AWPA -West Papua Update No 1/2026
23 February 2026
There has being no improvement in the human rights situation in West Papua . Ongoing clashes continue between the TPNPB and the Indonesian security forces, resulting in military operations which create more IDPs in the territory. According to Human Rights Monitor , there are more than 105,878 civilians which reman internally displaced because of the military operations and the armed conflict.
Below are a number of new reports and updates, in particular from Human Rights Monitor which is a valuable source for information on the human rights situation in the territory. .
Human Rights Monitor
Update January 2026: Humanitarian crisis deteriorates as Indigenous communities bear brunt of expanding security operations
Human Rights News, Reports / Indonesia, West Papua / 7 January 2026
Between November and December 2025, human rights defenders and local media covered new internal displacements in West Papua due to new security force raids and the ongoing expansion of military infrastructure in the central highlands. As of 1 January 2026, more than 105,878 civilians across multiple regencies remained internally displaced due to military operations and armed conflict (see table below). The vast majority of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) are indigenous peoples, as security force operations exclusively target areas that indigenous Papuans mainly inhabit. Incidents triggering new internal displacements reportedly occurred in the regencies Mimika, Nduga, Lanny Jaya, Intan Jaya, and Yahukimo.
On 21 November 2025, the Papuan Church Council, in collaboration with the STT Walter Post Jayapura Centre for Social and Pastoral Human Rights Studies, organised a Literacy and Resilience Festival titled “Caring for Memories Through Words” in Jayapura City. The event provided a platform for IDP representatives to share their experiences and brought together civil society stakeholders to document and raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis. The testimonies at the festival illustrated both the challenges faced by displaced populations and grassroots resilience efforts.
The humanitarian conditions across all displacement sites remain uniformly dire, characterised by acute shortages of food, medicine, clean water, and shelter. IDPs sheltering in forests face particularly harsh conditions with minimal humanitarian access, while those in evacuation camps struggle with severe overcrowding, inadequate resources, and the complete cessation of daily activities. The situation is further complicated by restricted humanitarian access due to security force controls and challenging geographical conditions. The militarisation of health access in conflict zones across West Papua has created fear and hesitation in seeking medical care, with fatal consequences for vulnerable populations.
This crisis reveals a systematic pattern of military operations that disproportionately affect civilian populations and violate principles of distinction between combatants and non-combatants. The long-term nature of these displacements, with some populations like those in Pegunungan Bintang displaced since 2021 and over 10,000 Nduga IDPs living in Jayawijaya since December 2019, indicates an entrenched humanitarian emergency requiring sustained attention. The IDPs refuse to return until military forces withdraw from their villages.
Mimika
On 31 October 2025, Indonesian military forces entered Jila District, Mimika Regency, and opened fire on villages without prior warning, despite no reported armed conflict with the TPNPB at the time. The operation reportedly resulted in the internal displacement of approximately 1,500 civilians. Some fled to Timika City while others remained sheltering in forests around Jila District without government assistance or humanitarian access. Restricted internet access in the area hampered the documentation of the situation.
The crisis escalated significantly on 10 December 2025, as military forces reportedly conducted aerial bombardments in Amuagom Village at approximately 5:00 a.m. The attack destroyed civilian homes, livestock, and property, with ammunition casings found in yards and bullet holes penetrating house walls. Hundreds of IDPs fled dozens of kilometres to the Jila District centre without adequate food or water. A dozen residents fled to Puncak and Puncak Jaya Regencies. Military operations reportedly continued on 11 December, expanding to ten villages with additional troops and helicopters deployed.
Full update
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Jakarta from the 5 to 7 February to meet Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and to sign the Australia–Indonesia Treaty on Common Security. He was joined by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Penny Wong.
The treaty is basically symbolic with vague reference to the fact that the two countries will agree to consider a joint military response if either comes under attack.
AWPA Statement. https://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com/2026/02/media-statement-awpa-calls-on-pm.html
The Treaty.
Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security Also known as the ‘Jakarta Treaty’ https://www.dfat.gov.au/countries/indonesia/australia-indonesia-treaty-common-security
An opinion by Duncan Graham on the relationship.
