2) Indonesian military personnel arbitrarily detain five indigenous Papuans in Sugapa – Detainees released after community protest
3) Scientists warn: West Papua’s last glacier nears extinction
4) Police arbitrarily detain six KNPB members, including a minor, in Sentani
6) Military personnel detain two Papuan civilians during overnight operation in Intan Jaya
Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights has counted 109 people have officially been killed or seriously injured in violence from the ongoing armed conflict across the West Papua territory in the first half of this year.
According to the release of records that the commission compiled covering the six Indonesian-administered Papuan provinces, 59 deaths and a further 50 other casualties have occurred from 42 separate violent incidents up until the end of June.
The body count appears to be on course to match or surpass the tally for the 2025 calendar year.
Figures indicated that 119 people died and a further 43 others were injured in the Indigenous Tanah Papua region over 97 recorded incidents inside a corresponding 12-month period.
"The violence and armed conflict have also displaced thousands of people across several areas of (West) Papua, including Jayapura, Nabire, Mimika, Wamena, Sorong and Teluk Bintuni," National Commission on Human Rights team leader, Atnike Nova Sigiro, said in a statement.
Further research of figures indicates that across the first six months of 2026, the Highland Papua and Central Papua provinces respectively had the highest recorded number of deaths and injuries across the West Papua territory with a combined 46 killed and 18 serious injuries.
Ms Sigiro said the situation across West Papua was becoming increasingly critical over the growing implications for human rights in the territory.
She said this was reflected in the increasing intensity of violence and armed conflict, which has resulted in civilian deaths and the increased numbers of internally-displaced people.
Indonesia's national commissioners on Human Rights met with Jakarta's Presidential Chief of Staff, Dudung Abdurachman, at the Presidential staff office last week to raise concerns about the high levels of violence that has continued to result in civilian deaths.
Ms Sigiro said its National Commission on Human Rights asked Mr Abdurachman to raise the issue with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to push further for policies aimed at reducing violence and armed conflict, as well as ensuring the basic rights of the internally displaced are respected.
"This includes the right to adequate housing, healthcare, education for children and other basic needs," she said.
The National Commission on Human Rights proposed involving relevant government agencies in addressing these issues, including the Indonesian military, national police, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Housing and Settlement Areas.
2) Indonesian military personnel arbitrarily detain five indigenous Papuans in Sugapa – Detainees released after community protest
Human rights analysis
Relatives and residents from Wandoga, Bilogai, Yokatapa and other villages gathered outside the J2 military post on 5 September 2026
Document ID: HRM-CAS-121-2026
Location: 726J+5QG, Bilogai, Sugapa, Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua 98768, Indonesia (-3.7395623, 137.0319626) Wandoga Village
Region: Indonesia > Central Papua > Intan Jaya > Sugapa
Total number of victims: 5
| # | Number of Victims | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1. | 1 | Yoas Japugau | male | unknown | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention |
| 2. | 1 | Daud Sondegau | male | unknown | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention |
| 3. | 1 | Noti Sondegau | male | unknown | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention |
| 4. | 1 | Paskalis Belau | male | unknown | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention |
| 5. | 1 | Rian Sondegau | male | unknown | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention |
Perpetrator: Republic Indonesia > Indonesian Security Forces > Indonesian Military (TNI) > Indonesian Army (TNI-AD)
Related Cases:
3) Scientists warn: West Papua’s last glacier nears extinction
4) Police arbitrarily detain six KNPB members, including a minor, in Sentani
Human rights and legal analysis
Six KNPB activist are brought to the Jayapura District Police Station in Doyo Baru in a police patrol car on 17 September 2026
Document ID: HRM-CAS-123-2026
Location: Sentani Kota, Sentani, Jayapura Regency, Papua, Indonesia (-2.5685926, 140.5238784)Pasar Lama Sentani
Region: Indonesia > Papua > Jayapura Regency > Sentani
Total number of victims: 6
| # | Number of Victims | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1. | 1 | SM | male | 17 | Activist, Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention |
| 2. | 1 | Mendanus Wisal | male | 22 | Activist, Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention |
| 3. | 1 | Yulianus Wisal | male | 20 | Activist, Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention |
| 4. | 1 | Yusak Wisal | male | 20 | Activist, Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention |
| 5. | 1 | Ipenua Kwem | male | 24 | Activist, Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention |
| 6. | 1 | Agus Deal | male | 19 | Activist, Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention |
Perpetrator: Republic Indonesia > Indonesian Security Forces > Indonesian Police > POLRES
Related Cases:
Jayapura, Jubi – Amnesty International Indonesia has called for an end to the killing of civilians in Papua by armed groups, including the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).
