Wednesday, August 27, 2025

1) Indonesia Protests Over Political Cronyism (West Papua)


2) Indonesian police reenact killing of two Brimob officers in Papua  


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POSTED ON AUGUST 27, 2025 BY LEE JAY 

1) Indonesia Protests Over Political Cronyism (West Papua)

 Kanako Mita, Noriko Watanabe, and Sawako Utsumi 

 Modern Tokyo Times

Jakarta saw protests erupt over extravagant political allowances in Indonesia. 

In response, riot police were deployed to control the growing unrest, which was driven by workers, students, and political activists.

The Guardian reports, “Thousands of students, workers and activists demonstrated outside the nation’s parliament on Monday against a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah ($US3,075) for MPs, which is almost 10 times the Jakarta minimum wage.”

Lavish political perks in a country where ordinary citizens are struggling sparked widespread public anger — even among those not actively protesting against Indonesia’s internal political cronyism.

Demonstrators also highlighted the influence of “corrupt elites,” pointing to opaque deals involving major conglomerates and the military. This pattern, sadly, is not unique to Indonesia — it echoes across nations, from China to Brazil and throughout the halls of power worldwide.

In March, Indonesia passed a controversial law expanding the military’s role in civilian affairs, a move critics see as a step backward for democratic oversight. This month, the government announced the creation of 100 new military battalions, not for defense purposes, but to be trained in agriculture and animal husbandry — a decision that raises concerns about the blurring of military and civilian responsibilities. 

Also, last month, the government revealed plans for the military to begin manufacturing pharmaceuticals, further deepening its involvement in sectors traditionally managed by civilian institutions.

Signs of mounting public anger toward President Prabowo Subianto — a former general — are surfacing across various regions of Indonesia.

Monday’s protest follows a wave of unrest in Central Java and Sulawesi, where thousands have taken to the streets in recent weeks to oppose sharp increases in property taxes.

West Papua 

Meanwhile, in West Papua, the relentless persecution of the indigenous Papuan people continues unabated. Predominantly Christian and ethnically distinct from the Javanese—who dominate the largely Muslim Indonesian state—the Papuans have faced decades of violence, Javanese colonial imposition, ruthless exploitation of their natural resources, and other brutal realities. Despite this, the international community has largely remained silent, tolerating these ongoing abuses.

Indonesia’s key trading partners—including the United States, China, Japan, India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines—have offered little more than muted responses to the severe human rights crisis in West Papua. Meanwhile, Australia prioritizes its military and geopolitical relationship with Jakarta, often turning a blind eye to Papuan suffering, even as it vocally condemns human rights violations in distant conflicts like Ukraine.

The Guardian reports, “West Papua is the western half of the island of New Guinea, home to the world’s third-largest rainforest. It is rich in natural resources, including the world’s largest gold and copper mine as well as extensive reserves of natural gas, minerals and timber.”

The Guardian continues, “West Papuans say more than 500,000 of their people have been killed by the occupation in the past six decades, while millions of acres of their ancestral lands have been destroyed for corporate profit.”

Accordingly, protests in Jakarta against political cronyism on the global stage are likely to be met with silence. After all, the world’s disregard for the plight of indigenous Papuans exposes the profound political and moral bankruptcy of the global elite.

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2) Indonesian police reenact killing of two Brimob officers in Papua  
August 27, 2025 18:50 GMT+700
Timika (ANTARA) - Indonesian police on Tuesday reenacted the killings of two police's elite Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officers in Central Papua as part of an ongoing investigation into the deadly ambush earlier this month.

The reconstruction was held at the site of the shooting along the Trans Nabire–Enarotali road in Siriwo Subdistrict, Nabire District, and involved members of Operation Peace Cartenz and the Nabire police.

"Twenty-one scenes were reenacted to illustrate how the attack unfolded and how the two officers were killed," Chief of the Operation Peace Cartenz Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhani said in a statement on Wednesday.

One suspect, Suplianus Bagau, 31, also known as Siprianus Weya or Supli, was present to reenact his role, alongside several witnesses.

Bagau is accused of participating in the coordinated attack on August 13 that killed Brigadier M. Arif Maulana and First Brigadier Nelson C. Runaki, Ramadhani said.

