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This orderly and controlled action began from the Kumurkek area, then the mass moved in tandem to the Aisyo Junction, and continued with a long march to the Maybrat Regent's Office as the final point of delivering aspirations.
Around 250 people participated in the action, which ran orderly under tight but humane security from joint personnel from the Maybrat Police, Aifat Police, and members of the Yon B Unit of the West Papua Police.
The presence of a number of regional officials, customary figures, community leaders, and youth figures also escorted the demonstration so that it would remain peaceful and dignified.
Also present to receive the aspirations of the people directly were the Governor of West Papua, Elisa Kambu, S.Sos., West Papua Police Chief Brigjen Pol. Audie S. Latuheru, S.I.K., M.Han., and the Regent of Maybrat Karel Murafer, S.H., M.A., accompanied by the ranks of TNI-Polri officials, elements of Forkopimda, and local community leaders.
In the oration delivered, the masses conveyed clear and firm demands: they demanded a firm and transparent legal process against those responsible for the shooting incident that claimed three lives, and urged a resolution of the issue in accordance with applicable legal provisions while respecting local customary values.
Governor Elisa Kambu in his response expressed deep appreciation to all levels of society, traditional leaders, community leaders, and youth who have maintained peace so that the action of delivering aspirations runs safely and orderly. He emphasized the firm attitude of the local government which rejects all forms of violence, and is committed to delivering and fighting for every aspiration conveyed by the people.
"We ask the public to give space to the police to conduct a professional investigation, so that the actual facts can be found and the results are presented openly to the entire community," said Governor Elisa in front of the crowd.
Meanwhile, the South West Papua Police Chief, Brig. Gen. Pol. Audie S. Latuheru emphasized that his party was committed to investigating the case to its conclusion, without covering up the truth.
He invited the public to jointly maintain the security situation and give the investigative team the opportunity to conduct a thorough investigation process, including processing the crime scene (TKP) to obtain valid and accurate evidence.
"We will thoroughly investigate this incident. However, we ask the police for space to conduct an in-depth investigation to obtain an objective investigation result. We hope that the Maybrat community will jointly support the process so that it can run well and the results can be accounted for," said Police Chief Audie.
The results of the investigation will be presented publicly to the public after all stages of handling the case are carried out thoroughly and based on facts found in the field.
Overall, the demonstration ended in a safe, orderly, and smooth manner without any unwanted incidents. The security and public order situation in the Maybrat Regency during the activity remained conducive.
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Police have been accused of instigating violent clashes with anguished West Papuan demonstrators over marking a dark day of their homeland's incorporation into Indonesian sovereignty.
The anniversary of the infamous 1962 US-brokered, New York agreement at the United Nations surrendered Western New Guinea to Jakarta after the Netherlands — the colonial power of both outposts at one stage — eventually dispersed its administration of the Papuan territory following 134 years of historic rule.
Dozens of reportedly civil and peaceful protests took place across West Papua on Saturday in several significant cities and towns, however the demonstrations were met with the use of tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets. Demonstrators were also allegedly beaten by Indonesian police, leaving many injured.
The National Committee of West Papua organised the anniversary marches, the largest being in Jayapura with protests also extending to Jakarta and Makassar.
Human rights' defenders who witnessed the protests say while all of the demonstrators were closely monitored by police, the force's dispersal of violence in several locations remains a serious concern among the bigger issue of the violation of participants' rights to express their opinions peacefully.
Seven West Papua National Committee members were reported to have sustained serious injuries as a result of the actions of police towards disrupting the demonstrations in Sentani, an administrative district just outside of Jayapura.
Several students from Cenderawasih University in the territory's largest city were also injured as police forcibly dispersed their demonstration.
One National Committee member of West Papua located in Makassar was reportedly struck separately by a wire arrow fired by a member of an alleged community-based militia group.
Demonstrations in several parts of the West Papuan territory were reported to have proceeded well, with no initial reports of violence or dispersion in the main centres of Merauke, Yahukimo, Wamena, Sorong, Manokwari and Timika.
A serious incident reportedly occured at a police station in Nabire on the northwest coast of the island, where protesters were said to be subject to torture amid a military siege in the town of nearly 100,000 people.
Police reportedly arrested the West Papuan activists and students two days before the anniversary in Nabire after they were spotted distributing flyers to promote a peaceful demonstration in the district, drawing a terse response from an international solidarity and advocacy network supporting West Papuan self-determination and independence.