The call came in response to recent cases involving the alleged abduction, hostage-taking and killing of civilians in Papua by the TPNPB.
Amnesty International Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid said the organisation condemned a series of killings of civilians in Papua over the past week, describing them as serious crimes under international humanitarian law.
“We extend our condolences to the victims’ families. We call on the state to investigate the killings and prosecute those responsible,” Usman Hamid said in an electronic message on Wednesday night (16/9/2026).
He said all parties involved in the armed conflict in Papua, including the military and pro-independence armed groups such as the TPNPB, were required to comply with international humanitarian law. He also added that the right to life was non-negotiable.
According to Usman Hamid, the incidents reflected an escalation of the armed conflict in Papua.
He warned against the conflict developing along the lines of Sudan, resulting in large numbers of civilian casualties.
“The killing of civilians violates the humanitarian principles of international humanitarian law. There is no justification for such crimes. The right to life is an absolute right that must be protected,” he said.
Amnesty International Indonesia also condemned the abduction and hostage-taking of nine women in Mimika on 17 August.
“We oppose killings in any form. Whatever the reason, including political motives, such acts are unacceptable and are not justified under international law. Politically motivated killings and hostage-taking are prohibited both in international armed conflicts and internal armed conflicts,” he said.
Usman Hamid said survivors and victims’ families had the right to know what happened, who was responsible and what concrete steps Indonesia would take to deliver justice.
He said proper investigations and fair trials were necessary to help ease the conflict.
“Anyone responsible for killing civilians must be held accountable through legal proceedings, and authorities must take steps to prevent similar incidents.”
Usman Hamid said armed conflicts were subject to minimum standards for humane treatment, including prohibitions on torture, politically motivated killings and hostage-taking.
He said all parties involved in armed conflict were required to uphold those standards.
Amnesty International Indonesia called on the government to end all forms of violence in Papua through conflict-resolution efforts.
It cited the Papua Road Map study, which describes the armed conflict in Papua as Indonesia’s longest-running conflict following the end of the conflicts in Aceh and East Timor.
Amnesty said the prolonged conflict was linked to the continued use of a militaristic approach.
“We urge the Indonesian government and the House of Representatives to immediately open peace negotiations or humanitarian dialogue to resolve the armed conflict in Papua. Peace dialogue must involve all stakeholders in Papua to ensure a dignified solution to this prolonged conflict,” Usman Hamid said.
Amnesty International Indonesia said a series of killings and other acts of violence against civilians had occurred in Papua in recent weeks.
Among the incidents was the killing of a driver who was shot by the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) Kodap III Ndugama Derakma on the Trans Wamena-Nduga Road in Papua Highlands province on 15 September 2026.
TPNPB-OPM accused the victim of being an Indonesian military intelligence agent. The killing was also confirmed by Habema Operations Command spokesperson M Wirya Arthadiguna, who said the travel driver was found inside a burnt vehicle.
Earlier, TPNPB-OPM Kodap III killed three civil servants in Jayawijaya Regency on 9 September.
The victims were travelling back to Wamena after carrying out duties involving livestock assistance and agricultural extension services for local communities.
The victims were also accused of being Indonesian military intelligence agents, according to TPNPB-OPM.
In relation to the alleged hostage-taking of nine women in Mimika Regency, Central Papua, the TPN OPM Kodap X Keneyam has been accused of involvement, according to TPN OPM.
The incident was linked to an attack on Indonesian military personnel in Jila District, Mimika Regency, between 12 and 17 August 2026.