The attackers were part of an armed Papuan group led by Aibon Kogoya and operated in three teams: one shot Maulana, another shot Runaki, and a third monitored the area.

Bagau and four other suspects — identified as YM, YW, KM, and TG — were part of the first and second teams, while the third team included Aibon Kogoya and an associate known as HM, Ramadhani said.

After the killings, the attackers reportedly seized two rifles — an AK-101 and an AK-47 — as well as bulletproof vests.

Investigators said the armed group later recorded a video statement at a makeshift camp, filmed by Bagau.

The reenactment was conducted under tight security, involving 15 tactical vehicles and 24 long-barrel firearms, with personnel equipped with body armor and combat helmets.

This reconstruction is a critical part of the investigation to confirm each suspect's role and strengthen the evidence, Ramadhani said.

"We are committed to ensuring the legal process runs transparently and according to procedure," he said while affirming Operation Peace Cartenz's commitment to pursuing the remaining suspects still at large.

"There is no room for armed groups committing violence in Papua," Ramadhani added.

Deputy Operation Chief of the Operation Peace Cartenz Senior Commissioner Adarma Sinaga said the reenactment proceeded without incident and will support the case file before submission to prosecutors.

After the event, Bagau was returned to police detention in Nabire. Investigators are finalizing the case dossier.

"We urge the public to remain calm and support the rule of law. We will continue tracking the fugitives," Sinaga said.



Related news: Operation Peace Cartenz apprehend eight suspected Papuan rebels

Related news: Operation Cartenz's Peace prioritizes persuasive measures: Police

Related news: Another ojek driver attacked with machete in Central Papua

Translator: Evarianus S, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: M Razi Rahman


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Tuesday, August 26, 2025

1) Opinion – Wi-Fi, War and West Papua in an Algorithmic Age


2) Thousands of Puncak Jaya residents reportedly evacuated due to military attacks

3) Three children in Puncak Jaya are suspected victims of firearms abuse.
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1) Opinion – Wi-Fi, War and West Papua in an Algorithmic Age  

Christopher Burke.    
Aug 26 2025 •







We are hyper-connected and overloaded with information, yet increasingly detached. According to Amnesty International, over 25,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in Gaza with a further 10,000 people missing under the rubble, presumed dead.  Real-time footage is readily available online; however, meaningful global action remains limited. This paradox underscores a crisis not of technology, but of governance and accountability in the brave new normal. The digital environment has transformed public discourse into an arena predominantly controlled by powerful technology corporations. Facebook’s ad revenues are expected to hit US$124 billion in 2025 underscoring the commodification of online visibility. Platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and YouTube effectively function as today’s public squares, yet their governance is guided by corporate policies rather than transparent democratic processes.


German philosopher Jürgen Habermas envisioned a public sphere grounded in dialogue, mutual understanding and accountability. Today’s digital ecosystem deviates significantly from this vision prioritizing efficiency, profitability and user engagement. The Pew Research Center reports that 54 per cent of Americans adults receive news from social media platforms, highlighting the shift in how public opinions and knowledge are shaped.

Algorithms play a pivotal role in shaping our digital experiences, determining which content is amplified based on engagement metrics, rather than informational value or public interest. According to a MIT Sloan study, false news stories travels farther, deeper, more broadly and about six times faster than true stories on social media, illustrating how algorithmic biases toward sensationalism can distort public perception and debate. These dynamics have tangible impacts on civil society. Content moderation policies are frequently opaque and inconsistent. Human Rights Watch reported multiple instances in which Facebook and Instagram restricted Palestinian users’ content during heightened conflicts raising serious concerns about selective moderation. This selective visibility can marginalize important societal issues and suppress critical voices, hindering genuine democratic engagement.

Despite these structural challenges, acts of digital dissent continue to emerge.  A wooden placard that reads “Free West Papua” painted in the colors of the Morning Star flag nailed to a roadside shop in a small informal settlement in the suburbs of Kampala, Uganda, stand testament.  The shop owner, not an activist, learned about West Papua from a local artist Charles Mungai who painted the sign.  Charles knows very little about West Papua, but found the image online and “somehow” identified with the situation on the other side of the world. This spontaneous expression demonstrates that digital information flow, while heavily influenced, is not entirely controlled.


