2) Father Yohanes Tara: There's a covert security operation in Papua
3) Due to an overly security-driven approach, Eastern Indonesia is experiencing a press freedom crisis
4) West Papua seeks UK partnership on sustainable development
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1) West Papua Solidarity Forum, mini film festival aim to educate
By APR editor - February 4, 2026
Asia Pacific Report
A two-day West Papua Solidarity Forum and mini film festival is being held in Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau next month featuring West Papuan and local academics, advocates and journalists.
Hosted by West Papua Action Tamaki and West Papua Action Aotearoa, keynote speeches, panels and discussion on the opening day, March 7, will focus on updates from West Papuan speakers from the frontlines and activist/academic contexts with responses and regional perspectives from solidarity groups.
Themes will include military occupation updates, colonial expansion, environmental issues, community organising and human rights abuses, said a statement from the organisers.
Speakers include: Viktor Yeimo (online from West Papua), Dorthea Wabiser, Victor Mambor, Ronny Kareni, Kerry Tabuni, Hilda Halkyard Harawira, Emalani Case, Nathan Rew, Arama Rata, Dr David Robie, Maire Leadbetter, Teanau Tuiono, Te Aniwaniwa Paterson.
The evening event is a public mini festival of Papuan films introduced by journalist and editor Victor Mambor from Jubi Media in Jayapura.
The second day, March 8, is dedicated to solidarity development and relationship building across the region and opportunities to support West Papua in Aotearoa, with cultural and political kōrero and talanoa.
This event is an opportunity for students, community groups, media, unions, academics and activists to learn more about West Papua and the current regional and political context.
A media seminar featuring Victor Mambor and organised by the Asia Pacific Media Network (APMN) will also be held at the Whānau Community Centre and Hub on Monday, March 9.
- Note: The Forum event is being held at two venues — the Auckland University Old Choral Hall, 7 Symonds Street, on Saturday, March 7 (9.00am-4.30pm), and at “The Taro Patch”, 9 Dunnotar Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland (close to train station) on Sunday, March 8 2026(9.00am-4.00pm).
- More details, koha and registration at Humanitix by February 20 2026
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2) Father Yohanes Tara: There's a covert security operation in Papua
February 2, 2026 in Politics, Law, and Security Reading Time: 2 mins read
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Author: Jubi Admin - Editor: Arjuna Pademme
Jayapura, Jubi – Father Yohanes Kristoforus Tara, OFM, from the advocacy division of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) of OFM Indonesia, stated that a covert security operation is currently underway in Papua.
Father Yohanes Kristoforus Tara, OFM, expressed this opinion in relation to the deployment of Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) soldiers in development programs in Papua, particularly in the agriculture and plantation sectors.
He said this situation is illustrated by the militarization of development in South Papua, for example, and the revision of the TNI Law. This indicates a serious shift in the development paradigm, which is no longer implemented as a civil process and carried out by civilian institutions, but rather as a covert security operation.
"This is a covert security operation. There's no such story: the soldiers went out with hoes. Soldiers are for war, not for hoes," said Father Yohanes Kristoforus Tara, OFM, while presenting as a commentator at the 2025 Catahu discussion and event "As Usual, We Are Not Considered to Exist: A Year Full of Plundering of Papua's Nature," held by the Pusaka Foundation and broadcast online on the Pusaka Bentala Rakyat YouTube channel on Thursday (January 29, 2026).
He said the military presence in Papua, under the pretext of assisting with development programs, also poses a threat to indigenous communities and human rights defenders there. For example, this is the experience of Vincent Kwipalo from Blandin Kakayo Village, Jagebob District, Merauke Regency, South Papua.
"This indicates the criminalization and silencing of community voices, and it's done in a structured manner. The large-scale military presence and mobilization actually further destabilizes Papua," he said.
According to him, from the perspective of JPIC, true peace cannot grow in a space of intimidation and fear. There can be no peace in such spaces.
"People in this village are afraid just by seeing the camouflage uniforms. Just by seeing the boots, they're afraid. What's more, the presence of thousands of military personnel. This structural violence is not only a violation of the law, but a collective spiritual wound that destroys social trust and human relations," he said.
He stated that, from the perspective of the JPIC dimension, the struggle of indigenous peoples for land in Papua is not merely an agrarian conflict, but also the deprivation of their right to life and spiritual identity. If spiritual identity is lost, the indigenous people are also lost.
Therefore, according to Father Yohanes Kristoforus Tara, OFM, the legal assistance, advocacy, and documentation provided by our partners in non-governmental organizations such as the Pusaka Bentala Rakyat Foundation is a form of transformative justice that should be championed by all religions.