Handshake diplomacy with Prabowo won’t secure shared values
Indonesia Evacuates 26 Chinese Nationals After Rebel Attack on Papua Gold Mine
The Jakarta Globe
Philyons K Liliefna, Antara February 22, 2026 | 9:10 pm
Jayapura. Indonesian security forces have evacuated dozens of employees from a gold mining operation in Central Papua, including 26 Chinese nationals, following an attack by separatist gunmen, police said on Sunday. The incident occurred in Nabire Regency in Central Papua, where armed assailants stormed vehicles and a security post belonging to mining firm Kristalin Eka Lestari on Saturday, killing two people. Police said the attackers were linked to a militia wing of the Free Papua Movement led by Aibon Kogoya. “We are still evacuating all employees from the mining area, including 26 Chinese citizens,” Nabire police chief Samuel Tatiratu said. He added that a day earlier, authorities had already rescued 75 people, including informal gold miners, from the Musairo River area. The identities of the two fatalities are still under investigation.
Witnesses said a vehicle carrying company staff was fired upon by three gunmen armed with long-barreled rifles before the security post was attacked. Two passengers, Ihzan Fahrudi and Riski, managed to escape unharmed.
A worker from South Sulawesi told local media he came under fire while at the security post. “I was the first to be shot at. I ran and jumped into the river,” said the man, who declined to be named. Two of his colleagues were still inside the post when the attack occurred, though police have not confirmed whether they were among the victims.
Separatist violence has persisted for decades in Papua, one of Indonesia’s poorest regions despite its vast natural resources. The area is home to one of the world’s largest gold and copper mines operated by Freeport Indonesia.
Deadly attacks targeting security forces, construction workers, and even teachers and healthcare staff continue to occur sporadically, underscoring the fragile security situation. The previous government under President Joko Widodo poured hundreds of trillions of rupiah into roads and logistics infrastructure over the past decade to improve connectivity and spread economic gains across Papua. But ongoing insecurity, local corruption, and weak oversight have slowed progress.
Jakarta has since split Papua from two into six provinces in a bid to improve coordination and accelerate development. Still, the latest violence highlights that security and political stability in the region remain far from fully restored.
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Antara photo
Papua Quarterly Report Q4 2025: Securing Development Through Force: Surge in victims as military operations expand across West Papua
Human Rights News, Reports / Indonesia, West Papua / 13 February 2026
This 10-page document outlines cases and developments, including human rights violations and their patterns, the escalation of armed conflict and its impact on civilians, significant political shifts in Indonesia affecting West Papua, and international responses and initiatives. It covers the period from 1 October to 31 December 2025.
Summary
Human rights
The human rights situation in West Papua between October and December 2025 was characterised by an increase in victims of human rights violations. This surge is linked to the rapid expansion of large-scale government-driven economic development projects and the military operations deployed to secure them. These projects primarily affect small indigenous communities, often inhabited by several hundred people.
The pace of development is likely to accelerate further as the government establishes new military battalions across the region. Some of these are Territorial Development Infantry Battalion units. They have been deployed to support projects of food security, infrastructure development, public health, and economic empowerment in West Papua. Such new battalions have recently been established in Biak-Numfor, Supiroi, and Waropen.
Whilst the number of cases during the reporting period slightly decreased compared to previous quarters, the pattern of violations remained consistent. The extraordinarily high number of victims of extrajudicial executions and ill-treatment, combined with the recurrence of enforced disappearances, is directly linked to military operations that fail to distinguish between civilians and combatants. Such tactics reportedly included airstrikes, battle drones and victim-activated explosive devices in or near civilian areas (see Conflict section).
In October 2025, the Indonesian National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) expressed deep concerns regarding a proposed revision to Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights. Human rights observers warn that the revision is part of a systematic effort to weaken Indonesia’s primary independent human rights institution.
