Two suspected members of an armed separatist group were killed in a shootout with Indonesian military personnel in Nduga regency, Highland Papua province, on Friday, the military said.
The clash occurred near Nonggoloit village in Kenyam district during a patrol by troops from the Habema Operations Command, Xinhua reported.
Brig. Gen. Riyanto, commander of the Habema Operations Command, said the patrol was conducted following reports of an armed group's presence near a residential area.
The group allegedly opened fire as troops approached the area, triggering an exchange of gunfire, Riyanto said.
Two suspected members of the Ndugama-Nderakma armed group were found dead at the scene, while other members fled, he said, adding that the identities of the deceased were still being verified.
Troops seized two air rifles, bows and arrows, bladed weapons, 18 mobile phones, communication equipment, documents, group insignia and 88 million rupiah (about 4,800 U.S. dollars) in cash.
By Nijat Babayev
Sorong, Jubi – The Indigenous Moi community’s Klagilit clan has called on PT Megapura Prima Industri (MPI) and PT Gelora Indo Mandiri (GIM) to take responsibility for a 10.2-hectare coal mining site that was cleared and abandoned without a clear resolution.
The traditional landowners are seeking clarification over a company asset guarantee reportedly valued at around Rp17 billion, as well as assurances about site safety and the market value of coal left exposed at the mine.
The demands were raised by customary landowners Esau Klgilit and Obet Klagilit during measurement of the cleared mining area within PT MPI’s mining concession in Moisegen District, Sorong Regency, Southwest Papua, on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
The measurement was intended to reinforce their demands over an unresolved dispute. The clan says it has waited months for the companies to take responsibility since mining operation ceased in mid-2025.
The Klagilit clan questioned who was responsible for the cleared land, why operations had stopped without an official explanation, and why the companies had not provided certainty over an asset guarantee previously discussed verbally.
The clan also raised concerns about coal left exposed at the site, citing previous experiences with the rehabilitation of former mining areas and coal fires.
Esau Klagilit said the community had been waiting for the company to take responsibility for about one year and seven months but had yet to receive a response.
“We decided to measure the coal mining area that had already been cleared because we have been waiting for around one year and seven months for the company to take responsibility for the land it cleared,” Esau told Jubi after the measurement at the abandoned mining site.
He said company representatives had previously made verbal assurances that they would take responsibility for the land, but no follow-up action had been taken to the community’s satisfaction.
Esau called on the government and relevant authorities to pay attention to the clan’s situation and help convey its demands to the companies.
He said the dispute needed to be resolved, adding that the community did not want land cleared for mining to become a source of ongoing uncertainty while traditional landowners continued to wait for answers and accountability.
Meanwhile, Ober Klagilit questioned why mining operations on the clan’s customary land had ceased.
He said PT Gelora Indo Mandiri had been involved in carrying out mining activities at the site.
However, according to Ober, operations stopped without the community being informed of the difficulties faced by the company or the reasons behind the suspension.
“To this day, we have not received a clear explanation of the problems or what caused the operation to stop,” Obet said.
He said the situation had left the Klagilit clan facing losses and uncertainty, with more than 10 hectares of customary land already cleared for mining.
Obet said the companies must take responsibility for the cleared land, including any fires that might occur in the mining area.
“If fire occurs in the area, which covers more than 10 hectares of cleared land, the company must explain what happened and take responsibility for the losses we are raising,” he said.
The clan also questioned the nature of the reported Rp17 billion assed guarantee, including which assets were pledged, who was responsible for the guarantee and what mechanism were available to resolve the dispute.
“We also insist that the issue of the asses guarantee must not be separated form responsibility for the condition of the cleared land and the coal exposed after the overburden was removed,” Obet said.
He said the community was concerned about site safety, coal quality, the risk of fire and the certainty of the market value of the exposed coal.
The clan called on PT MPI and PT GIM to explained the current condition of the site, the safety measures in place and who was responsible for managing the area while mining operations remained suspended.
The companies were also urged to ensure that rehabilitation and mine closure obligations were fulfilled in accordance with applicable regulations.
The clan said an inspection by the relevant authorities was needed to establish the site’s current condition and determine what measures were required.
It did not want land previously cleared for mining to create further problems for the traditional landowners, Ober said.