West Papua, the western half of New Guinea, has been part of Indonesia since the 1960s.  This status is contested and remains the focus of long-standing concerns from international human rights organizations. The United Nations has issued multiple reports highlighting ongoing tensions, allegations of inconsistent security responseshuman rights abuses and concerns over the preservation of indigenous cultural identity.  Nonetheless, mainstream media rarely cover these issues extensively, reflecting broader patterns of global media bias.

The limited visibility of West Papua contrasts sharply with more widely disseminated international news that benefits from broader algorithmic support due to higher potential profitability and geopolitical prominence. Platforms generally prioritize content that drives user engagement, often sidelining critical yet less sensational issues. Significant events and ongoing crises can remain largely invisible to the global public.

This systemic bias reflects a broader trend observed in research published by the Stanford Internet Observatory noting the disproportionate amplification of content that maximizes user interaction rather than public good. The implications are profound.  The digital civic space, increasingly privatized, places critical societal discourse at risk. Civil society organizations rely heavily on these platforms to mobilize support, advocate policy change and disseminate information. However, the unpredictable nature of content moderation policies means organizations face significant risks. Amnesty International highlighted cases where advocacy campaigns were abruptly restricted, undermining essential civic efforts.

Addressing these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach. Advocacy for greater platform transparency and accountability is essential. According to the European Union’s 2022 Digital Services Act, platforms must adhere to stricter transparency and accountability standards, setting a regulatory example that other regions might emulate. Moreover, the development of alternative digital infrastructures is crucial. Initiatives such as the decentralized social media platform Mastodon demonstrate potential pathways for digital communities to reduce reliance on centralized corporate platforms. The open-source nature of Mastodon supports more transparent and democratic control over content and moderation practices.


Internationally, there is increasing recognition of digital infrastructure as a public good. UNESCO’s Internet Universality Indicators advocate for digital platforms that are rights-based, open, accessible and multi-stakeholder governed to ensure the digital sphere better serves democratic values. Grassroots digital activism also plays a vital role. Small acts, such as the “Free West Papua” placard in Kampala, indicate the resilience of independent thought amid algorithmically curated environments. Each act of resistance contributes incrementally to a broader challenge against the monopolization of digital narratives.

Preserving democratic ideals in the digital era demands vigilance, advocacy and investment in open digital ecosystems. Habermas emphasized, democracy flourishes through open, inclusive dialogue. As prominent Australian academic Joseph Camilleri observed, emerging models such as the Online Citizens’ Assembly present new opportunities to reinvigorate inclusive democratic participation in the digital age. The Citizen’s Assembly utilizes advanced deliberative technologies developed by Stanford’s Deliberative Democracy Lab.

The digital civic space today faces substantial threats, but remains capable of renewal and transformation through concerted collective efforts, sustained resistance and strategic regulatory reform. If a message about West Papua can surface spontaneously in Kampala, there is hope for reclaiming digital spaces as genuine forums for public engagement and democratic discourse. Protecting these spaces means embracing transparency, resisting monopolization and supporting decentralized, democratic digital tools—one conversation, one placard and one community at a time.

Further Reading on E-International Relations

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Original Bahasa link


2) Thousands of Puncak Jaya residents reportedly evacuated due to military attacks

Last updated: August 26, 2025 11:26 am 
Author : Pes Yanengga Editor : Arjuna Pademme 
Published August 26, 2025 

Jayapura, Jubi – Thousands of residents of the Lumo and Mewoholu Districts, Puncak Jaya Regency, Central Papua, have reportedly evacuated to various locations, allegedly due to attacks carried out by the Task Force Operations Command (Satgas Habema) in their residential areas in recent days.

Erdy Wonda, the general coordinator of Puncak Jaya students in Jayapura City, Papua, stated that the situation in the Lumo and Mewoholu Districts is currently unsafe for residents. This is because military operations and the deployment of non-organic troops have occurred in recent days, which have instilled fear among the residents there.

