3) Indigenous Papuans allegedly shot dead during military operation in Intan Jaya
Human Rights Defenders captured an image of fleeing Papuan villagers from Indonesian military bombs. Image: Supplied.
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.
Recent West Papuan social media posts report a flood of people cut off from food sources and other basic supplies.
The affected Papuans had been residing in the Kembru district in Puncak, which had initially become a refuge for those already displaced by earlier fighting in Pogoma and other surrounding districts.
At least nine separate villages in the district had been affected by the military operations.
Indonesian authorities were also believed to have cut internet access for a number of days, which prevented civilians from reporting what was happening locally to the outside world.
Human Rights Defenders say they have witnessed drone strikes near civilian settlements and refugee sites, leading to families having little choice but to flee on foot for several kilometres through forests.
More civilians from Puncak have sought safety and refuge in the regency's villages of Sinak and Yambi.
Human Rights Defenders, an official term within the international human rights community which according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights can include community leaders, journalists, lawyers and students or members of human rights organisations, have demanded that refugee areas be protected under international law.
In a statement, the advocates have asked for an immediate stop to the Indonesian military operations in civilian and refugee areas; protection and humanitarian access for displaced communities; and respect for the human rights of civilians in the Central Papua province of the Indonesian state.
"If operations are against armed groups, civilians must not be placed in harm's way," the statement said.
Benny Wenda, the chairman of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua and founder of the Free West Papua campaign, acting on behalf of three united independence groups seeking sovereignty for the Western New Guinean land, has confirmed the reports of violence.
Mr Wenda says this is an ongoing colonial project, sustained by foreign governments that continue to arm Jakarta and legitimised by the "shameful silence" of Asian-Pacific regional powers including Australia.
"We are murdered, tortured, and raped, and then our land is stolen for resource extraction and corporate profitwhen we flee," he told the Asia Pacific Solidarity Network on the eve of the first military strikes.
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. My recent article provides some cases of violent impact on Papuan natives, and proposes an alternative approach to ending the conflict.
Following reforms in 1998, state policy in Papua has been divided into two domains: governance–development, and security. The 2001 Special Autonomy (Otsus) was designed as a political compromise addressing the aspirations of the Papuan elite, ensuring fiscal decentralisation, acknowledgement of indigenous Papuan rights, and frameworks for addressing human rights breaches. Nevertheless, its execution has prioritised budgetary transfers over meaningful political transformation. Accountability procedures, including human rights courts and truth commissions, have been ineffective (Chairullah, 2021). The 2021 extension of Otsus was implemented without participatory assessment, effectively reinforcing centralisation and eliciting significant opposition from indigenous communities and religious authorities.
Accelerated development policies have not succeeded in mitigating conflict. Extensive infrastructure initiatives, exemplified by the Trans-Papua Highway, have increased overall economic growth, yet failed to mitigate structural inequities. The migrant population has reaped greater benefits from development, whilst regions predominantly inhabited by indigenous Papuans fall behind in welfare metrics (Pamungkas, 2021; Elisabeth et al., 2021). An evaluation by the national defence agency determined that economic growth is not directly associated with a reduction in violence (Lemhannas RI, 2023). Concurrently, the state has enhanced its security efforts. Notwithstanding the increased presence of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri), armed opposition factions have endured and strengthened (Pamungkas & Rusdiarti, 2017). Data indicates an increase in violence after 2016, especially in the Central Highlands region (IPAC, 2022).
The geographical dynamics of the war indicate a notable spatial transformation. In the initial phase of integration, the conflict was mostly focused in the Bird’s Head region and the border with Papua New Guinea; but, during the 2000s, violence has shifted to Nduga, Intan Jaya, Puncak, Mimika, and Yahukimo. Approximately 69% of violent episodes are associated with separatist dynamics, underscoring Papua’s status as a prolonged political war (UGM Papua Task Force, 2022). The nearness of combat to civilian areas heightens the likelihood of civilian casualties and widespread relocation. The prevalence of violence in politically and culturally significant regions signifies the inadequacy of governance measures to resolve historical grievances.
