volunteers from the Manokwari Institute for Research, Assessment and Development of Legal Aid (LP3BH Manokwari), in North Moskona District, Teluk Bintuni Regency, Papua Barat Province.

Christine Rovoi – For Pasifika, the conflict in West Papua is no longer a distant neighbour's affair – it is a family issue, a regional humanitarian challenge, and a test of the 'Blue Pacific' solidarity.

On 15 October 2025, police personnel disrupted a student-led, anti-militarisation protest at the Abepura Roundabout in Jayapura City, Papua Province. At least five protesters were arbitrarily detained for over 24 hours before being released without charges, after authorities reportedly found no legal violations.

Jayapura – The dire conditions facing refugees in conflict areas that continue to be ignored by the government, as well as the increasing number of military operations that have resulted in civilian casualties, require the attention of all parties as well as the need for international intervention.

On 3 October 2025, Indonesian military personnel reportedly detained Mr Agustinus Tipagau, 22, in Timika City, at around 11:00 am (see photo on top, source: independent HRD).

On 20 October 2025, security forces opened fire at Moanemani Market, Kamu District, Dogiyai Regency, around 11:00 am. Three people were reportedly injured during the shooting. Later that day, security forces raided the Mauwa Village around 11:36 pm, resulting in the death of Mr Keni Dumupa, with one additional person arrested.

Caleb Fotheringham – The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) claims more than a dozen civilians have been killed in the Papuan highlands, including three men who were allegedly tortured and a woman who was allegedly raped.

However, the Indonesian government has dismissed the accusations "baseless".

Preliminary field reports allege that Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) units raided the Soanggama Village, Hitadipa District, Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua, on 15 October 2025 before dawn. According to media reports and local informants, military members conducted house-to-house searches and opened indiscriminate fire, resulting in 15 fatalities.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Military said it killed 14 Papuan fighters during an operation to free a village from the control of separatists this week and residents had welcomed its troops.

Silpester Kasipka, Jayapura – The Papuan Journalist Justice and Safety Advocacy Coalition (KAKKJ) held a peaceful action in front of the Jubi media editorial offices on Jalan SPG Taruna Bakti in Waena, Jayapura city, on Thursday October 16.

Basten Gokkon, Jakarta – In a new report, marine activists are demanding restoration efforts from nickel miners and the Indonesian government for affected areas of Raja Ampat while also urging authorities to enforce the ban on mineral extraction in coastal and small island regions.

The Indonesian government's ambitious National Strategic Project (PSN) in Merauke has entered a critical phase marked by escalating conflict between indigenous landowners and corporations backed by state authority, with customary land seizures now accompanied by police criminalization of community members resisting plantation development on their ancestral territories.