Various court proceedings raised the attention of human rights observers and civil society. On 28 October, a panel of judges at the Wamena District Court sentenced four Indonesian police officersfor their roles in the fatal shooting of Mr Tobias Silak and the serious injury of Naro Dapla in Dekai, Yahukimo Regency, in 2024. The primary defendant, Chief Brigadier Muhammad Kurniawan Kudu of the Gorontalo Police Mobile Brigade, was convicted under Article 338 of the Indonesian Criminal Code for murder and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment. Three other defendants were sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment. The verdict marked a victory in the ongoing battle against impunity. However, the prolonged failure to resolve the Jubi Molotov attack case despite incriminating evidence is exemplary of the persistent impunity in the Indonesian justice system. Authorities have failed to make arrests or identify suspects after twelve months of investigation.
In November 2025, judges at the Makassar District Court in Makassar City in South Sulawesi Province sentenced four Papuan political prisoners from Sorong City to seven months’ imprisonment. The four activists were convicted under Article 106 of the Indonesian Criminal Code on treason for taking part in a plan to “separate a part of the territory of the Republic of Indonesia”. The verdict came after months of proceedings marked by the transfer of the trial from Sorong to Makassar, delays, and reports of intimidation of families and supporters.
Conflict
The Indonesian government’s militarised approach to conflict resolution and economic development in West Papua has reached alarming levels, triggering widespread internal displacement, human rights violations, and growing civil society resistance. Between late October and early November 2025, Papuans in the towns of Nabire, Enarotali, Sugapa, and Jayapura went to the streets to protest against the central Government’s approach to settling the longstanding conflict in West Papua. Indigenous people in the remote central highlands are increasingly exposed to a growing military presence and ongoing counterinsurgency operations. As of 1 January 2026, more than 105,878 civilians across multiple regencies have been internally displaced due to military operations and armed conflict.
A December 2025 report by the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) with the title “Papua in the Grip of Military Operations” provides an overview of the military deployments and expansion of military infrastructure in the region. In Intan Jaya Regency alone, approximately 23 non-organic (temporary) military posts were built in September as troops took control of villages. This resulted in the total paralysis of 52 out of 59 educational facilities. Six health facilities, including hospitals and health centres, have ceased functioning. Furthermore, 62 civilian killings by Indonesian military personnel have been documented. The local indigenous population and human rights observers are concerned that the extensive military presence in Intan Jaya serves the purpose of securing the gold-rich Wabu Block mining concession covering approximately 1.18 million hectares.
In October 2025, clashes between security forces and the TPNPB in Intan Jaya Regency resulted in contested casualty figures, with the military claiming 14 fighters killed while the TPNPB reported 12 civilian and three fighter deaths. In a separate incident in Intan Jaya on 25 November 2025, a military drone dropped an explosive onto a civilian house, killing a 17-year-old senior high school student and leaving another civilian injured. In late December, a forty-year-old Papuan civilian suffered fatal blast injuries after allegedly stepping on a victim-activated explosive device placed on a civilian path used for daily movement between gardens and homes in the Jalan Gunung area of Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency
HRM documented 41 armed attacks and clashes throughout the fourth quarter of 2025, significantly higher than the 29 clashes recorded in the third quarter. The majority of armed hostilities between October and December 2025 occurred in Yahukimo, with 15 armed clashes and attacks documented during the reporting period. Armed hostilities were also documented from the regencies of Intan Jaya, Pegunungan Bintang, Nduga, and Mimika. Isolated incidents of armed violence occurred in the regencies of Teluk Bintuni, Maybrat, Nabire, and Dogiyai.
HRM counted eight civilians killed and six injured by the TPNPB. Meanwhile, 15 civilians were killed, and 8 were wounded by security force members during armed clashes or counter-insurgency operations. Concerning the combatants, 15 security force members were killed, and 15 were injured during this period. In contrast, the TPNPB reportedly lost 11 combatants, with 4 guerrilla fighters being injured during armed clashes.
Political developments
The government faced mounting criticism over its approach to West Papua, where lethal military operations continue despite growing civil society opposition. Residents held demonstrations across multiple Papuan cities in late October and early November, denouncing military expansion in the central highlands and alleging extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. Despite widespread civil society rejection, President Prabowo pushed forward with development plans, hosting provincial leaders in December to call for accelerated development across all sectors. He announced plans to expand palm oil plantations across West Papua as part of a broader strategy to achieve energy self-sufficiency within five years. Prabowo declared that palm oil, along with sugar cane and cassava, would be cultivated to produce biofuels and ethanol, potentially saving Indonesia hundreds of trillions of rupiah in fuel imports. In response to the announcement, civil society groups and indigenous landrights holders from Merauke launched a peaceful protest against the Merauke Sugarcane National Strategic Project in Jakarta on 18 December 2025.
