Sorong, Jubi – Five individuals listed as wanted suspects (Daftar Pencarian Orang or DPO) in connection with a deadly attack in Bamusbama District, Tambrauw Regency, have surrendered after a mediation process facilitated by the the National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM) and the Tambrauw regency administration on Friday (April 3, 2026).
The five suspects—identified by their initials GY, YY, EY, KY, and MY—are believed to be affiliated with the Tentara Pembebasan Nasional Papua Barat (TPNPB-OPM), which was allegedly involved in an earlier attack that left a healthcare worker, a contract employee, and a civilian dead.
Head of Komnas HAM’s Papua representative office, Frits Ramandey, said the surrender followed intensive field negotiations. He noted that Tambrauw Regent Yeskiel Yesnath and local legislators personally went into forested areas to meet the suspects.
“This is significant, as the regent joined us in the field. We want to emphasize that in conflict areas, civilian leadership—particularly regional heads—should take the lead, not the military or police,” Ramandey said in Sorong.
In addition to the five suspects, authorities also secured the return of a minor who had fled into the forest out of fear following the incident.
Komnas HAM Commissioner for Monitoring and Investigation, Saurlin P. Siagian, stressed that the mediation prioritized ensuring the suspects’ legal rights in line with international human rights standards.
“We emphasize the prohibition of torture. Those detained must not face inhumane treatment, and we are ensuring they have access to legal counsel from the outset. Our mission is to break the cycle of violence by prioritizing a humanitarian approach,” Siagian said
The surrender comes in the aftermath of the Bamusbama incident, which triggered widespread displacement. Three villages—Salim, Sumbekas, and Banfot—were reported abandoned, with residents fleeing into forests or relocating to nearby
villages such as Yembun and Sumbun due to fears over ongoing security operations.
“We found Banfot village completely emptied. Residents are requesting that military posts located within settlements be relocated outside village areas so they can safely resume daily activities,” Ramandey said.
Regent Yesnath affirmed that the local government would guarantee the suspects’ rights throughout the legal process while upholding the presumption of innocence.
“We are working toward reconciliation so that public services and government activities can return to normal. At the same time, we are ensuring that the rights of victims and their families are fulfilled, including the repatriation of remains to their hometowns,” he said.
Following the surrender, Komnas HAM has called for a reduction in the scale of security operations in residential areas, aiming to create conditions conducive for displaced residents to return home and to recommence the development efforts in Tambrauw. (*)
The agreements, comprising a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and a cooperation pact, were signed by UNCEN Rector Oscar Oswald O. Wambrauw and PTFI President Director Tony Wenas.
“This partnership marks an important step in strengthening UNCEN’s strategic collaboration with Freeport Indonesia. It continues a long-standing relationship, including the milestone handover of the UNCEN Science and Partnership Building in December 2025,” Oscar said during the signing ceremony at UNCEN’s Tembagapura Auditorium on March 11, 2026.
He said collaboration between academia and industry is critical to producing a skilled, adaptive workforce capable of meeting future challenges. The partnership, he added, reflects a shared commitment to building Papua’s future through education.
Tony said cooperation between companies and educational institutions is essential to aligning workforce supply with industry demand.
“Freeport requires a highly capable workforce to support mining operations, while UNCEN can prepare graduates in line with industry needs without compromising academic standards or national curricula,” Tony said. He noted that he has visited the UNCEN campus five times.
The two institutions have a long history of collaboration, including research on the New Guinea singing dog in Grasberg, social anthropology studies, research on indigenous Amungme land rights, and teaching partnerships.
“With pride, we are signing this MoU to serve as an umbrella for broader collaboration in education development, research and innovation, human resource capacity building, and other joint programs,” Tony said.
In addition, PTFI, UNCEN, and Arizona State University signed a separate MoU aimed at improving education quality and advancing accreditation standards. Another agreement between PTFI and UNCEN will support a “Practitioner Teaching” program, covering thematic learning, seminars, training, and character education.