“We urge the central government, the Governor of Southwest Papua and the Sorong Regent to give immediate attention to the problems we are facing,” he said.
Obet called on the central and regional governments to facilitate a meeting between Indigenous community and PT MPI and PT GIM to clarify the suspension of mining operations, the status of the asset guarantee and responsibility for the clear land.
The government was also urged to ensure that the relevant authorities inspected the mining site, including the exposed coal, potential fire risks and the companies’ rehabilitation and mine closure obligations.
Obet said government involvement was necessary to ensure the community received clear answer and prevent dispute from dragging on.
The Klagilit clan outlined three main demands.
First, it called on PT MPI and/or PT GIM to honour their previously stated commitment regarding the company asset guarantee by clarifying its form, status, value and the process for its realisation.
Second, it demanded that both companies ensure the safety and proper management of the exposed coal, protect its quality and market value, and explain how the site was being managed while operations remained suspended.
Third, it urged the central government, the Governor of Southwest Papua and the Sorong Regent to take steps towards resolving the dispute, ensure the companies provide explanations and oversee compliance with applicable regulations.
Jayapura, Jubi – The Ateta clan, an Indigenous customary law community of the Sumuri people in Teluk Bintuni Regency, West Papua Province, has announced a boycott of all activities by Genting Oil Kasuri Pte. Ltd. (GOKPL) on its customary land.
The clan is also demanding that the company suspend its activities and use of the dispute land until a mutually agreed resolution is reached.
Ateta clan head Benedictus Ateta said the decision followed by the company’s failure to provide certainty about holding talks to resolve the dispute over the use of their customary land.
“The boycott will be carried through community consolidation and peaceful action, while continuing to respect applicable laws and the safety of the community and workers,” Benedictus said in an electronic message on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
The dispute concerns GOKPL’s use of Ateta customary land for the Rajawali-IX access road and gas wells.
According to the clan, the unresolved issues include the legal basis for using the customary land and the determination of compensation for its use.
In a letter dated September 30, 2026, GOKPL stated that the Rajawali-IX access road was located in an area designated for other uses (Areal Penggunaan Lain, or APL), rather than in forest areas used for the development of production at the Asap Kido Merah Field.
On that basis, the company said the regent’s decision establishing guidelines for minimum compensation rates did not apply to the access road.
GOKPL also referred to compensation previously provided and suggested that the amount agreed upon earlier be used as a reference.
The Ateta clan responded to the company’s letter, but said it had yet to receive a reply providing certainty about how the dispute would be resolved.
The clan insists that the matter must not remain unsolved and that the use of its customary land must be discussed openly, with respect for Indigenous rights and applicable regulations.
After receiving no response to its letter, a delegation representing the Ateta clan visited GOKPL’s office on the 16th and 17th floors of Menara Bank DBS, Ciputra World, Jalan Prof. Dr. Satrio Kav. 3-5, Karet Kuningan, Setiabudi, South Jakarta, on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
The delegation included Benedictus Ateta, West Papua People’s Representative Council (MRBP) member Theres Florensia Ateta and three community representatives. They sought a meeting with company management.
Before the visit, Theres had contacted the company’s external relations staff to inform them of the planned visit and sent a formal request for dialogue.
However, upon arrival, the delegation was met only in the lobby by two external relations staff members, identified as Aditya and Ana Agofa.
Aditya reportedly said the company’s senior management was not in the office and that the staff present could not accommodate the delegation. The meeting did not preceed.
For the Ateta clan, the lack of a confirmed meeting and follow-up has deepened disappointment and distrust in the dispute resolution process.
The clan said its attempts to engage in dialogue should not be ignored and must be met with concrete action.
“We came seeking a resolution and requesting dialogue with people who have the authority to make decisions. We cannot accept our customary land dispute being left unresolved without any certainty,” Benedictus said.
“We demand respect for the rights of the Ateta clan, a written response to our letter, and open a fair discussions and compensation. Until there is a clear resolution, we have decided to boycott Genting Oil’s activities on our customary land.”
Benedictus said customary land was central to the Ateta clan’s way of life, identity, livelihoods, and future. Investment, he said, could not be used as a reason to disregarf Indigenous communities’ rights to their territories.
Meanwhile, Theres Florensia Ateta said companies should have wear clear mechanism for engagement and provide certainty about follow-up action when Indigenous communities seek dialogue.