Various developments in the legal sector in October and November 2025 raise growing concerns regarding civilian oversight and extensive powers of the police and military. Indonesia’s Constitutional Court has issued a landmark ruling prohibiting active police officers from holding civilian government positions. Still, the implementation of the decision has sparked controversial discussions as thousands of police officers remain in posts across ministries and state agencies. In October, Indonesia’s Constitutional Court rejected formal review petitions challenging Law No. 3/2025 on the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), ruling that the legislative process did not violate the 1945 Constitution despite procedural controversies and widespread criticism from civil society.
In November, the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) unanimously passed the revision of the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) into Law. A coalition of legal aid organisations and human rights defenders warns that the new KUHAP officially opens the door to a police state, legitimising arbitrary detention, invasive surveillance, and unchecked investigative powers. A fierce national debate on historical memory and justice arose after President Prabowo Subianto officially bestowed the title of National Hero upon Indonesia’s second president, General Suharto, during a ceremony at the State Palace. While many Indonesians condemn Suharto for being responsible for numerous gross human rights violations, a significant demographic views the New Order era with nostalgia.
International developments
Between October and December 2025, the Indonesian government under President Prabowo Subianto pursued an active foreign policy focused on strengthening defence ties. Indonesia convened its first trilateral defence ministers’ meeting with Australia and Papua New Guinea in early December, during which Papua New Guinea raised concerns about the West Papua conflict potentially spilling across its border and proposed a 10 km buffer zone. President Prabowo also met with Russian President Putin in Moscow to discuss military cooperation, nuclear energy, and wheat exports, while Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin announced the purchase of at least 42 Chinese-made fighter jets.
West Papua Solidarity Forum . . . an opportunity for students, community groups, media, unions, academics and activists to learn more about West Papua and the current regional and political context. Image: WPAA/Humanitix
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
Indonesia Extends Freeport's Mining Permits in Papua to 2041
Reporter Nandito Putra February 19, 2026
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The American mining company, Freeport-McMoRan, has announced an agreement with the Indonesian Government to extend the operating rights of PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) in Papua until 2041. The agreement is outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding that governs the continuation of operations in the Grasberg Mineral District.
Under the agreement, the Special Mining Business Permit (IUPK) of PTFI will be amended to extend the operating rights until the life of the mine reserves. This change strengthens the Grasberg mine's legal certainty for the next two decades.
he Chair of Freeport's Board of Directors, Richard C. Adkerson, expressed his appreciation for the long-term partnership with the Indonesian Government. He stated that the Grasberg mining operation in Papua has provided significant benefits to all stakeholders over the past six decades. "And this extension will open opportunities to continue creating significant value for all parties in one of the largest copper and gold reserves in the world," said Adkerson, as quoted from the written statement on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
However, this extension is still awaiting the issuance of the revised IUPK by the Indonesian Government. PTFI stated that it will soon complete the application process for the permit extension in accordance with the provisions agreed upon in the MoU.
In addition to licensing aspects, Freeport also stated additional commitments to the Papua community. The company will provide additional social support, including funding for the construction of a new hospital and two medical education facilities. In the upstream sector, PTFI plans to increase exploration budgets and expedite studies to discover new resources and long-term expansion opportunities.
On the downstream side, the company emphasized its priority to prioritize refining and selling products domestically, including processed copper, precious metals, sulfuric acid, and other derivative products. According to market mechanisms, Freeport also sees the opportunity to expand the marketing of refined copper to the United States if demand increases in that country.
The agreement also regulates changes in the share ownership structure. In 2041, Freeport will transfer an additional 12 percent of PTFI shares to the government at no cost. This transfer comes with the provision of proportional investment cost reimbursement, which will continue to provide benefits based on book value after 2041. Freeport will hold 48.76 percent of PTFI shares until 2041, after which that portion will decrease to around 37 percent.