"The Merdeka West Papua Support Network stands in solidarity with the people of West Papua in asserting their rights for West Papua's freedom and self-determination," a statement read.
"The violence against West Papuans in the protest (on Saturday) adds to the impunity and the crimes of the Indonesian government that has been ongoing for decades."
The protests of the anniversary almost coincided with Indonesian Independence Day, which was held just two days later.
The Merdeka West Papua Support Network demanded the immediate release of those arrested during the weekend's protests, swiftly holding Indonesian security forces, which includes its military, accountable for the alleged brutality.
"Without a global assertion for the recognition of the (West Papuan) right to self-determination, and without correcting the historical injustice against the West Papuan people from the New York agreement and the Act of Free Choice vote, we will be idle watchers to the occupation, racial discrimination, violent repression, human rights violation, and environmental destruction of West Papua and its peoples," they said.
The New York agreement arranged for the United Nations to temporarily administer the territory before transferring the administration to Indonesia.
The Netherlands had intended to hand West Papuans their full independence similar to the Dutch doing so for Indonesia in 1949.
The Act of Free Choice, which took place in 1969, was supposed to see people of the West Papuan territory determine whether they wanted to remain with Indonesia or go alone as a separate sovereign state.
It was found the agreement lacked any genuine consultation with West Papuan people.
The UN administration ended on May 1, 1963 when Indonesia assumed administration.
Rather than being a one-person-one-vote referendum, Indonesia carefully selected representatives through local councils participating, ensuring the territory remained a part of Indonesia in a process which has since become highly controversial among supporters for West Papuan independence.
Manokwari, Jubi – Residents in Tomu district, Teluk Bintuni regency, Southwest Papua, have traditionally relied on rainwater to meet their daily needs. But after months of prolonged drought, many have been forced to use murky river water instead.
Tomu district comprises seven villages: Tomu, Totitra, Ayot, Ekam, Adu, Rejo Sari and Wanagir.
Umar, a resident of Tomu village, said that during the current dry season, he and other residents have little choice but to collect murky water from a river located between the villages.
“We can only rely on rainwater, and this has been the case for years, since our parents’ time,” Umar said on Tuesday (18/06/2026).
He said residents also wait for the river to rise with the tide so they can collect water for consumption.
“Some boil it before drinking, while others use it for household needs such as washing,” he said.
Umar said residents had become accustomed to the situation. He recalled that BP Tangguh, a natural gas company operating in the area, had previously offered to provide a pump to draw water from the river.
“The company once offered a machine to pump water from the river, but that was in the early days when the gas company first arrived,” he said.
Adur village secretary Jumat Kosepa also raised concerns about the lack of clean water available to residents. He said that while Indonesians celebrate independence every year, residents in Tomu had yet to experience what he described as independence from the lack of clean water.
“We have celebrated independence for years, but we have not experienced independence when it comes to access to clean water,” said Kosepa, who also chairs the Tomu District Indigenous Community Institution (LMA).
He said residents hoped the government would provide water storage facilities and pipelines to distribute clean water to households. However, such hopes had remained unfulfilled year after year, including during Independence Day celebrations.
According to Kosepa, most residents in Tomu depend heavily on rainwater because there are no water storage facilities or pipelines distributing clean water to their homes.
“Rainwater is used for drinking and cooking, while the river water is not suitable for consumption. River water is only used for washing and bathing,” Kosepa said.
Kosepa said the area had been experiencing a prolonged drought for the past three months. Residents have now exhausted their stored rainwater and have been forced to rely on murky river water for consumption despite its poor quality.
“River water is the last resort for us to survive, even though it has been mixed with seawater and river debris. People still collect water from the river because seawater has already entered the river,” he said.
He said that although Tomu has drinking water depots selling bottled water, the water used by residents is still drawn from the murky river.
Kosepa also warned that the river could be contaminated by waste at any time because a public waste disposal site is located near the river, about 29 metres from its edge.
He urged the government not to merely celebrate Indonesia’s Independence Day with festivities year after year, but to reflect on what independence means for citizens, particularly those living in Tomu district, Teluk Bintuni regency. (*)
Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Foundation for Justice and Human Integrity (YKKMP) has written to Indonesia’s National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM RI) over the alleged shooting of three civilians in Ainot village, Aifat district, Maybrat regency, Southwest Papua on August 13, 2026.
The letter, numbered AO1/PTI/YKKMP/WMX/PG/VIII/2026 and signed by YKKMP Executive Director and Papuan human rights advocate Theo Hesegem, calls for the establishment of a monitoring and investigation team.