"The military operation began on August 7, 2025, at 3:00 a.m., or three in the morning, in the Mewoholu and Lumo Districts. Later that morning, attacks on residents were carried out by land and air, resulting in the burning of two houses. The Habema Task Force Operations Command conducted an operation in the residential area," said Erdy Wonda during a press conference at the LBH Papua office in Kampkey, Abepura District, Jayapura City, on Monday (8/25/2025).
According to him, in addition to displacing thousands of residents from the two districts, the attack also left three children with gunshot wounds. The victims were JG (2 years old), who was shot in the thigh; YK (13 years old), who was shot in the right leg; and TW (15 years old), who was shot in the leg.

"There are nine villages in Lumo District and eight in Mewoholu District. According to the data we've compiled, 2,720 people have been displaced. The number of other victims has not yet been confirmed. Thousands of residents have fled to Baligup, Guburu, and Ogolumum Villages, and some to the Lumo District field," he said.
He said the situation in Puncak Jaya highlights that civilians, who should be protected by the state, are instead becoming victims. This situation is considered to have created a humanitarian crisis, causing residents to lose their homes, the collapse of the economy, access to education and healthcare, and psychological trauma.

"As intellectuals and agents of change, we [students] want to ensure that the voices of the common people are not silenced. We urge the Habema Task Force Operations Command to immediately withdraw from the Lumo and Mewoholu Districts," he said.
The students expressed their rejection of all forms of armed violence against civilians and urged the Central Papua Provincial Government and the Puncak Jaya Regency Government to coordinate with relevant parties to halt military operations in Puncak Jaya.

They also asked the Central Papua Provincial Government and the Puncak Jaya Regency Government to provide housing for civilians who have fled to various locations.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (PH-IYLBHI) for the Papua region, stated that, based on information gathered from students and residents, both organic and non-organic security forces have been deployed to various residential areas in Puncak Jaya since August 7, 2025.
"Generally speaking, three or four incidents of legal violations and human rights violations [occurred in Puncak Jaya], resulting from shootings and bombings targeting residents' homes and resulting in their destruction," Gobay said.
Gobay believes that the Habema Task Force assigned to Puncak Jaya is also suspected of not implementing the principles of the 1949 Geneva Convention, which was ratified by the Indonesian government as Law Number 59 of 1958 concerning Indonesia's participation in the Geneva Convention in 2004. (*)

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3) Three children in Puncak Jaya are suspected victims of firearms abuse.

Last updated: August 26, 2025, 11:15 am
Author: Pes Yanengga Editor: Arjuna Pademme
Published August 26, 2025


Jayapura, Jubi – Three children in Puncak Jaya Regency, Central Papua, are suspected of being victims of firearms abuse by the Habema Task Force on duty there in early August 2025.

Emanuel Gobay, Director of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) Papua Region, stated that the three children who suffered serious injuries were YK (13 years old), JG (2 years old), and TW (15 years old), allegedly shot on August 7, 2025.
He said YK was initially treated at Puncak Jaya Regional General Hospital from August 8-14, 2025. However, due to a lack of medical equipment, he was referred to a hospital in Jayapura City, Papua.

"We found her [being treated] at a hospital in Jayapura City. The victim [a 13-year-old girl] was shot in the right leg. Based on the medical examination, there was a foreign object inside YK's body. The other two [children] underwent traditional healing in the forest," said Emanuel Gobay during a press conference with the Puncak Jaya student community in Jayapura City, Papua, on Monday (August 25, 2025).

According to Gobay, what happened to YK falls under the category of human rights violations. Furthermore, YK is a child, so what happened to her violates Law Number 35 of 2014 concerning child protection.

Emanuel Gobay said that, based on information gathered from students and residents, both organic and non-organic security forces have been deployed to various residential areas in Puncak Jaya since August 7, 2025.
"In general, three or four incidents of legal violations and human rights violations [occurred in Puncak Jaya], resulting from shootings and bombings targeting residents' homes, resulting in their destruction," he said.
Gobay argued that the Habema Task Force assigned to Puncak Jaya also allegedly failed to uphold the principles of the 1949 Geneva Convention, which the Indonesian government ratified as Law Number 59 of 1958 concerning Indonesia's participation in the Geneva Convention in 2004.