Tony also delivered a public lecture that drew strong interest from students across disciplines. The session provided an overview of PTFI’s history and end-to-end mining operations, insights into industry workforce requirements, career opportunities for Papuan talent, and the company’s contributions to regional development through social investment programs.
The lecture also featured an interactive session, allowing students to engage directly with PTFI’s leadership and gain practical insights into the industry.
Currently, 332 UNCEN alumni are employed as professionals at PTFI. A total of 255 students have received scholarships funded by the company, with 51 active recipients, a number expected to grow.
The figures underscore the tangible impact of sustained collaboration between industry and academia in building a long-term, inclusive education ecosystem in Papua.
———————-
3) Papuan Student Groups in Malang issue statement on Dogiyai violence
Author : News Desk
Editor : Nuevaterra Mambor
Jayapura, Jubi – Two Papuan student organizations in Malang, East Java—the Ikatan Pelajar dan Mahasiswa Papua Pania Raya (IPMAPAPARA) and the Papua Student Alliance of Kawanua Family (KK) Malang—have issued a formal statement in response to the recent violence in Dogiyai Regency, Central Papua.
The statement, released on Saturday (April 4, 2026), addresses a number of violent incidents that occurred in Kamuu District between March 31 and April 2, 2026, resulting in casualties among both civilians and police personnel.
The unrest began following the killing of a police officer, Jufentus Edowai, on March 31. He was found dead in Kimupugi Village with severe machete wounds and mutilation, allegedly carried out by unidentified assailants.
In response, security forces conducted sweeping operations across the area from March 31 to April 2. During these operations, several civilians were reportedly killed and injured, with allegations that some victims were shot by security personnel.
Data compiled by Jubi as of April 2 recorded six civilian deaths and two critically injured victims. However, the student groups reported five civilian fatalities and additional injuries, citing discrepancies in the data.
The deceased were identified as Siprianus Tibakoto (25), who was shot in the head; Yulita Pigai (80), an elderly woman who had long been paralyzed, shot in the body; Martinus Yobe (14), a sixth-grade student, shot in the abdomen; Ankian Edowai (19), shot in the head; as well as Feri Auwe (20) and Yafet Tibakoto.
The two critically injured victims are Maikel Waine (12), also a sixth-grade student, who sustained a gunshot wound to the left chest with the bullet exiting through the shoulder, and Kikibi Pigai (20), who was shot in the thigh.
On the police side, two officers were reported injured, including one who sustained a gunshot wound during a patrol and another struck by an arrow during an attack on the Dogiyai Police headquarters.
In their statement, the student groups linked the incident to broader historical grievances.
“Since Papua was incorporated into the framework of the Republic of Indonesia on May 1, 1963, widespread gross human rights violations have continued to occur in the land of Papua and have never been resolved by the Indonesian state through applicable law,” IPMAPAPARAMalang and the Papua Student Alliance of Kawanua Family Malang wrote in their statement.
Responding to the situation, the groups outlined several demands, including the immediate formation of an independent investigative team involving the Ministry of Human Rights, National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM), legal aid institutions, civil society organizations, the Papua People’s Assembly (MRP) of Central Papua, and local and provincial governments, as well as regional police authorities.
They also called on the Dogiyai Regency Government and local police to halt operations targeting civilians and adopt a more humanitarian approach.
The students further demanded that any security personnel found responsible for human rights violations, to be prosecuted fairly and without special treatment.
“We urge the Dogiyai administration and police to conduct a transparent investigation into the shootings, without impunity,” the statement read.
Additionally, they called on the Dogiyai Police to stop requesting reinforcements from other regions, warning that further troop deployments could prolong the conflict. They also urged on the Central Papua Police to immediately dismiss the Dogiyai Police Chief dishonourably.
—————————-
West Papuan civilians allegedly massacred amid Indonesian retaliation to police shooting
Indonesian Police have allegedly committed a number of atrocities on the eve of West Papuans observing the Easter holidays, allegedly murdering at least five civilians — including the reported death of a minor — with other sustaining serious injuries in what was described as "colonial rampage".