The company ensures that the governance structure, operations, and provisions in the current shareholder agreements and IUPK will be maintained throughout the life of the mining reserves.
Bishop slams ‘excessive’ military presence in Indonesia’s Papua
The conflict in Papua has left thousands killed and displaced since the 1960s
By Jacobus E. Lato Published: January 20, 2026
Church leaders in Indonesia’s Christian-majority Papua have criticized the ‘excessive military’ presence in the region, calling it a flawed state policy to counter insurgency in the conflict-scarred easternmost territory. Augustinian Bishop Bernardus Bofitwos Baru of Timika said that the military presence has instilled fear and insecurity in the local community, whose life and activities are disrupted at regular intervals.
According to government data, approximately 12,300 military personnel are stationed in Papua, the Indonesian part of Papua New Guinea, which is now divided into six provinces.
Since being annexed by Indonesia in the 1960s after the end of Dutch colonial rule through what is largely considered a sham referendum, Papua has endured a low-intensity armed secessionist insurgency and the military’s counter-insurgency operations, which left thousands killed and displaced in the region.
The government cites national security for “influx of soldiers” in Papua, which Papuans have detrimental impacts on their lives, causing panic, fear, and security concerns, disrupting the livelihoods of the community, Baru said on Jan. 18.
The soldiers have placed restrictions on movement, and traditional activities such as hunting, gardening and community gatherings, which are being hindered, said the prelate, an ethnic Papuan and rights defender. "Military posts and soldiers are everywhere. People are afraid because they have implemented an activity schedule, which means it's not just a curfew anymore, but a broader loss of security," Baru told UCA News. Such a security system “intrudes into people's personal matters, [and] could be subtly killing the community,” he lamented. Baru urged the government to engage in dialogue with community representatives to counter the threat of insurgency posed by rebel groups, including the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).
The military’s arbitrary restrictions have negative impacts on the Catholic community, Banu said.
Priests have reported several cases of adverse impact on the congregation, "which encourages me to ask the government to discuss this issue with the church,” he said.
Local media reports suggest that apart from tackling insurgency, the military is being used to safeguard the interests of business oligarchs who are engaged in establishing farms, palm oil plantations, and mines. A Catholic priest and activist serving Bilogai and Sugapa in Central Papua, who did not want to be named, fearing repercussions, said the military occupied a Catholic school compound last September. It has disrupted the learning environment.
"The community is now in trauma. From there, the soldiers spread out to the surrounding villages. And to this day, they have not returned to their posts,” the priest told UCA News. The priest said local leaders and village chiefs have met with military commanders and have appealed to end restrictions on their lives and livelihoods.
“We also explained all the customs and traditions, including our hunting equipment and gardening tools, so that the military personnel would not suspect the civilians as rebels,” he added.
A google translate of article in Jubi
Original Bahasa link
https://jubi.id/polhukam/2026/romo-yohanes-tara-ada-operasi-keamanan-terselubung-di-tanah-papua/
Father Yohanes Tara: There's a covert security operation in Papua
February 2, 2026 in Politics, Law, and Security
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. (*)
(Tokyo) – Indonesian police unlawfully dispersed, beat, and detained 11 Papuan protesters in Merauke City, South Papua, on January 25, 2026, Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities should promptly and impartially investigate the incident, appropriately discipline or punish those responsible for abuses, and consult with Indigenous communities to address longstanding grievances. That morning, members of the Voice of Catholic People of Papua (Suara Kaum Awam Katolik Regio Papua) had gathered at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Cathedral to call on church officials to protect Indigenous people harmed by the government’s massive Merauke food project. They also expressed opposition to the bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Merauke for backing the government project. The police arrived and forcibly dispersed those gathered inside the church courtyard and arrested 11………….. https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/02/13/indonesia-police-disperse-papuans-protesting-food-estate-project
Islands Business
Talk peace, Papuans tell Indonesia
January 14, 2026 _ NETANI RIKA
PAPUAN peace advocates have called on Indonesia to initiate dialogue or peace negotiations to end 50 years of conflict.