Erdy Wonda, the General Coordinator of Puncak Jaya students in Jayapura City, echoed this sentiment. He stated that in addition to YK, two other children, JG and TW, also suffered gunshot wounds.
"JG suffered a gunshot wound to the thigh, and TW (15) suffered a gunshot wound to the leg. Currently, the two victims are receiving traditional treatment in the forest, at a refugee camp. Civilians from the two districts have since fled to various locations," Wonda said. (*)

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Saturday, August 23, 2025

Friday, August 22, 2025

1) West Papuan media plea for Melanesian support against Indonesian media blackout


2) Bombs fail to silence journo
3) Papua's Jayapura City to build three more kitchens for MBG program 
4) Moi Indigenous Youth Reject National Strategic Project in Sorong Special Economic Zone

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1) West Papuan media plea for Melanesian support against Indonesian media blackout 
By Pacific Media Watch -  August 22, 2025

By Andrew Mathieson

Exiled West Papuan media are calling for Fiji — in a reflection of Melanesian solidarity — to hold the greater Pacific region to account and stand against Indonesia’s ongoing media blackout in addition to its human rights abuses.

The leaders in their field which include two Papuans from Indonesia’s occupied provinces have visited the Pacific country to forge media partnerships, university collaboration and joint advocacy for West Papua self-determination.

They were speaking after the screening of a new documentary film, Pepera 1969: A Democratic Integration, was screened at The University of the South Pacific in Fiji.

The documentary is based on the controversial plebiscite 56 years ago when 1025 handpicked Papuan electors, which were directly chosen by the Indonesian military out of its 800,000 citizens, were claimed to have voted unanimously in favour of Indonesian control of Western New Guinea.

Victor Mambor — a co-founder of Jubi Media Papua — in West Papua; Yuliana Lantipo, one of its senior journalists and editor; and Dandhy Laksono, a Jakarta-based investigative filmmaker; shared their personal experiences of reporting from inside arguably the most heavily militarised and censored region in the Pacific.

“We are here to build bridges with our brothers and sisters in the Pacific,” Mambor told the USP media audience.

Their story of the Papuan territory comes after Dutch colonialists who had seized Western New Guinea, handed control of the East Indies back to the Indonesians in 1949 before The Netherlands eventually withdrew from Papuan territory in 1963.

‘Fraudulent’ UN vote
The unrepresentative plebiscite which followed a fraudulent United Nations-supervised “Act of Free Choice” in 1969 allowed the Indonesian Parliament to grant its legitimacy to reign sovereignty over the West Papuans.

That Indonesian authority has been heavily questioned and criticised over extinguishing independence movements and possible negotiations between both sides.

Indonesia has silenced Papuan voices in the formerly-named Irian Jaya province through control and restrictions of the media.

Mambor described the continued targeting of his Jubi Media staff, including attacks on its office and vehicles, as part of an escalating crackdown under Indonesia’s current President Prabowo Subianto, who took office less than 12 months ago.

“If you report on deforestation [of West Papua] or our culture, maybe it’s allowed,” he said.

“But if you report on human rights or the [Indonesian] military, there is no tolerance.”

An Indonesian MP, Oleh Soleh, warned publicly this month that the state would push for a “new wave of repression” targeting West Papuan activists while also calling the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) – the West Papuan territory’s peak independence movement – as a “political criminal group”.

‘Don’t just listen to Jakarta’
“Don’t just listen to what Jakarta says,” Mambor said.

“Speak to Papuans, listen to our stories, raise our voices.

“We want to bring West Papua back to the Pacific — not just geographically, but politically, culturally, and emotionally.”

Press freedom in West Papua has become most dire more over the past 25 years, West Papuan journalists have said.

Foreign journalists are barred entry into the territory and internet access for locals is often restricted, especially during periods of civil unrest.

Indigenous reporters also risk arrest and/or violence for filing politically sensitive stories.

Most trusted media
Founded in 2001 by West Papuan civil society, Jubi Media Papua’s English-language publication, the West Papua Daily, has become arguably the most trusted, independent source of news in the territory that has survived over its fearless approach to journalism.

“Our journalists are constantly intimidated,” Mambor said, “yet we continue to report the truth”.

The word Jubi in one of the most popular Indigenous Papuan languages means to speak the truth.

