A world premiere of a new documentary revealing the devastation of rainforest in the southeastern part of West Papua is one of two films being screened in Auckland next month.

Reiner Brabar, Jayapura – The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) says that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Indonesian government and Freeport McMoRan Inc to extend its mining contract until 2061, which was signed in the US on Wednesday February 18, has the potential to prolong the ecological crisis and suffering for indigenous peoples.

Bhima Yudhistira Adhinegara and Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat – Indonesia and the US mining giant Freeport-McMoRan have struck an agreement extending the operating rights of the vast copper and gold complex in Papua for the life of its reserves.

Church organizations, along with civil society groups, have urged the Indonesian government to halt its militaristic approach in the Papua region and its food and palm oil projects that are fueling conflict with indigenous people.

The call comes amid the ongoing violent conflict in the predominantly Christian region.

Jayapura – An Action Plan Workshop titled "Retracing the Footsteps of the Papuan Civil Society Movement", which was attended by non-government organisation (NGO) members from various regions in the land of Papua, has agreed to form the Civil Society Transformation Coalition in the Land of Papua, abbreviated as "KO MASI" in the land of Papua.

A West Papuan leader has accused the Indonesian government of lying over its operations and "masking" the military role of some civilian aircraft.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – The American mining company, Freeport-McMoRan, has announced an agreement with the Indonesian Government to extend the operating rights of PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) in Papua until 2041. The agreement is outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding that governs the continuation of operations in the Grasberg Mineral District.

On 18 February 2026, members of the Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force (Papua Regional Police Mobile Brigade) and the Habema Operation Task Force (Indonesian National Armed Forces – Marines) arbitrarily detained four Papuan girls at Kilometer 5, Dekai City, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province.

Jayapura, Jubi – Papua Solidarity House has expressed its position on the security situation in the land of Papua in recent weeks, which has been marked by a number of cases of violence.

The Indonesian government has dismissed a claim that its military has been bombing villages in West Papua.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) claims a makeshift refugee camp in Puncak Regency of was bombed, and that many villagers have been displaced.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – Indonesia has tightened security at several strategic sites in its easternmost region of Papua following a series of shooting incidents targeting an aircraft and personnel near a major mining operation, a senior minister said on Tuesday.

On 10 February 2026, members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI AD) reportedly tortured Mr Kristo Gonus Okui Kaize, an indigenous Papuan of the Malind Maklew tribe at the National Strategic Project (PSN) site in Wanam, Ilwayab District, Merauke Regency, South Papua Province. Mr Kaize was employed as labourer at the PSN Wanam Project.

On 14 February 2026, a joint team of Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and Yahukimo District Police (Polres Yahukimo) officers arbitrarily detained seventeen-year-old Elipianus Esema and Atios Sobolim,18, in the town of Dekai, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands Province. The arrests occurred in the vicinity of Block B shop houses following a fire incident earlier that evening.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has suspended the operation of 11 pioneer airports in Papua, following the shooting of a Smart Air plane at Korowai Airport in Boven Digoel Regency, South Papua.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has suspended the operation of 11 pioneer airports in Papua, following the shooting of a Smart Air plane at Korowai Airport in Boven Digoel Regency, South Papua.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 10 May 2025, Mr Ortizan F. Tarage, a civilian resident of Sorong City, was apprehended without explanation by three officers of the Sorong City Police (Polresta Sorong Kota) while fishing behind the Diklat Complex on Jalan Pendidikan, Kilometer 8.

Alex Kwok – Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Friday condemned the Indonesian police for the reported unlawful dispersal, physical assault, and detention of 11 Papuan protesters in Merauke on January 25.

Meenakshi Ganguly, the deputy Asia director at HRW, reiterated Indigenous Papuan communities' right to protest without fear of reprisal.

John Ahni Schertow – New raids and aerial strikes by Indonesian security forces in the central highlands of West Papua have once again forced Indigenous civilians to flee their homes and makeshift refugee camps into surrounding forests.

Indonesia, West Papua – This 10-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 October to 31 December 2025.

Tokyo – Indonesian police unlawfully dispersed, beat, and detained 11 Papuan protesters in Merauke City, South Papua, on January 25, 2026, Human Rights Watch said today.

Nuevaterra Mambor, Jayapura – The shooting at Mile 50, the mining area of PT. Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) on Wednesday (February 11, 2026) was confirmed by the XVII Cenderawasih Military Command.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – Indonesian security forces have secured the Korowai Batu Airport area in Boven Digoel, South Papua, and completed the evacuation of victims following a shooting incident involving a Smart Air aircraft, police said on Thursday.

Aida Ulim, Jayapura – A Draft Presidential Regulation (Ranperpres) on the involvement of the Indonesian Military (TNI) in combating terrorism is seen as further strengthening suspicions by various groups that the state is adopting a military approach to various problems in the country.

Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – A Smart Air caravan aircraft with registration number PKS-NR was reportedly shot at today, Wednesday, January 11, 2026. The shooting occurred during the aircraft landing at Korowai Batu Airport from Tanah Merah, Boven Digoel Regency, South Papua.

Jakarta – Indonesian authorities said on Feb 11 that three people were killed and several injured in shootings in two different areas of the country's easternmost region of Papua, including near the operations of gold and copper miner Freeport Indonesia.

Jakarta – On February 9 the Regional Representative Council (DPD) hosted a meeting with several civil society organisations that reported on alleged human rights violations in Papua.

