Thanks to Sister Susan for her flyer which will be updated monthly with events in West Papua to help raise awareness of the issue. July below
Thursday, July 2, 2026
1) Rebels in Indonesia’s Papua kill American pilot, burn plane, spokesperson says
2) Indonesia defends high number of military in Papua
3) Car Carrying Catholic Church Leader Shot at in Intan Jaya
4) Papuan Women Traders Spend Night Outside Southwest Papua Governor’s Office
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1) Rebels in Indonesia’s Papua kill American pilot, burn plane, spokesperson says
Published Jul 02, 2026, 07:40 PM
Updated Jul 02, 2026, 08:47 PM
JAKARTA – Rebels in Indonesia’s restive easternmost region of Papua on July 2 shot dead an American pilot and set a civilian plane on fire in what a spokesperson for a local separatist group described as a “message” to the US and Indonesian governments.
A low-level battle for independence from Indonesia has long raged in the resource-rich western half of Papua, where attacks by independence fighters have grown deadlier and more frequent as they have procured better weaponry.
Sebby Sambom, a spokesman for the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), an armed separatist group, said that their troops shot dead American pilot Nicholas F. Gosselin and set his plane on fire after it landed in the Yahukimo region of Highland Papua province.
He said the aircraft had been “frequently dropping Indonesian military personnel and violating the TPNPB’s ultimatum”.
Yusuf Sutejo, spokesman for Indonesia’s joint police-military operations in Papua, confirmed that a plane with an American pilot carrying seven passengers was found burned at a local airport in Yahukimo, but he could not confirm whether it had been attacked by rebels, or whether the pilot was killed. All the passengers were Papuans, he said.
The attack in the Balinggama district of Yahukimo was a message to the Indonesian and US government for “failing to address the root causes of the conflict in Papua between the Indonesian military and the West Papua National Liberation Army”, Sebby said.
Sebby said rebels would start conducting attacks if Indonesia keeps allowing civilian aircraft to enter rebel-controlled red zones of Papua.
Rebels carried guns and axes and raised the “Morning Star” flag, a symbol of independence, while announcing the attack, according to a video sent by TPNPB.
The US embassy in Jakarta did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Indonesia’s Transportation Ministry said on July 2 that the plane carried one pilot and seven passengers and had flown to Yahukimo from Wamena, another city in Highland Papua.
It said communications ceased after the plane landed.
The aircraft is owned by airline operator AMA, whose planes carry food, fuel and mail to remote villages in Papua, according to its website.
AMA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a high-profile case, Papuan rebels kidnapped New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens after he landed a small commercial plane in the remote, mountainous area of Nduga in Highland Papua before freeing him in 2024. REUTERS
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2) Indonesia defends high number of military in Papua
Johnny Blades RNZ Pacific senior journalist
Indonesia has defended the high number of military personnel it has deployed to West Papua, which dwarves the size of deployments to others parts of the republic.
But under Indonesian president Subianto Prabowo, a former military strongman, militarisation of Papua is changing gears and being shaped by a type of warfare that includes drone technology.
Recent research reported by Project Multatuli, says that 56,517 Indonesian military forces are deployed in Papua - at least six times more military per capita than any other region in Indonesia.
The figures also note that Indonesia's military far outnumbers the amount of Papuan pro-independence fighters, estimated at 1438 members of various disparate, small groups with only 361 firearms.
The research figures come amid ongoing violent incidents related to a long running conflict between Indonesia's security forces and the West Papua National Liberation Army, or armed factions of the OPM Free West Papua Movement.
The Indonesian Embassy in New Zealand said not all the numbers are active combatants or personnel directed to fight Papuan resistance forces.
It said the assignment of military doctors, medics, and territorial development divisions was part of efforts to provide for communities in Papua.
"Continuing the expansion of provinces in Papua, previously from two to six, there will be obviously the need to provide security, health, and the capability to adapt to the new administration structure, with also the assignment to guard and maintain the land and maritime borders with our neighbouring countries," a statement from the Embassy said.
Andreas Harsono of Human Rights Watch Indonesia said that under the country's new president, Prabowo Subianto, there's been an escalation of military sent to Papua, with at least a battalion each year being deployed.
"The Prabowo administration is to increase the figure up to 42 battalions by 2029. Today, Papua has around 56,000 Indonesian soldiers. The ratio is one soldier per 100 civilians in Papua. It is much higher than the national ratio in Indonesia - one soldier per 696 civilians."
The purpose of the huge military deployment is working hand in glove with a gradual change in demographics in Papua, whereby Papuans are becoming a minority in many districts, and an increase in development projects backed by the Indonesian state.
"It obviously is more than securing the area and to protect the population, but to grab lands to clear forests and to occupy this vast land," Harsono said.