Mambor explained that the West Papua Daily remained a pillar of a vocal media movement to represent the wishes of the West Papuan people.

The stories published are without journalists’ bylines (names on articles) out of fear against retribution from the Indonesian military.

“We created a special section just to tell Pacific stories — to remind our people that we are not alone, and to reconnect West Papua with our Pacific identity,” Mambor said.

Lantipo spoke about the daily trauma faced by the Papuan communities which are caught in between the Indonesian military and the West Papua national liberation army who act on behalf of the ULMWP to defend its ancestral homeland.

‘Reports of killings, displacement’
“Every day, we receive reports: killings, displacement, families fleeing villages, children out of school, no access to healthcare,” Lantipo said.

“Women and children are the most affected.”

The journalists attending the seminar urged the Fijian, Melanesian and Pacific people to push for a greater awareness of the West Papuan conflict and its current situation, and to challenge dominant narratives propagated by the Indonesian government.

Laksono, who is ethnically Indonesian but entrenched in ongoing Papuan independence struggles, has long worked to expose injustices in the region.

“There is no hope from the Asian side,” Laksono said.

“That’s why we are here, to reach out to the Pacific.

“We need new audiences, new support, and new understanding.”

Arrested over tweets
Laksono was once arrested in September 2019 for publishing tweets about the violence from government forces against West Papua pro-independence activists.

Despite the personal risks, the “enemy of the state” remains committed to highlighting the stories of the West Papuan people.

“Much of Indonesia has been indoctrinated through school textbooks and [its] media into believing a false history,” he said.

“Our film tries to change that by offering the truth, especially about the so-called Act of Free Choice in 1969, which was neither free nor a genuine act of self-determination.”

Andrew Mathieson writes for the National Indigenous Times.


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2) Bombs fail to silence journo

Local News, News, Uncategorized | Published: 16 hours ago | Last Updated: 16 hours ago | By ALIFERETI SAKIASI


RENOWNED West Papuan journalist Victor Mambor has vowed not to be silenced despite years of threats, harassment and even a bomb attack on his home.

The 51-year-old founder and editor-in-chief of Jubi, West Papua’s leading media outlet, is in Fiji this week, where he spoke exclusively to The Fiji Times about his fight to expose human rights abuses.

“Despite them bombing my home and office with molotov bombs, I am still doing journalism today, because my people are hurting, and I won’t stop,” Mambor said.

In January last year, an improvised explosive device detonated outside his home in Jayapura in what he describes as a “terror” attack. Police later closed the case citing lack of evidence.

He was in Suva on Tuesday night as Jubi Media Papua, in collaboration with USP Journalism and PANG, screened its documentary Pepera 1969: A Democratic Integration?

“I believe good journalism is journalism that makes society better,” he said.

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3) Papua's Jayapura City to build three more kitchens for MBG program 
 August 21, 2025 22:10 GMT+700


Jayapura (ANTARA) - The Jayapura City government in Papua Province has prepared three sites for nutritional fulfillment service units (SPPGs), or kitchens that provide meals for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program.

Assistant to the Jayapura municipal government, Widhi Hartanti, stated in the city on Thursday that two of the planned locations are linked to a vocational high school and a junior high school.

"The SPPGs to be developed by the Jayapura municipal government will be managed by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN)," she said.

Separately, Secretary of the Jayapura Education Office, Yoppi Hanuebi, noted that Jayapura currently has seven operational SPPGs spread across four sub-districts, excluding South Jayapura, with the number expected to grow.

He added that the MBG program had so far reached 22,144 people in the city, including schoolchildren, breastfeeding mothers, and pregnant women.

President Prabowo Subianto introduced the MBG program as a strategic means not only to help improve people's nutritional intake and quality of human resources but also to stimulate economic activities, as it empowers farmers, ranchers, and other business players.

Since its launch on January 6 this year, the national program has catered to the nutritional needs of approximately 20 million as of August, with the broader target of covering at least 82.9 million people by the end of 2025.

This progress has been made possible by the presence of over five thousand SPPGs operating across 38 provinces forming Indonesia.

It should be noted that the BGN is not working alone in increasing the number of such kitchens, as other institutions, including the National Police (Polri) and Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), are also making contributions.