The church and civil society groups said talks between President Prabowo Subianto and the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) were essential to a peaceful resolution of indigenous issues.
Indonesia annexed former Dutch New Guinea in 1963 and renamed it Irian Jaya, despite the Netherlands’ desire to allow the return of the territory to indigenous Papuans.
The move, supported by the United Nations, United States, and the United Kingdom, has been contested by Papuans and defended by Indonesia, leading to more than 500,000 deaths in sporadic clashes over more than 60 years. “I believe that only through dialogue can all conflicts of economic, social, cultural, and political interests be discussed and a peaceful resolution agreed upon,” said Papua Peace Network spokesperson Yan C. Warinussy.
He said the JDP hoped for a positive response from the conflicting parties, as well as from the Catholic Church leadership in the Vatican, the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference, and the Communion of Churches in Indonesia. Warinussy said peace was imperative because indigenous Papuans had been victims of armed conflict with economic and political backgrounds since 1963. “During the 2025 Christmas and 2026 New Year celebrations, many indigenous Papuans were not in their hometowns but in the middle of the forest as refugee camps,” he said. Warinussy claimed this violated the mandate of the 1945 Constitution, Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 39 of 1999 concerning Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Convention on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.
Papuan refugees have fled to areas outside military operations and armed conflict between the military and the West Papua National Liberation Army.
In October 2025, clashes between government troops and Papuan fighters at Teluk Bintuni Regency, West Papua, displaced 238 people. A military operation using helicopters in Lanny Jaya, Papua Highlands forced around 2000 residents to flee their villages. The Papuan Church Council estimates there are 103,218 refugees across Papua.
Source: Jubi
Take charge, Papua media owner tells scribes
January 20, 2026 _ NETANI RIKA
Victor Mambor
A WEST Papuan media owner has urged journalists in his country to become key players in covering major issues in Papua, rather than mere spectators dominated by foreign media. Victor Mambor – owner of the pro-democracy news site, Jubi – made the call during the 1st Papua Media Festival in Nabire Regency, Central Papua.
Mambor emphasized that Indigenous Papuan journalists should be the main actors in covering the potential of their own region, rather than relying on media from outside Papua. The workshop was moderated by Roni Hisage and attended by university students and journalists at a festival initiated by the Papuan Journalists Association.
Meanwhile, North Jayapura Police have closed their investigation into the detonation of an explosive device outside Mambor’s home in January. The investigation has been criticised for irregularities, as well as a lack of transparency, with Mambor only informed of the letter in October through the Papuan representative for the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights.
Indoleft
Timber sold for millions, indigenous Papuan communities get small change
Suara Papua – January 29, 2026
Reiner Brabar, Jayapura – The timber industry in Sorong regency, Southwest Papua, generates billions of rupiah in profits from merbau wood, but indigenous communities who own customary land only receive around 0.6 percent of the export value.
This extreme inequality was revealed in a collaborative research project between the government's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and the People's Earth Heritage Foundation (Pusaka), which was presented during a research discussion and dissemination on Wednesday January 28 in Jakarta.
The research, which was conducted in 2025 in the districts of Klamono, Moisegen, East Sayosa and Maudus, highlighted the impact of the timber industry's expansion on the Moii indigenous people who now live under pressure from logging, customary land grabbing and a customary rights crisis. Desmiwati, a researcher at BRIN's Centre for Community and Cultural Research, stated that Papua is currently positioned as the last frontier for logging – the last region for exploitation after the forests of Sumatra and Kalimantan have been depleted.
Locally, merbau wood is valued at only around 150,000 to 200,000 rupiah per cubic meter, while the export price can reach 25 million rupiah per cubic meter, she said.
Under this scheme, indigenous communities receive only a very small share, while most of the profits are enjoyed by companies and the state, through taxes, Forest Resource Rent Provisions (PSDH), reforestation funds and profit-sharing funds (DBH).
Forced signatures
During their research, the research team discovered the practice of pseudo-approval in the release of customary land. Company socialisation activities were often held in hotels, not in villages, so only certain individuals were included.
"Residents' signatures on attendance lists were used as the basis for claiming approval for land release", said Desmiwati.