According to Father Yohanes Kristoforus Tara, OFM, one of the purposes of religion is to fight for transformative justice. Ensuring that transformation exists. But if transformative justice doesn't exist, the question arises, what's the point of religions?
From the perspective of the integrity of creation, Father Yohanes Kristoforus Tara, OFM, said that the forests in Papua are now like a sister being fought over. The increase in deforestation due to the National Strategic Program (PSN) and palm oil expansion shows that Papua is now treated as a wasteland for investment, not as a living sister.
"That's what's happening in Papua [now]. So, from this perspective, blasphemy against creation is part of blasphemy against God's family and the Creator himself," said Father Yohanes Kristoforus Tara, OFM. (*)
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3) Due to an overly security-driven approach, Eastern Indonesia is experiencing a press freedom crisis
February 4, 2026 in Domberai Reading Time: 3 mins read
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Author: Adlu Raharusun - Editor: Angela Flassy
Sorong, Jubi – The Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) and the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) held a discussion to address the press freedom crisis in Eastern Indonesia. The discussion, involving several stakeholders, included press workers in Papua, students, and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri). The discussion took place in Sorong City, Southwest Papua, on Monday (February 2, 2026).
The security situation for journalists and press freedom in Eastern Indonesia is showing an increasingly worrying trend. This was highlighted in a public discussion organized by HRWG and AJI Indonesia entitled "Media Silencing: Press Freedom Crisis in Eastern Indonesia."
In recent years, there has been an increase in multidimensional attacks against journalists and media institutions, ranging from intimidation and physical violence to criminalization and even terror attacks on media offices. This situation not only threatens the safety of individual journalists, but also undermines the press's role as a pillar of democracy and guardian of the public's right to information.
Present at the discussion were the Chairperson of the Papua National Human Rights Commission, Frits Ramandey; the Chairperson of the Journalist Safety Committee of the Central KKJ, Erick Tandjung; the Chairperson of the AJI Ternate North Maluku, Yunita Kaunar; and the Manager of the HRWG Safe Journalism Program, Ardhi Rosyadi.
The Chairperson of the Papua National Human Rights Commission, Frits Ramandey, stated that two communities qualify as humanitarian workers: journalists, teachers, and medical personnel.
"These communities are actually directly involved in the public interest because, according to human rights principles, the right to information is a human right," said Frits Ramandey.
In the context of Papua, the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) put forward three factors. First, the attack on Jubi (Jubi) leader Victor Mambor, whose house was hit by a Molotov cocktail.
"To this day, we cannot solve this problem, even though we have evidence, including wick bottles and movement routes. We have checked and asked the police to review all CCTV footage in the area. The police have given up," said Ramandey.
Frits added that in the case of Cenderawasih Pos Editor-in-Chief Lucky Ireeuw, in which Lucky's car was damaged, there were clues that the police should have been able to uncover. This emerged after the victim was given a statement and a reconstruction and repositioning of the incident was conducted.
Third, the shocking case of the Molotov cocktail throwing at the Jubi office, there are approximately 19 CCTV footage that should have identified the perpetrator.
"To this day, the police have revealed this and stated that they strongly suspect the perpetrators were members of the military," he said.
This underscores the systemic failure in law enforcement regarding violence against journalists, which ultimately undermines the climate of civil liberties and democracy.
According to Fritz, the factors contributing to the press freedom crisis in Eastern Indonesia are an excessive security approach, weak legal protection for journalists, low human rights literacy among officials, and the economic vulnerability of local media. These conditions create a high-risk ecosystem for journalists, especially those covering conflict, national strategic projects, natural resource exploitation, and human rights violations.
In fact, the right to information is an integral part of human rights. The press plays a strategic role in protecting the public interest, including indigenous peoples, fishermen, farmers, and other vulnerable groups, as well as in ensuring state and corporate accountability.
According to Safwan Ashari Raharusun, AJI Jayapura Representative, data up to 2025 shows that violence against journalists in Indonesia reached at least 91 cases, with approximately 30% occurring in Papua. "These cases include bomb attacks, vehicle vandalism, intimidation, and restrictions on access to information, including internet access shutdowns, which directly impact journalistic work and the public's right to information," Safwan explained.
In addition to security threats, journalists in Eastern Indonesia also face serious structural and economic pressures. Yunita Kaunar, Chairperson of AJI Ternate, described the increasingly complex situation.
"The challenges in North Maluku have increased to a more alarming level: mining corporations are 'controlling the media.' And of the eight victims, only one case has resulted in a verdict, and this is because the perpetrators were the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), not the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) or the Indonesian National Police (Polri)," she said.
The dominance of economic interests in the media ecosystem contributes to self-censorship, the narrowing of public space, and the increased vulnerability of journalists covering natural resource issues, social conflicts, and large-scale development projects.