The humanitarian consequences of the fighting are dire. IPAC data indicates a significant rise in civilian fatalities post-2018 (IPAC, 2022). Civil society organizations have recorded infringements of the right to life, gunshot injuries, and intimidation by many armed entities. The displaced individuals are primarily women, children, and the elderly, who have restricted access to essential services. Security operations have adversely affected civilian infrastructure, with schools and health institutions being occupied or destroyed, hence intensifying societal vulnerability (Amnesty International Indonesia, 2023; Jaringan Damai Papua, 2022). Extended displacement has resulted in starvation, avoidable illnesses, and psychological distress, exacerbating the marginalisation of indigenous Papuans.
A major issue is the lack of accountability. Amnesty International has recorded numerous instances of extrajudicial executions occurring in the absence of reliable law enforcement procedures (Amnesty International Indonesia, 2023). Human rights tribunals have inadequately administered justice, leaving numerous historical abuses unaddressed. The application of force frequently contravenes the criteria of legality, proportionality, and accountability mandated by international human rights standards (United Nations, 1990). A culture of impunity erodes public confidence and strengthens views of systemic unfairness. In the absence of truth and reparation, the cycle of violence is prone to recurrence (Widjojo et al., 2010).
West Papua needs a humanitarian pause as a means of de-escalation. A humanitarian pause is a temporary halt in hostilities aimed at safeguarding civilians and facilitating assistance access, rather than conferring political legitimacy on armed groups (OCHA, 2011). Prior initiatives suggested in Geneva demonstrated promise but faltered owing to insufficient domestic political backing. Global evidence indicates that humanitarian pauses can alleviate civilian distress and foster minimum trust when supported by reliable monitoring (Drexler, 2006).
Moreover, open discussion serves as the cornerstone for enduring peace. For example, the Indonesian Government and Free Aceh Movement signed the 2005 Memorandum of Understanding in Helsinki, ending the armed conflict since 1976. The Aceh case demonstrates that protracted disputes can be resolved through discussions facilitated by third-party mediation and a robust legal framework (Aspinall, 2005). Dialogue necessitates the prior internal consolidation of Papuan players to enhance political representation (Pamungkas & Rusdiarti, 2016).
Dialogue is seen as a mechanism for conflict transformation that confronts historical grievances and identity, facilitating de-securitisation that military strategies have been unable to accomplish (Lederach, 1997). The Papua conflict represents a crisis of structural governance. Ongoing militarisation exacerbates misery without eradicating opposition.
Sustainable peace necessitates a transition to a humanistic and dialogic methodology. A humanitarian pause alleviates civilian distress and fosters initial trust, whereas inclusive discussion creates a forum for addressing political legitimacy and reconciliation. In the absence of these measures, Papua faces the peril of becoming ensnared in a cycle of recurrent bloodshed. The shift in policy towards dialogue is both a moral need and a strategic requirement for Indonesia’s stability.
Keywords: West Papua, Papua, Indonesia, conflict, peace, conflict resolution, ceasefire, humanitarian, inclusive, dialogue
3) Indigenous Papuans allegedly shot dead during military operation in Intan Jaya
Human rights analysis
Villagers broought Mr Pit Nayagau’s body to Jalai Village on 3 February 2026
Location: 726J+5QG, Bilogai, Sugapa, Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua 98768, Indonesia (-3.7395623, 137.0319626) Dogatalipa Road, along the Dogabu River, between Sugapa Town and Jalai Village
Region: Indonesia, Central Papua, Intan Jaya, Sugapa
Total number of victims: 1
| # | Number of Victims | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1. | 1 | Pit Nayagau | male | adult | Indigenous Peoples | execution, right to life, unlawful killing |
Perpetrator: , Indonesian Military (TNI)
Issues: indigenous peoples, security force violence
4) Series of unlawful arrests in Dekai continues: Navy officers arbitrarily detain two activists in Yahukimo Regency
Human rights analysis
Location: Dekai, Yahukimo regency, Highland Papua, Indonesia (-4.8638158, 139.4837298)
Region: Indonesia, Highland Papua, Yahukimo, Dekai
Total number of victims: 2
| # | Number of Victims | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1. | 1 | Alokni Keroman | male | approximate | Activist, Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention |
| 2. | 1 | Oroni Gombo | male | adult | Activist, Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention |
Perpetrator: , Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL)
Issues: indigenous peoples, security force violence