According to the research team, state and corporate power operate through administrative mechanisms that appear legal, but ultimately result in the systematic undermining of indigenous communities' rights.
"For the Moi community, the forest is more than just timber. It is a living space, a cultural identity and a source of life", emphasised Desmiwati.
Workers from outside Papua
The entry of the timber industry also triggered inter-clan conflicts, disputes over customary land boundaries and weakened customary solidarity. Kinship values have shifted to an economic orientation, while social pressures increased.
"As industrial operations progressed, kinship values, once based on custom and mutual cooperation, slowly shifted. Social pressures in surrounding villages also increased, especially as the influx of workers from outside Papua increasingly dominated the job market", she said.
On the other hand, the company's promise to employ indigenous Papuans (OAP) was not realised, even though Special Autonomy (Otsus) regulations require that 80 percent of the workforce come from the indigenous Papuans.
"Indigenous Papuans were only involved in the survey phase, after which they were pushed aside from core work", said Desmiwati.
Intimidated
The Moi indigenous community resisted by blocking logging roads and protesting. However, the authorities' response was often intimidating, even accompanied by political stigmatisation of residents who opposed the expansion of the timber industry.
Several residents claimed to have been labelled provocateurs, anti-development and even infiltrated with certain political labels just for defending their customary forests.
Yet, she said, indigenous people's opposition is based on the belief that forests are sacred spaces, sources of life and cultural identities, not business commodities.
"Communities often incur negative stigma from the state when they resist", she said.
Desmiwati revealed that researchers found that in fact the state appears to be leaving indigenous peoples to struggle for themselves.
"The state should protect indigenous peoples, but instead appears to support corporate interests", she continued.
These findings reinforce criticism that development based on natural resource exploitation in Papua benefits corporations more than indigenous peoples while deepening deforestation, poverty, social conflict and the loss of living space for Indigenous Papuans.
Recommendations
The researchers submitted several recommendations to the government, including:
Independent timber industry audits
Regulatory revisions
The establishment of an indigenous peoples' complaint task force
Strengthening participatory mapping of customary territories
In Southwest Papua province, to this day residents still complain about massive logging activities and weak law enforcement.
From the information gathered by Suara Papua, these kind of logging activities not only took place in Sorong regency, but also in other areas such as Raja Ampat, Tambrauw, South Sorong and Maybrat.
Residents also suspect that there is backing from officials and government officials, enabling these activities to proceed smoothly.
"Logged timber from Moswaren, South Sorong, is loaded onto trucks, covered with tarpaulin and transported along public roads", said a resident who did not want their identity published.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Kayu Dijual Miliaran, Orang Moi Cuma Dapat Recehan".]
Source: https://suarapapua.com/2026/01/29/kayu-dijual-miliaran-orang-moi-cuma-dapat-recehan/
https://www.greenleft.org.au/2026/1445/analysis/vale-pat-walsh-internationalist-and-human-rights-campaigner
Vale Pat Walsh: internationalist and human rights campaigner
Patrick Earle
Green Left January 12, 2026, Issue 1445, Analysis
The great and wonderful Pat Walsh passed away on December 29.
Pat was one of Australia’s great human rights defenders and promoters. His many contributions to the Diplomacy Training Program (DTP) as former DTP board member, DTP Advisory Council and DTP Trainer were but a small part of his larger life’s contributions to human rights in our world. Humble, tireless and indefatigable, a gifted writer and thoughtful chronicler of history, lives and stories, Pat was a true internationalist. The principal focus of his human rights’ advocacy from 1975 was the peoples of Indonesia and Timor Leste — and their aspirations for human rights and democracy. His work in support of the Timorese right to self-determination led him to become an exemplar of “peoples’ diplomacy”, engaging everyone who could do something for the Timorese — from foreign ministers to Indonesian generals to Timorese refugees, Australian aid organisations, trade unionists and politicians — across the spectrum and world.