The meeting was attended by DPD Deputy Speaker Yorrys Raweyai and a Senator from West Papua, Filep Wamafma.

Cahyo Pamungkas – In January 2026, Human Rights Monitor reported that the number of refugees in Indonesia's West Papua province had reached 105,878. These people, mostly Papuan native, fled from their home villages due to the protracted armed conflict between Indonesian armed forces and the West Papua National Liberation Army.

Andrew Mathieson – Indonesian military strikes in Indigenous West Papuan territory have forced civilians to flee villages and refugee camps into the forests for shelter.

The air and land raids in the Puncak Regency, an administrative division of Indonesia, have continued through this month since the first of the operations were launched on January 31.

On the night of 2 February 2026, personnel of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) reportedly shot dead Mr Pit Nayagau during a raid conducted on the outskirts of Dogatalipa Road, along the Dogabu River, located in the Sugapa District, Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua Province.

On 31 January 2026, personnel of the Indonesian Navy Marine Corps stationed at the Km 6 guard post arbitrarily detained two activists, Mr Alokni Keroman and Mr Oroni Gombo (see photo on top, source: independent HRD), in Dekai Town, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands Province.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Civil Society Coalition is calling on the state to halt the establishment of new military battalions in Papua along with national strategic projects (PSN) that are not in line with the wishes of the Papuan people.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 20 August 2024, Mr Tobias Silak, a civilian, was fatally shot and Naro Dapla sustained serious gunshot injuries on the Dekai mountain road, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is visiting Jakarta from 5 to 7 February to meet Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and to sign the Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security. He will be joined by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Penny Wong.

Reiner Brabar, Jayapura – The Papua Merauke Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) has emphasised that President Prabowo Subianto must respect and accept the results of the 2026 session of the Full Working Council of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (MPL PGI) as a form of respect for human rights, democracy and the rights of indigenous peoples in Papua.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – The Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Papua Merauke has declared its full support for the Fellowship of Churches in Indonesia (PGI) in rejecting National Strategic Projects (PSN) across Papua. This stance follows the Plenary Session of the PGI Working Committee (MPL-PGI) 2026, held in Merauke from January 30 to February 2, 2026.

A two-day West Papua Solidarity Forum and mini film festival is being held in Auckland Tamaki Makaurau next month featuring West Papuan and local academics, advocates and journalists.

Reiner Brabar, Jayapura – The Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) strongly condemns and firmly rejects military expansion and national strategic projects in Papua, which it considers to be tools for state oppression, the seizure of indigenous land and the continuation of internal colonialism against the Papuan people.

Maria Baru, Sorong – The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) is urging the Papua Regional Police (Polda Papua) to immediately solve the October 16, 2024 Molotov cocktail terror attack against the Jubi editorial office in Jayapura.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Indigenous rights activists have condemned the Indonesian government's decision to grant 328,000 hectares (810,505 acres) of cultivation rights for a massive rice plantation project in Papua, warning that the final land permit was issued at unusually rapid speed, compared with the years-long process typically required for large-scale plantation permits.

Reiner Brabar, Jayapura – The timber industry in Sorong regency, Southwest Papua, generates billions of rupiah in profits from merbau wood, but indigenous communities who own customary land only receive around 0.6 percent of the export value.

Jayapura – The People's Earth Heritage Foundation (Pusaka) says there are four patterns used by the government to "rob" Papua of its natural resources.

On 24 January 2026, Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) tortured and intimidated 20-year-old Nonis Bahabol in the Tomon 2 area of Dekai Town, Yahukimo Regency.

Endang Mulyani, Jakarta – Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka on Thursday reiterated the government's commitment to accelerating development in Papua, one of Indonesia's poorest regions, citing plans to expand healthcare, improve transport infrastructure, and widen access to education.

Indonesia, West Papua – The indigenous Byak community of Papua Province is facing an unprecedented crisis. State agencies, particularly the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), have launched a systematic land-grabbing campaign across the regencies of Biak Numfor, Supiori, and Waropen.

Laurens Ikinia, Jakarta – The logbook of presidential flights in Indonesia reveals an unusual pattern – from the Merdeka Palace to the Land of the Bird of Paradise.

By 2023, then President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo had set foot in Papua at least 17 times – a record in the republic's history, surpassing the total visits of all previous presidents combined.

Jakarta – Governance is in short supply in Indonesia. In the administration of Prabowo Subianto, transparency and accountability – the fundamental principles of public management – have been eroded by increasingly apparent conflicts of interest. The food estate project in South Papua is one example of this.

Indonesia, West Papua – Southwest Papua Senator Paul Finsen Mayor interrupted a Regional Representatives Council (DPD) plenary meeting in Jakarta on 14 January 2026 to deliver a pointed message from the Papuan people (see photo on top).

Twelve members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) allegedly tortured and repeatedly raped a 48-year-old Papuan woman in the Beoga District, Puncak Regency, Central Papua Province, on 13 January 2026. The incident occurred during an ongoing military operation in the Dambet Village. Local reports allege that the perpetrators are stationed at Dambet Military Post.

Indonesia, West Papua – The Indonesian government's militarised approach to conflict resolution and economic development in West Papua has reached alarming levels, triggering widespread internal displacement, human rights violations, and growing civil society resistance.

On 16 January 2026, Mr Kataw Kulua, 27, Mr Yaikunus Murib, 26, and Mr Lois Murib, 29, were arbitrarily arrested by personnel of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) near the BNPB Logistics Warehouse, Agandugume District, Puncak Regency, Central Papua Province.