"The biggest detachments is in South Papua Province, including Merauke and Boeven Digoel regencies, where the Indonesian government is clearing nearly three million hectares of land and swamps, starting to produce what President Prabowo said to be the 'food and energy estate’."
Meanwhile, Papuans are not only seeing more military personnel in their homeland these days - they're witnessing a new type of warfare and technology being used by the Indonesian military.
"Military units, usually equipped with drones, are dispatched in areas where the Papuan militants operate. These units patrol their respective areas with foot soldiers and drone units also armed with grenades and other explosives attached to the drone."
Indonesia's military also works together with a large Indonesian police presence in Papua - the research figures showed there are 26,660 police deployed in Papua region.
Additionally, countless officers from the State Intelligence Agency, who are scattered through the region, work in tandem with the security forces to protect the interests of the Indonesian state.
3) Car Carrying Catholic Church Leader Shot at in Intan Jaya
IN PACNEWS READING TIME: 3 MINS READ JULY 2, 2026 0 Author : Larius Kogoya Editor : Victor Mambor
Jayapura, Jubi – A car carrying the leader of the Catholic Church’s Moni-Puncak Deanery, Father Yance Yogi, Pr, was shot at in Titigi Village, Sugapa District, Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua, on Monday (6/29/2026). Inside the vehicle were also a number of congregants and workers building the Titigi bridge. One worker was reported injured as a result of the shooting.
Father Yance Yogi, Pr said the vehicle they were traveling in was shot at while trying to avoid an armed clash between the TNI-Polri (Indonesian Military-Police) and the TPNPB (West Papua National Liberation Army) at Wabu River.
However, bullets from several rounds fired pierced the body of the vehicle from the roof down to the lower left side near the side mirror. One bullet also went through the side of the car, causing one victim to sustain a minor injury.
“The central government and security forces want to accelerate development. But it’s strange that the vehicle carrying a priest and congregants accompanying workers building the bridge in Titigi became a shooting target,” said the Dean of the Moni-Puncak Deanery, Father Yance Yogi, Pr, when contacted by phone on Wednesday (7/1/2026).
According to Father Yance Yogi, aside from himself, the other passengers in the car were a nun, a Catholic Church minister, and an employee of Tunas Jaya Papua (TJP).
“Fortunately all the passengers survived the incident, even though the vehicle was damaged by bullets that pierced its body,” he said.
The Dean of the Moni-Puncak Deanery, Father Yance, who oversees church administration for Intan Jaya Regency, Puncak Regency, and Puncak Jaya Regency, explained that before the incident, he and the congregation had been accompanying the construction work on the bridge in Titigi being carried out by a company.
However, at around 3:30 PM local time, an armed clash broke out between security forces (TNI-Polri) and the TPNPB around Wabu River.
“Because of that gunfight, I asked the company to head immediately to Titigi to avoid a situation that was becoming increasingly dangerous,” he said.
The group, consisting of company representatives, workers, and congregants, used an excavator to head to Titigi to avoid the site of the armed clash. However, before reaching their destination, they were met with a barrage of gunfire.
“We all immediately got down from the heavy equipment, knelt around the excavator and prayed for God’s protection. We stayed there until the situation began to calm down,” said Father Yogi.
He said that about 50 minutes after the gunfire began to subside, he and the group left their hiding place. Father Yogi then contacted congregants to come pick them up using a rectory vehicle.
The vehicle that arrived carried a nun, church preachers, and members of the Church Parish Council (BPGS), who at the time were still wearing the formal vestments of the Catholic Church.
“But as the car was about to move away from the location, the vehicle we were riding in was shot at repeatedly. So bullets pierced the body of the car, hitting the front middle seat, and one passenger suffered a gunshot wound.”
Although the vehicle was damaged and one passenger sustained a minor gunshot injury, Father Yogi added that they were nonetheless grateful that all the passengers survived the crossfire between the TNI-Polri and the TPNPB.
“We believe God opened a way for us to survive the shooting, even though at the time we were still wearing the formal vestments of the Catholic Church and the Holy Cross,” he said.
Father Yance said that regarding the shooting of the rectory vehicle, his side would take appropriate steps to hold those who fired on the church-owned vehicle accountable.
They will coordinate with the relevant authorities to resolve this matter, and hope that the incident will not damage the good relations that have been established so far. Togetherness and cooperation among all parties must be maintained, so that the situation in Intan Jaya remains safe and peaceful.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Public Relations Task Force of Operation Damai Cartenz-2026, Senior Commissioner Yusuf Sutejo, said his side had no knowledge of and did not fire indiscriminately at the rectory vehicle carrying the Catholic Church leader.
“No ODC [Operasi Damai Cartenz] members fired indiscriminately,” he said when confirming via text message on Thursday (7/2/2026).