In the 1970s, Pat co-founded the magazine Inside Indonesia, that continues to build knowledge and understanding of Indonesia’s rich history, peoples and politics. President Suharto banned Pat from entering Indonesia, but when the democracy movement ended the general’s rule, President Habibie welcomed Pat into the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. It was a lesson in history that, unlike principles, dictators don’t last forever. Pat probably had more friends in Indonesia’s new democracy, including future President Gus Dur, than did the Australian government so closely tied with its former dictator. Pat quietly built solidarity and rich friendships stretching the world and generations. His great friendship with Timor’s President José Ramos-Horta spanned decades.
As the first director of the Human Rights Office of the Australian Council for Overseas Aid, he mobilised with others in the Asia-Pacific to ensure governments upheld the universality and indivisibility of all human rights at the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights. He then helped establish the first Asia-Pacific network on human rights. For decades, Pat worked against all odds for Timor Leste’s freedom to ensure that, in the words of Irish poet Seamus Heaney, “Hope and history rhymed” for the Timorese. When it did, in the 1999 vote for independence, Pat was there to help the Timorese build their new democracy on a foundation of respect for human rights. Working from a cell in a former prison in Dili, he helped build the Chega! institution (Centro Nacional Chega!). The centre for truth, reception and reconciliation tells the extraordinary story of the Timorese and the victory of right over might through the voices of the victims and survivors.
The Centro Nacional Chega! is a lovingly curated history honouring the truth of the words of Czech writer Milan Kundera: “The struggle of man [sic] against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting”. Pat saw the work of Chega! as a critical part of human rights education; how can you make the future different to the past; how can peace be built after conflict? He spent a year living in Jakarta helping to oversee the translation of the Chega! report into Bahasa. The story is told in one of his lovely books, Stormy With a Chance of Fried Rice.
Pat received honours from the Timorese and Australian governments for his extraordinary contributions to human rights, peace and reconciliation. The focus of Pat’s work in recent decades was on ensuring that Timor, Indonesia and Australia all know their shared history. He maintained a hope that the lessons from this history could be applied to the West Papuan aspirations for self-determination and to Australia’s reckoning with its past. Pat also documented his own family’s history — from Ireland to his own start in life on a dairy farm in western Victoria. His books were tributes to the joys and humour to be found in the lives of ordinary people, in Dili and Jakarta, as well as his own suburb of Northcote during COVID-19. The pages of Pat’s books are full of his empathy, humour, wisdom and delight in the everyday. He has motivated many to take up the cause for human rights. He leaves an inspiring legacy and will be long missed and well remembered. DTP extends our sympathies and condolences to Annie and the family. [This tribute first appeared on Diplomacy Training Program and is reprinted with permission.]
Opinion pieces/reports/media releases etc.
Shining a light on West Papua Bellingen Memorial Hall
8th Feb 2026 Julian King
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qFzQdSaFY8
Ongoing series of arrests amidst deteriorating armed conflict in Dekai: Four Papuan girls arbitrarily detained including three minors
https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/ongoing-series-of-arrests-amidst-deteriorating-armed-conflict-in-dekai-four-papuan-girls-arbitrarily-detained-including-three-minors/
Indonesia fast-tracks final permit for Papua rice megaproject without Indigenous consent
Intensified land grabbing and militarisation in Biak, Supiori, and Waropen
President Wenda: Indonesia bombing refugee camps in West Papua
https://www.ulmwp.org/president-wenda-indonesia-bombing-refugee-camps-in-west-papua
Pathways to Peace in West Papua: The Need for a Humanitarian Pause and Inclusive Dialogue
https://www.counterpunch.org/2026/01/13/west-papua-and-the-genocide-mosaic/
The Bogus Food Estate Project
https://en.tempo.co/read/2083144/the-bogus-food-estate-project
Irony abounds: Indonesia gets human rights protection job
https://johnmenadue.com/post/2026/01/irony-abounds-indonesia-gets-hr-protection-job/
Duncan Graham
After years of progress, Indonesia risks ‘tragedy’ of a deforestation spike
Photos. An event to commemorate 50 years of advocacy by the International Commission of Jurists (Australian Section) for the people of Timor-Leste.
https://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com/2026/02/an-event-to-commemorate-50-years-of.html
A list of sources of information/links in Bahasa/English. PAPUA 2025 December
https://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com/2026/01/a-list-of-sources-of-informationlinks.html
