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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Jayapura – The People's Earth Heritage Foundation (Pusaka) says there are four patterns used by the government to "rob" Papua of its natural resources.
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.
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.
Jakarta – National Strategic Projects may well become one of the worst economic development legacies from the administrations of Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto. As well as creating social and environmental problems, these projects ignore the principles of good governance and are rife with conflicts of interest.
Jacobus E. Lato – Church leaders in Indonesia's Christian-majority Papua have criticized the 'excessive military' presence in the region, calling it a flawed state policy to counter insurgency in the conflict-scarred easternmost territory.
A Catholic bishop has joined rights activists and tribal leaders to oppose a government plan to expand palm oil plantations in Indonesia's Papua region, terming the move a threat to environment and indigenous communities.
Andrew Mathieson – Human rights violations against Indigenous West Papuans on their ancestral territory makes Indonesia's appointment to head the United Nations Human Rights Council a "mockery" of the position, according to a prominent West Papuan independence leader.
Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) claims to have shot down a Hercules aircraft passing through the Yahukimo region of the Highland Papua.
Nabire, Jubi – Jubi's CEO, Victor Mambor, urged Papuan journalists to become key players in covering major issues in Papua, rather than merely being spectators while media from outside Papua dominates.
On 31 December 2025, Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) personnel stationed at the Aisa Military Post reportedly ill-treated an elderly man named Mr Markus Sahbuku in the Sahbuku Village, East Aifat District, Maybrat Regency, Southwest Papua Province..
On 9 January 2026, Indonesian military (TNI) personnel arbitrarily detained six Indigenous Papuans in Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Highland Papua province. At least three of them were subjected to torture during interrogation. All victims are Indigenous Papuans and civilians.
Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) rescued 18 workers at gold and copper miner Freeport Indonesia that had been surrounded by armed rebels for three days at a company outpost in the insurgency-plagued Papua region, officials said on Thursday.
Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – Paul Finsen Mayor, a member of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) from Southwest Papua, expressed his disapproval of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's plan to encourage oil palm plantations in Papua. Finsen stated that his opposition represents the aspirations of the indigenous Papuan people.
On 5 May 2025, members of the Damai Cartenz Police Unit arbitrarily arrested 17-year-old Papuan high school student, Ivan Kabak, in Dekai town, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province.
Johnny Blades – Indonesia's vice-president cancelled a visit in West Papua after a shooting attack on an aircraft in the area.
Gibran Rakabuming Raka was scheduled to land in Papua's Yahukimo regency yesterday, but changed plans following reports that Papuan militants shot at a plane the day before.
Indonesian military (TNI) personnel arbitrarily detained five indigenous Papuans after returning from Sunday worship at a church in Jampul Village, West Beoga District, Puncak Regency, on 4 January 2026.
Papuan peace advocates have called on Indonesia to initiate dialogue or peace negotiations to end 50 years of conflict.
The church and civil society groups said talks between President Prabowo Subianto and the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) were essential to a peaceful resolution of indigenous issues.
Johnny Blades – As Indonesia ascends to the presidency of the UN Human Rights Council, the country has been described by a West Papuan independence campaigner as "unfit" to hold the position.
Between 30 November and 9 December 2025, a series of intimidation and surveillance incidents were reportedly directed against Mr Apolos Sroyer, Chair of the Biak Customary Council and Chief of the Biak Tribe, in the Biak-Supiori Regency, Papua province.