Jubi has attempted to seek confirmation from the Information Chief of Kodam XVII/Cenderawasih, Lieutenant Colonel Inf. Tri Purwanto, but Jubi had not received a response by the time this report was published. (*)
Larius Kogoya
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4) Papuan Women Traders Spend Night Outside Southwest Papua Governor’s Office
IN PACNEWS READING TIME: 4 MINS READ JULY 2, 2026 0 Author : Arjuna Pademme Editor : Nuevaterra Mambor
Jayapura, Jubi – More than 100 Indigenous Papuan women traders spent the night outside the Southwest Papua Governor’s Office in Sorong, demanding that Governor Elisa Kambu fulfill promises made more than a year ago to support their businesses.
The traders, many of whom slept on tarpaulins, mats, or thin carpets in the office courtyard, said they would remain at the governor’s office until they were granted a meeting. Some slept directly on the ground near the main flagpole, while others stayed awake through the night to care for children they had brought with them.
The overnight sit-in followed a protest march on Wednesday from Taman Deo to the governor’s office, where participants carried banners demanding greater government support for Indigenous Papuan women traders.
After arriving at the office, the demonstrators held speeches and a public forum outlining their demands. However, they said no provincial officials met with them throughout the day, prompting the group to remain overnight in the hope of speaking directly with the governor the following morning.
The protesters came not only from Sorong but also from five regencies across Southwest Papua Province.
Representatives said the demonstration was intended to remind Governor Kambu of his pledge to allocate a concrete share of the province’s Special Autonomy (Otsus) funds to Indigenous Papuan women traders, arguing that the benefits of the program have yet to improve their livelihoods in any meaningful way.
Levina Duwit, chair of the Sorong Papuan Women Traders Association (P2MP-KS), said it has been one year and two months since the governor promised business capital assistance and the construction of a dedicated market for Indigenous Papuan vendors.
“However, the Governor of Southwest Papua has yet to fully deliver on those promises,” Duwit said in an electronic message on Thursday.
She acknowledged that the provincial government had introduced a business grant program, disbursed between December 2025 and January 2026, and had begun constructing several market facilities. However, she argued that the programs had been implemented unevenly and without adequately addressing the concerns of Papuan women traders.
Duwit said the Rp10.125 billion business assistance program launched late last year failed to reach many intended beneficiaries because members of the traders’ association were largely excluded from the selection process. Of the 2,448 business operators listed as recipients, only 494 were registered Indigenous Papuan women traders affiliated with P2MP-KS.
She also criticized the construction of new market complexes, saying the projects were carried out without consultation with the association, resulting in facilities that do not meet the practical needs of Papuan women traders.
Legal counsel for the Sorong Papuan Women Traders Association (P2MP-KS), Papuan human rights lawyer Yohanis Mambrasar, said the group had repeatedly sought formal discussions with the provincial government to establish a more transparent and accountable support system for Indigenous Papuan traders.
Instead, he said, the relevant government agencies had failed to respond and continued to impose complex administrative requirements that effectively excluded many Indigenous Papuan women traders from accessing business assistance.
“We have repeatedly written to and invited the relevant agencies to coordinate with us, but there has been no positive response. Instead, the bureaucracy continues to maintain highly complicated administrative requirements,” Mambrasar said.
Frustrated by the lack of progress, the traders returned to the Southwest Papua Governor’s Office with a proposed policy framework outlining five recommendations aimed at reforming government support for Indigenous Papuan traders.
The proposal calls on Governor Elisa Kambu and the Speaker of the Southwest Papua Legislative Council to sign a memorandum of understanding guaranteeing an annual allocation of between Rp3 billion and Rp6 billion for business capital assistance to Indigenous Papuan traders.
Under the proposal, Rp3 billion would be managed directly by the provincial government, while a Rp6 billion allocation would be distributed to regencies and Sorong City, with each local administration receiving Rp1 billion to support traders.
The traders also propose transferring responsibility for managing business assistance programs from the Cooperative and MSME Office and the Trade Office to an independent institution dedicated to supporting Indigenous Papuan women traders, arguing that such a body would reduce bureaucratic obstacles and improve accountability.
In addition, they are seeking guaranteed market stalls for Indigenous Papuan women traders at the temporary market replacing Remu Market in Kilometer 10, as well as fair allocation of stalls once the new Remu Market is completed. They say the allocation should be based on verified data on existing traders.
The proposal also calls on the provincial government to publicly disclose the 2025 budget realization report for its business grant program for Indigenous Papuan micro and small enterprises. The traders say access to the document would enable public scrutiny of how the funds have been allocated and spent.
One of the protesters who spent the night outside the governor’s office said the group would continue its protest until Governor Elisa Kambu personally responded to their demands.
“We will not go home until we meet Governor Elisa Kambu face to face. We have brought this five-point proposal because we want justice, and we need a written commitment so that promises of business capital and proper market facilities do not simply disappear as they did last year,” the trader said. (*)
Nuevaterra Mambor
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