YKKMP expressed concern over the incident and urged Komnas HAM to immediately investigate the alleged shooting, which injured Selviana Sorry, Ana Fatie and Silvester Assem.
According to preliminary information gathered by YKKMP, the civilians were staying in a makeshift shelter after working in their gardens and processing sago when the incident occurred.
Witnesses told the organisation that, as darkness fell, several personnel believed to be members of a TNI task force assigned to the area arrived near the location.
A barrage of gunfire was then reportedly directed at the shelter and the surrounding area where the civilians were staying.
“The victims and witnesses were reportedly evacuated only at around 6 a.m. WIT on Friday, August 14, 2026, because the incident occurred at night and the location was relatively far from the district centre,” YKKMP said in its letter.
YKKMP stressed that the information was preliminary and must be verified through an independent, objective and evidence-based investigation.
The organisation said it did not intend to pre-empt the results of any investigation or determine who was responsible before all the facts had been thoroughly examined.
However, given the allegation that armed force was used and resulted in civilians being injured, YKKMP said the incident warranted serious attention from a state institution mandated to monitor and investigate alleged human rights violations.
YKKMP therefore called on Komnas HAM to immediately establish a monitoring and investigation team to determine what happened on August 13.
The team, it said, should work independently, objectively, professionally and transparently, while prioritising the safety and interests of the victims.
YKKMP said the investigation should, at a minimum, include direct interviews with all three victims to establish the chronology of the incident and assess their condition. It also called for interviews with witnesses who were at the scene when the incident occurred.
The organisation urged investigators to examine the crime scene to establish the victims’ positions, the direction of fire, shooting distance and surrounding conditions. It also called for medical examinations of the victims, including documentation of their injuries and medical records, to determine the cause and mechanism of the injuries.
YKKMP further requested the collection of physical evidence, including projectiles, bullet casings, bullet marks and other evidence found at the scene. It said the types of firearms and ammunition used should also be verified where ballistic examination is possible.
The organisation called for verification of the presence and movements of security personnel in the area at the time of the incident, as well as an examination of security operation records and reports relating to the deployment of personnel in the area.
YKKMP also urged investigators to interview village and district officials, medical personnel and others who were aware of the incident and the subsequent evacuation.
It said the security situation faced by civilians in Aifat and Maybrat following the incident should also be documented to prevent intimidation or further violence.
YKKMP urged Komnas HAM to give particular attention to protecting the victims and witnesses.
“Victims and witnesses must be provided with a safe environment in which to give testimony without pressure, intimidation, threats or any form of intervention,” the organisation said.
YKKMP said the willingness of residents to provide testimony was crucial to establishing the truth and that their safety must therefore be a priority throughout the monitoring and investigation process.
The organisation also called on all relevant parties to provide Komnas HAM with the access it needs to conduct an objective investigation.
“There must be no attempt to destroy evidence, prevent witnesses from giving testimony or restrict access to the scene without clear legal grounds,” YKKMP said.
If accounts provided by residents differ from those given by security forces, YKKMP said the discrepancies should be resolved through an evidence-based investigation rather than unilateral statements from either side.
Beyond establishing the facts, YKKMP urged Komnas HAM to ensure that the rights of the three victims are upheld, including their right to medical treatment and security and protection.
The victims, it said, should also have the right to information about the handling of the case, access to remedies if they are found to have been victims of human rights violations, and access to justice in accordance with applicable law.
YKKMP called on the TNI, Polri, local governments, armed groups, traditional leaders, religious leaders and all other parties in Maybrat to exercise restraint and refrain from actions that could further destabilise the security situation or increase the risk of civilian casualties.
YKKMP stressed that civilians must not be treated as targets in conflict situations and that their safety and protection must remain a priority.
“Komnas HAM RI has an important role in ensuring that alleged human rights violations against communities are investigated objectively and do not end in mutual accusations between the parties,” YKKMP said.
The organisation urged Komnas HAM to take concrete steps by sending a monitoring and investigation team to Maybrat, interviewing victims and witnesses, examining the scene, collecting evidence and publicly reporting its findings in a transparent manner, in accordance with its mandate and applicable regulations.
YKKMP said it was prepared to cooperate with Komnas HAM and provide the commission with the preliminary information it had gathered, provided the process was conducted professionally and independently and prioritised the protection of victims and witnesses.
“We sincerely hope that Komnas HAM RI will give this matter serious attention and take immediate action. We thank you for your attention and follow-up,” YKKMP said in the letter. (*)
