Sorong, Jubi – Three civilians were reportedly shot in Muara Aifam, East Central Aifat district, Maybrat Regency, Southwest Papua province, on Thursday evening (Aug. 13, 2026). The alleged shooters were Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) personnel stationed at Sory Post.
The Kaki Abu Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Kaki Abu) said the victims were Anike Fatie, Silvester Assem and Selviana Sory. The three were in the vicinity of Anike Fatie’s garden in the Muara Aifam area when the incident occurred.
According to the foundation, after working at a small shelter near the garden, Anike went to a nearby river to bathe, accompanied by three dogs.
At around 5:20 p.m. local time, she heard gunshots. Anike initially thought the sound
was firecrackers. After looking around, however, she realized that it was gunfire.
LBH Kaki Abu said preliminary information indicated that Anike attempted to flee after hearing the shots. She was reportedly shot from behind and sustained a gunshot wound to her shoulder.
The three dogs accompanying her to the river were also reportedly shot. Silvester Assem, who was near the shelter, also heard the gunfire. Panicked, he attempted to leave the area and seek safety, but was reportedly shot in the thigh,
with the bullet passing through.
Another victim, Selviana Sory, who was also near the shelter, was reportedly struck by gunfire in the calf, with the bullet passing through.
Leonardo Ijie, director of LBH Kaki Abu, urged the government and military authorities to review the deployment of armed personnel in Maybrat.
He questioned whether the deployment of TNI AL personnel was in line with their mandate, security requirements and the protection of civilians.
Ijie said the alleged shooting should also be viewed in the context of the security situation ahead of Indonesia’s Independence Day on Aug. 17. He urged the government to ensure that no operations or so-called “security conditioning” measures put civilians at risk.
“We strongly question why there was an alleged shooting of civilians just days before Aug. 17. What was the objective? Who was this ‘conditioning’ intended for? People must not be made to feel afraid by the presence and use of weapons,” Ijie said on Friday (14/08/2026).
He said the alleged involvement of TNI AL personnel in the shooting must be openly
clarified.
The presence of armed personnel in civilian areas, he said, must be assessed in terms of their mandate, duties, chain of command and rules governing the use of force.
If TNI AL personnel stationed at Sory Post were indeed responsible for the shooting, Ijie said the institution must explain publicly the basis and mandate for their deployment there.
“Authorities must ensure there is no mismatch in the assignment of personnel, especially if naval personnel are deployed in inland and forest areas and civilians end up becoming victims,” he said.
He stressed that his criticism was not intended to generalize about all TNI AL personnel, but rather to question the policy governing troop deployment and the use of force in light of the alleged shooting.
If armed personnel are required in the area for a particular task, he said, the government and military must explain the basis for their deployment to the public, including the operational area, purpose of the deployment and mechanisms for supervising personnel.
Ijie also stressed that Papua must not continue to be viewed primarily through a security lens.
An overly security-focused approach, he said, risks increasing public fear and widening the gap between communities and the state.
“Do not turn Papua into a security business. Not every problem in Papua should be answered with more troops, weapons and security posts. Security forces keep being added while civilians are being shot. The government must have the courage to evaluate this approach,” he said.
Leonardo urged the Maybrat regency government not to remain silent over the alleged shooting. The local government, he said, must stand up for civilians and ensure that the victims receive medical treatment and legal protection.
The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) was also urged to visit the
area and conduct an independent investigation into the alleged shooting. (*)
In a statement issued here on Sunday, Djamari emphasized that while freedom of speech is guaranteed by the Constitution, public demonstrations must not involve violence, destruction, or disrespect toward state symbols.
The minister’s statement comes in the wake of recent tensions in Banda Aceh, where demonstrators removed the national Red and White flag and damaged the Garuda Pancasila emblem at the governor's official residence during commemorations marking two decades of peace.
"We must safeguard peace in Aceh together. The Red and White Flag and the Garuda Pancasila—as symbols of the state—must be respected," Djamari noted.
He directed security forces to conduct an objective investigation into the removal of the flag and desecration of state symbols protected under Law No. 24 of 2009.
"If elements of a criminal act are found, the perpetrators must be prosecuted firmly and fairly in accordance with applicable law," Djamari said.
At the same time, local instability erupted in Central Papua's Puncak Regency, where mass protests over the disbursement of Village Funds escalated into arson.
Unrest led to the burning of seven local administrative structures—including the Puncak Regent’s office and parliament buildings—and left several security officers injured during clashes.
Addressing the situation in Papua, the minister reiterated that the government fully respects the right of Papuans to voice their opinions, but warned against using public demonstrations as a pretext for criminal behavior.
"The expression of aspirations must be carried out peacefully and conducively. Do not be easily provoked. Any perpetrators of violence and violations of the law that disrupt public security will be dealt with firmly," Djamari asserted.
Head of the ministry's Public Relations, Data and Information Bureau, Brigadier General Honi Havana, confirmed that security authorities are closely monitoring developments in both regions.
Havana stated that the ministry is actively coordinating with the Indonesian Military (TNI), National Police (Polri), and local governments to prevent further escalation and maintain public safety, while urging citizens to disregard unverified rumors circulating online.
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Translator: Laily Rahmawaty, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Speaking here Saturday, he said the government was still funding 500 students enrolled at universities domestically and abroad.
"We are still funding 500 students under the Papua Excellent Students Program, which began in 2017 when the Papua Highlands was part of Papua Province," he said.