Recognition of Indigenous communities, she said, should not exist only on paper. It must be demonstrated through a willingness to listen, disclose relevant information and resolve disputes over rights with dignity.
Theres urged GOKPL to arrange an official meeting with the Ateta clan, involving the local government and other relevant parties.
She stressed that Indigenous communities must be treated as rights holders whose interests are considered in every decision concerning their customary territories.
The Ateta clan said the boycott was a collective decision to protest the unresolved customary land dispute and the absence of certainty about dialogue with the company.
It called on GOKPL to demonstrate its willingness to engage by arranging a meeting, responding to its letter in writing, disclosing relevant documents and resolving the compensation dispute through a transparent process.
The clan also urged the local government and relevant authorities to help facilitate a resolution.
It said it would continue community consolidation and peaceful action while respecting the safety of community members and workers, as well as applicable laws.
The Ateta clan cited several legal instruments supporting its position, including Teluk Bintuni Regency Regional Regulation No, 1 of 2019 on the Recognition and Protection of Indigenous Customary Law Communities in Teluk Bintuni Regency.
It also referred to Teluk Bintuni Regent’s Decree No. 100.3.3.2/011.2 on the Recognition and Protection of the Ateta Clan as an Indigenous Customary Law Community of the Sumuri people, and Teluk Bintuni Regent Regulation No, 15 of 2023 on Indigenous Customary Land and its Use for Development in Teluk Bintuni Regency.
Based on these grounds, the clan outlined its demands:
- Condemn GOKPL management’s failure to meet with Ateta clan representatives and a member of the West Papua People’s Representative Council.
- Ensure the use of customary land respects Indigenous rights and applicable laws.
- Boycott all GOKPL activities on Ateta customary land for the company’s access road and gas wells.
- Demand that Genting Oil immediately cease activities on and use of Ateta customary land.
- Call on the Sumuri Indigenous community, customary institutions, the MRPB and local government to work together to uphold Indigenous communities’ authority over their customary territories.
Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Justice and Human Integrity Foundation (YKKMP) has reported alleged military sweeps, intimidation, interrogations and physical assaults, including against a man with disabilities, in Tolikara Regency, Papua Highland Province, on October 7-8, 2026.
In a monitoring report released on Thursday, October 22, YKKMP also alleged that Indonesian military (TNI) personnel seized personal belongings from residents during operation in Telenggeme, Kembu, Gundagi and Umagi districts.
The report, signed by YKKMP executive director Theo Hesegem, is based on accounts from witnesses and affected residents. Jubi has not independently verified the allegations
According to YKKMP, non-organic TNI personnel crossed the mountains towards Kembu at about 4am Papua time on October 7.
A local community leader told the organisation he encountered about 15 soldiers while returning home after feeding livestock. None soldiers allegedly stopped him, asked for his identity and checked his Indonesian identity card.
The soldiers then reportedly told him they had arrived to escort government rice assistance intended for the community.
YKKMP said the soldiers entered Gundagi District at about 1am the following day and broke into a home of a man identified as NW, who is blind and has a long-term physical disability affecting both legs.
NW was lying in bed when the soldiers allegedly entered him home.
Despite his disabilities, NW is known in the Mamit area and across Tolikara for his mechanical skills. Residents reportedly bring him equipment, including chainsaws, grass-cutting machines and air riffles, for repairs.
He also repairs electronic equipment, diesel engines and generators, installs electrical wiring and previously helped restore a micro-hydropower system in Kembu at the request of a missionary identified as Weshley.
According to YKKMP, NW raised both hands to indicate surrender because he had already heard reports of the soldiers’ arrival.
The soldiers allegedly broke down doors to two bedrooms and a bathroom before searching the rooms and taking items from bags inside the house.
NW reportedly told them the items included company documents belonging to his older brother.
Man with disabilities allegedly assaulted
YKKMP said the soldiers question NW about Botak Wanimbo and His whereabout.
One soldier allegedly struck NW four times on the forehead with a large screwdriver, while another reportedly hit him three times on the back with a fan belt.
The soldiers also allegedly took several items, including air rifles belonging to community members that NW had repaired, disassembled air rifle components, his family card, identity card, mobile phone and bank passbook.
According to the report, several other people were inside the house, including NW’s father, a Christian minister aged over 72, two adult women and four children.