Amidst this situation, AJI Indonesia Secretary General Bayu Wardhana emphasized that there is a clear line between criticizing the press and violence against journalists.
"Is it permissible for an institution to hate a news story? Yes. What is not permissible is intimidation and violence against its journalists. We have the right to reply and the right to correct, and the media is obliged to publish the right to reply and the right to correct; if they are not published, the Press Council must intervene," Bayu said.
This statement emphasizes that press freedom operates in conjunction with mechanisms of correction and accountability, not through intimidation or violence.(*)
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4) West Papua seeks UK partnership on sustainable development
February 4, 2026 14:25 GMT+700
Manokwari (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s West Papua provincial government and the United Kingdom have convened a meeting to explore cooperation in sustainable development, environmental protection, education, and research.
West Papua Governor Dominggus Mandacan co-chaired the bilateral discussions with British Ambassador to Indonesia Dominic Jermey in Jakarta on Tuesday, Feb. 3.
In a statement received in Manokwari on Wednesday, Mandacan noted that discussions centered on the Manokwari Declaration, established during his first tenure (2017–2022) to underscore the province's commitment to sustainable development.
He said both sides exchanged views on the progress and challenges of the declaration's implementation, with the British government offering support through coordination with ministries in Jakarta.
Mandacan added that the provincial government has translated the declaration into a regional spatial planning framework (RTRW), which designates 70 percent of West Papua’s forestland as protected and promotes responsible use for 50 percent of its marine area.
"Our RTRW document aligns with those issued at the district and national levels," Mandacan affirmed.
He further remarked that the central government has granted West Papua the authority to designate forestland as customary areas to strengthen local protection.
The governor noted that the British Embassy responded positively and is coordinating with the Ministry of Forestry on the registration of customary forests.
“I have also invited the British ambassador to attend two international events in Manokwari on February 9–14, 2026,” he added.
These include the 12th International Flora Malesiana Symposium—focused on detailed discussions of floral diversity preservation—and the International Nature-Based Climate Solutions Conference, which will highlight measures to address climate change impacts.
Head of the West Papua Research and Innovation Agency, Charlie Heatubun, said the province had partnered with the UK-based Royal Botanic Gardens to map areas hosting plants of significant value, enabling the formulation of spatial planning policies accordingly.
He also highlighted the Kwau Tourist Village as a pilot for the "ridge-to-reef" concept, balancing food and energy security with local biodiversity.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Jermey expressed Britain’s eagerness to welcome indigenous Papuan students to the UK under scholarship programs, hoping that more students from West Papua will enroll in British universities.
Related news: West Papua taps public spaces to boost Free Health Check uptake
Related news: West Papua stresses indigenous approval for palm oil expansion
West Papua Governor Dominggus Mandacan co-chaired the bilateral discussions with British Ambassador to Indonesia Dominic Jermey in Jakarta on Tuesday, Feb. 3.
In a statement received in Manokwari on Wednesday, Mandacan noted that discussions centered on the Manokwari Declaration, established during his first tenure (2017–2022) to underscore the province's commitment to sustainable development.
He said both sides exchanged views on the progress and challenges of the declaration's implementation, with the British government offering support through coordination with ministries in Jakarta.
Mandacan added that the provincial government has translated the declaration into a regional spatial planning framework (RTRW), which designates 70 percent of West Papua’s forestland as protected and promotes responsible use for 50 percent of its marine area.
"Our RTRW document aligns with those issued at the district and national levels," Mandacan affirmed.
He further remarked that the central government has granted West Papua the authority to designate forestland as customary areas to strengthen local protection.
The governor noted that the British Embassy responded positively and is coordinating with the Ministry of Forestry on the registration of customary forests.
“I have also invited the British ambassador to attend two international events in Manokwari on February 9–14, 2026,” he added.
These include the 12th International Flora Malesiana Symposium—focused on detailed discussions of floral diversity preservation—and the International Nature-Based Climate Solutions Conference, which will highlight measures to address climate change impacts.
Head of the West Papua Research and Innovation Agency, Charlie Heatubun, said the province had partnered with the UK-based Royal Botanic Gardens to map areas hosting plants of significant value, enabling the formulation of spatial planning policies accordingly.
He also highlighted the Kwau Tourist Village as a pilot for the "ridge-to-reef" concept, balancing food and energy security with local biodiversity.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Jermey expressed Britain’s eagerness to welcome indigenous Papuan students to the UK under scholarship programs, hoping that more students from West Papua will enroll in British universities.
Related news: West Papua taps public spaces to boost Free Health Check uptake
Related news: West Papua stresses indigenous approval for palm oil expansion
Translator: Fransiskus S, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Arie Novarina
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