Free West Papua campaigners have reported an Indigenous Papuan police officer was allegedly killed by an unknown assailant in front of the Ebenezer Church, located in Moanemani village in the Indonesian administrative division of Dogiyai Regency on traditional Papuan lands.
In response, police allegedly opened fire across the Moanemani market.
Reports suggest the operation quickly spread to the neighbouring Ikebo village, as police were said to have fired indiscriminately into the homes of Ikebo residents.
It is unknown how many people were shot in total, however residents Ester Pigai, 60, Yosep You, 20, Siprianus Tibakoto, 19, Angkian Edowai, 19, and Martinus Yobee, 14, were found deceased.
Images of the deceased victims have been distributed online, which National Indigenous Times has chosen not to show.
Maikel Waine, 14, was also severely wounded, reportedly possibly dead, after suffering a gunshot wound to the left side of his chest which also penetrated his left shoulder.
Maikel Pekei, 11, was also seriously injured, shot in the upper chest. He was left in a critical condition and is still being treated in hospital.
Church sources on the ground have reported an ongoing battle is being waged between security forces and Papuan youths, who are attempting to block the road into Moanemani, scattering logs and rocks across it to prevent Indonesian military reinforcements reaching the village.
A joint military and police armed unit was also reported to be en route to the area ahead of Easter.
United Liberation Movement for West Papua interim chairman, Benny Wenda, called on Indonesia to withdraw their occupying forces.
"Deploying the military now will only bring more bloodshed," he said in a statement from exile in London.
"West Papuan civilians are the victims of (President) Prabowo's ongoing military escalation, which has spread across Yahukimo, Intan Jaya, Paniai, Maybrat, and now Dogiyai (regencies).
"What the carnage in Dogiyai demonstrates is that Indonesia views that all West Papuans are legitimate targets.
"Elders, women, and children: no one is safe from the murderous vengeance of the Indonesian security state.
"The massacre triggered a wave of internal displacement, as terrified civilians have fled into the mountains and surrounding villages.
"Indonesia's actions in Dogiyai are both a crime against humanity — a grave act of colonial violence — and a breach of international law.
"Shooting indiscriminately into homes and a public market is a form of collective punishment, while the intentional killing of civilians is a war crime, prohibited under the Geneva convention."
Mr Wenda reiterated a call for Indonesia to allow the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit the West Papuan territory.
More than 110 sovereign countries — a clear majority of the UN member states — are demanding Indonesia is held to account.
However the Indonesian government has continued for the past seven years to refuse scrutiny from UN officials in what the Free West Papua movement has long deemed to be occupied Indigenous land.
"Dogiyai is not an isolated incident - every day brings a new atrocity," Mr Wenda said.
"How long will the world allow this (occupation) to continue before Indonesia is made to suffer genuine diplomatic consequences for their refusal?
"I direct this particularly at Pacific leaders - how long will you allow Indonesia to spill Melanesian blood before taking a real stand against this genocidal occupation?
"How many Papuans must die?"
The alleged massacre occurred less than a fortnight before the Indonesian military arbitrarily arrested and allegedly tortured a separate West Papuan civilian in the Maybrat Regency.
Yusuf Sory was detained by military forces amid a gunfight alongside the West Papua National Liberation Army.
Mr Sory's whereabouts still remain unknown, with Free West Papua campaigners fearing he is dead.
A video, circulated online, has showed Mr Sory tied to a tree while being interrogated and beaten up by Indonesian soldiers.
The alleged torture incident has prompted a renewed humanitarian crisis in Maybrat Regency under reports all public activities had come to a standstill, residents were unable to leave their homes, with the community going without food for multiple days.
Mr Wenda condemned what he termed "evil and cruel actions committed by the occupying military".
"These incidents have happened for 60 years but only now, because of social media and citizen journalists, can the world see what life is really like for West Papuans," he said.
———————-