Funding for the 500 students at various universities in Indonesia and overseas will end this year, Simon said, adding that residents should know that but another education program will be launched after it concludes.
For the 2027 higher education program, students sent to universities will be selected based on regional needs, following the governor's direction, he said.
"Next year's program will prioritize fields with job opportunities, including health specialists, natural-resource management specialists and specialized schools. We will fund only selected fields, not every university major," he said.
The government had allocated about 50 billion rupiah (US$3.1 million) to fund the 500 students under the Papua Excellent Students Program through this year, he said.
"We are allocating about 50 billion rupiah to fund the program, which began in 2017 and ends this year. We hope supported students return and help develop the region," he added.
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Translator: Yudhi E, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Primayanti
8Merauke, Jubi – Merauke Archbishop Mgr. Petrus Canisius Mandagi has called on Catholics to embrace love, forgiveness and peace in responding to continuing violence in Papua, including Papua Selatan.
He delivered the appeal during his homily at a Mass marking 121 years since the Catholic Church’s mission began in Papua Selatan. The celebration was held at the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue park near Mopah Airport in Merauke and attended by thousands of Catholics from Merauke Regency on Friday (Aug. 14, 2026).
In his homily, Archbishop Mandagi said he was saddened by the violence continuing to occur in Papua. He referred to recent violence in Central Papua, where several government offices were burned.
“Violence is also happening in Papua, including Papua Selatan. Recently, violence occurred in Central Papua, and government offices were burned. It is sad to see all of this,” Mandagi said.
He said violence also remains a concern in Merauke, pointing to street robberies, excessive alcohol consumption and drunkenness, as well as acts of violence between individuals that suggest violence is increasingly being treated as an ordinary way of resolving problems. He questioned whether such behavior reflected the teachings of Christ.
“Is this really right? Is this the teaching of Christ, the Catholic faith? Of course not. It contradicts Christ’s teaching, which is love,” he said.
Mandagi said the 121st anniversary of the Catholic mission in Papua Selatan should be an opportunity for Catholics to revive the value of love in their daily lives.
“The Sacred Heart of Jesus, where we are celebrating today, reminds us of love. The heart points us toward love,” he said.
He also noted that economic growth and improvements in living standards do not automatically make the world more peaceful. Instead, he said, human life continues to be marked by various forms of violence and conflict.
Mandagi therefore highlighted the late Pope Francis’ message on the importance of forgiveness. He said forgiveness is a remedy capable of healing wounds and restoring peace.
“For Pope Francis, forgiveness is a medicine that heals. A person who does not forgive is a person who is wounded and has no peace,” he said.
He reminded the congregation of Jesus’ teaching to forgive not merely seven times, but “seventy times seven times.”
Mandagi said Jesus himself had demonstrated the power of forgiveness, including by forgiving those who harmed him. He also cited Nelson Mandela and Pope John Paul II as examples of people who demonstrated forgiveness.
Mandela, he said, was able to forgive those who had tortured him during his years in prison. Pope John Paul II, meanwhile, forgave Mehmet Ali Ağca, who shot and wounded the pontiff at the Vatican in 1981.
“Those acts became symbols that violence can be replaced by love and forgiveness. The bullets of violence can be replaced by the bullets of love and forgiveness,” Mandagi said.
As the Catholic mission in Papua Selatan enters its 121st year, Mandagi called on Catholics to engage in self-reflection and repentance. He invoked the principle Ecclesia semper reformanda, meaning that the Church must continually renew and reform itself.
“We are not saints. We are not people without sin. I often say that sin is something every person is capable of, but repentance is our duty,” he said.
He stressed that the 121st anniversary should not be reduced to a ceremonial celebration but should bring about tangible change in the lives of Catholics and the wider community.
“The Catholic Church has been here for 121 years. We cannot remain the same. Perhaps violence is widespread and there is no forgiveness,” he said.
Mandagi urged Catholics to respond to hatred with love, wrongdoing with forgiveness, despair with hope and sadness with joy.
“Where there is hatred, let me bring love. Where there is wrongdoing, let me bring the spirit of forgiveness. Where there is despair, let me bring hope. Where there is sadness, let me bring joy,” he said.
He expressed hope that the 121st anniversary of the Catholic mission in Papua Selatan would become a moment for Catholics and the wider community to move away from violence and build a life grounded in love, forgiveness and peace.
Meanwhile, Merauke Regent Yoseph Bladib Gebze said the Catholic Church and the government have long been strategic partners in serving communities across Papua Selatan.
He said the 121st anniversary of the Catholic mission, coming ahead of Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day, was an opportunity to reflect on the struggles of previous generations while considering the challenges facing the region today.
Gebze said missionaries had faced numerous challenges from the beginning of their work, including Dutch colonial policies, Papua Selatan’s geographical conditions, inter-tribal tensions and the aftermath of World War II.
The challenges facing the current generation, however, are different. One of the main priorities, he said, is developing human resources with the knowledge and skills needed to drive development.
“Has the current generation prepared people with sufficient knowledge and capacity to continue the work of those who came before us?” he asked.
Gebze said the current generation has inherited the legacy of missionaries, teachers, nuns, brothers and priests who served communities across Papua Selatan.
He therefore said their work must continue and adapt to the challenges of the times through education, human resource development and cooperation between the Church and government.
“The history of the missionaries’ work is the foundation, while the responsibility of the current generation is to build on that foundation through education, strengthening human resources, cooperation between the Church and government, and a life grounded in love and brotherhood,” he said. (*)