Two of the nine women reportedly escaped while being taken by TPN-OPM. When they were found by local residents, one of the two women was already dead. (*)
6) Military personnel detain two Papuan civilians during overnight operation in Intan Jaya
Human rights analysis
Document ID: HRM-CAS-122-2026
Location: 726J+5QG, Bilogai, Sugapa, Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua 98768, Indonesia (-3.7395623, 137.0319626) Eknemba Village
Region: Indonesia > Central Papua > Intan Jaya > Sugapa
Total number of victims: 2
| # | Number of Victims | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1. | 1 | Melkias Hagismijau | male | 25 | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention |
| 2. | 1 | Pius Emani | male | 27 | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention |
Perpetrator: Republic Indonesia > Indonesian Security Forces > Indonesian Military (TNI)
Issues: indigenous peoples
Related Cases:
CoDA Series 2: Papua
He said churches had an important role in equipping and empowering their congregations so peace and humanitarian initiatives could continue in a sustainable way.
He said young people needed to be prepared to carry forward efforts to promote peace, humanitarian protection, environmental protection and religious tolerance.
Pastor Douw made the comments during a public dialogue titled “Assessing the Role and Response of Religious Communities to Humanitarian Dynamics and Peace Challenges in Papua”, organised by the Papua Muslim Council in Kotaraja, Abepura District, Jayapura, on Thursday (17/9/2026).
“What is needed is to equip our communities with understanding, empower and motivate them, and provide the support needed so the peace movement can move forward effectively,” Pastor Douw said.
He said sustaining peace initiatives also required support from various sectors, including the government.
The government, he said, should respond positively and support the work of churches and other religious organisations in carrying out humanitarian activities.
Pastor Douw said the church regarded people affected by violence as part of its concern, including both Indigenous Papuans and non-Papuans living in Papua.
He said the suffering experienced by Indigenous and non-Indigenous people who had become victims of violence was also a wound felt by the church and its leaders.
He said the church had several ways of responding to violence. As well as praying for victims, the church sought reliable and accurate information before deciding what action to take.
Once information had been verified, Pastor Douw said the church could provide support to victims, work with other organisations on advocacy, or monitor developments depending on the circumstances.
He said peace required networks of communication and dialogue, both within religious communities and between different faiths.
Religious leaders, he said, could build communication with various groups to create opportunities for dialogue.
He said meetings involving religious leaders, government officials, security forces and groups involved in the conflict were important for creating space for peaceful solutions.
Dialogue, he said, needed to be based on respect for human dignity. It also needed to be accompanied by solidarity because justice and truth were difficult to pursue without it.
“By standing together to pursue justice and truth, peace can be achieved because that process involves respecting human dignity,” he said.
Meanwhile, historian Dr Bernarda Meteray said a better understanding of Papua’s history should be an important part of efforts to resolve the conflict in the region.
Meteray said Papua’s history had often been a sensitive subject to discuss. Different views about Papua’s integration into Indonesia, she said, needed to be discussed openly so the roots of the conflict could be better understood.
“If we want to understand the conflict, we have to start with history,” Meteray said.
She said physical development alone was not enough to address the fundamental issues facing Papuan communities.
She pointed to the continuing conflict despite various development programs as evidence that development had not resolved the underlying problems.
“Development is needed by everyone in Papua. But development has not addressed the problems because the conflict continues,” she said.
Meteray said the government needed to accept criticism from Indigenous Papuans as part of the process of developing the region.
Criticism, she said, should not always be viewed as a threat, but could instead provide useful input for improving development policies.
She said policymakers should seek to understand Papuan communities before policies were developed, rather than the other way around.
That understanding, Meteray said, required time because Papuan communities had different characteristics, historical experiences and social and cultural contexts.
Meteray also highlighted the importance of helping young people understand Papua’s history.
She said young people received accounts of Papua’s history from their families and communities. Differences between family accounts and information obtained from other sources could influence how young people understood the conflict.
She said historical resources were therefore needed to help young people develop a more comprehensive understanding of Papua’s history.
“The state has not yet produced a good standard history book that generations can understand about this long historical journey,” she said.
Meteray said peacebuilding was not solely the responsibility of the government. All sections of society, including religious and community leaders, had a role to play in building peace in Papua.
“We are all responsible for building peace in Papua and ending conflict, with dialogue as the best path towards peace in Papua,” she said.
Forums that bring together different sections of society were particularly important while Papua continued to face humanitarian concerns and conflict.
The involvement of religious communities in responding to humanitarian issues in Papua could also form an important part of efforts to build peace through dialogue. (*)
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