Polri Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo has set a target of setting up 500 SPPGs by this year's end, while Kadin Chairperson Anindya Bakrie said that his side had provided Rp540 billion (over US$33 million) to build 270 kitchens.

Related news: Free meals program reach 23,540 students in West Papua's Manokwari

Related news: West Papua's districts told to form MBG program oversight teams

Related news: Government accelerates MBG program's implementation in Central Papua



Translator: Evarukdijati, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala




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Original Bahasa link

4) Moi Indigenous Youth Reject National Strategic Project in Sorong Special Economic Zone

Last updated: August 22, 2025 8:04 pm
Author : Gamaliel M. Kaliele
Editor : Angela Flassy
Published August 22, 2025







The Malamoi Movement, along with the Moi Maya Indigenous Youth Front (BPAN), held a symbolic demonstration in front of the gate of the Sorong Special Economic Zone (KEK) in Mayamuk District, Sorong Regency, Southwest Papua, on Thursday (August 21, 2025). - Jubi/IST


Sorong, Jubi – The Malamoi Movement to Save the People, Land & Forests, or the Malamoi Movement, along with the Moi Maya Indigenous Youth Front (BPAN), held a symbolic demonstration in front of the gate of the Sorong Special Economic Zone (KEK), Mayamuk District, Sorong Regency, Southwest Papua, on Thursday (August 21, 2025).

During the demonstration, the indigenous youth unfurled a banner reading "National Systematic Colonization" as a strong expression of their rejection of the National Strategic Projects (PSN) projects, which they believe are merely a cover for seizing customary land, destroying forests, and oppressing indigenous peoples in Papua and throughout Indonesia. Malamoi Movement Campaigner, Fiktor Klafiyu, emphasized that the PSN projects touted by the central government are bringing destruction, not prosperity.
He stated that the words "National Systematic Colonization" are not just slogans, but a reality they experience.

The PSN projects have become a machine for destroying our lives. "Indigenous Papuans, in the name of development, our land has been seized, our forests cleared, our rivers polluted, and our living spaces destroyed. Papuans are raped against walls and killed when indigenous people speak out," said Fiktor Klafiyu.
According to him, the state-imposed development narrative always portrays Papua as a "backward" region that must be pushed forward with national investment and projects. However, he said, this view is wrong and demeans the dignity of indigenous Papuans (OAP).

"Development that doesn't respect customary rights is flawed development, development that carries the risk of conflict and destruction," he added.
As a young Moi indigenous man in Sorong, Fiktor Klafiyu strongly opposes all forms of National Strategic Projects (PSN) in Papua. He believes the government's promises that these projects will create jobs and boost the economy are empty promises.
"These projects destroy our forests, wipe out our gardens, take away our living space, and rob us of our traditional way of life. This is the true face of PSN—not prosperity, but plunder and destruction," Fiktor said.
He said the development practices imposed by the government only favor oligarchs and investors. Extractive industries disguised as development are simply a way for oligarchs to profit.
A similar stance came from Elon Salomo Moifilit, a representative of the National Development Planning Agency (BPAN) of Moi Maya. He believes that PSN and nickel downstreaming in Papua are a new face of colonialism that robs the rights of indigenous peoples throughout Papua.
"Our ancestral lands have been turned into fields of exploitation, forests have been cleared, rivers have been polluted, and our livelihoods have been destroyed. The development they claim is a path to prosperity is actually a path to the destruction of the indigenous Papuan people," said Elon Moifilit.
Elon stated that all these projects were never discussed with the indigenous people. There was no free, prior, and informed consent. All projects were unilaterally decided by the government. "This is clear evidence that this development is being forced. As a result, we only see new oppression, conflict, poverty, and suffering being passed down to future generations of Papuans," he said.
The action by indigenous youth in Sorong confirms that resistance to the National Strategic Project (PSN) is not the voice of a few, but a growing movement across Papua. From Merauke to Sorong, the voices of rejection continue to echo.
For them, the PSN is simply "Systematic National Occupation" and a new face of colonialism disguised in the jargon of development. We firmly reject the presence of all these companies throughout Indonesia and even throughout Papua. (*)

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