YKKMP alleged that three soldiers pointed firearms at NW’s father and demanded information about Botak Wanimbo and his whereabouts.
The report said the elderly man was ordered to place his hands on the floor and that a soldier attempted to stab him with a knife. He reportedly pulled his hands away as the knife was dropped, avoiding injury.
YKKMP said the man was then taken outside the traditional house, known locally as a honai, with his eyes covered by a cloth. Soldiers allegedly took turns questioning him about Botak Wanimbo while moving around the church grounds.
The foundation said the incidents formed part of a wider series of searches and interrogations in the area.
At about 2am, on October 8, TNI personnel allegedly visited homes near Woraga State Elementary School and ordered residents to come outside.
One resident who spoke Indonesian fluently was reportedly questioned about Botak Wanimbo and his whereabouts. After saying he did not know, he and about 20 other people were ordered to gather in the grounds of the GIDI Moria Church.
The witness also told YKKMP that several young men, including himself, were taken aside individually and questioned about Botak Wanimbo, the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB-OPM) and the group’s whereabouts. They reportedly denied having the information.
Pastor also questioned
At about 6am on October 8, the wife of the pastor of the GIDI Moria congregation was preparing food for her child to take to school when three TNI personnel arrived at her home, according to YKKMP.
The soldiers reportedly asked about her place of origin and her husband. She told them he was praying at a prayer house.
After repeatedly being pressured to call him, she eventually contacted her husband, who then approached the house using back path.
YKKMP said soldiers were waiting along the path and detained the pastor for questioning about Botak Wanimbo and his associates.
The pastor reportedly explained that he was a Christian minister serving in the GIDI Moria congregation. He also described his background, including time spent living in Java and Kalimantan, and he said he said heard about the soldiers’ arrival before they came.
YKKMP said the pastor reported that the military personnel had arrived in three civilian trucks and two civilian Mitsubishi Triton vehicles. The truck drivers were wearing civilian clothing. They then left the area at about 11am Papua time.
YKKMP calls for investigation and return of belongings
In response to what it described as a military operation in Tolikara, YKKMP called on the Indonesian government to allow domestic and foreign journalists access to Papua to report on the human rights situation.
The organisation also urged the United Nations to establish an investigative team through its special procedures to examine the underlying causes of the conflict and alleged abuses in Papua.
It called on the Indonesian government to facilitate a visit to Papua by relevant United Nations human rights experts.
YKKMP further urged the government to open space for peaceful dialogue with the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), which it described as the political umbrella for pro independence groups.
The organisation called on the commander of the Habema Task Force, which it said was operating in Tolikara from October 6 to 8, to return belongings allegedly taken from community members.
It also urged the Tolikara regency government to provide phycological recovery support and address material losses suffered by residents following the reported operations in Telenggeme, Kembu, Gundagi, and Umagi.
YKKMP’s demands follow allegations of physical violence, intimidation and property seizures during the military operations. The allegations have not been independently verified, and response from the TNI or the Habema Task Force was not included in the report provided to Jubi. (*)
Jayapura, Jubi – Residents of Mulima village in Libarek district, Jayawijaya regency, Papua Highlands, have condemned suspected arson after a forest fire spread rapidly across three villages.
Residents were alarmed on Wednesday afternoon, 21 October 2026, when thick smoke appeared simultaneously in Mulima, Punalul and Kumima villages.
Kornelis Wilil, a local customary leader, said the fire had caused significant losses for Indigenous communities and threatened the forest resources needed by future generations.
“We are suffering terribly. We have forest and timber that sustain our lives, as well as various plants that are essential for the future of our descendants, for generations to come – even for centuries,” Wilil said in a written statement on Friday, 23 October 2026.
He said more than 5,000 hectares of the forest had reportedly been destroyed by the fire, stretching from the Toduma boundary to Herewihak and from the Toduman boundary to an area near the Elokhoraima river.
“The forest has been completely burned, including various species of trees and other plants,” he said.
Wilil said the fire had caused losses for the extended Wilil-Himan clan and other local residents. He warned that reforestation and forest recovery could take years.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, and no suspects have been identified. Residents in the affected areas are focusing on containing the blaze, he said.
Wilil said forest fires were not caused by climate change alone, but also result from human activity.
He added that residents would not allow timber killed by the fire to be collected indiscriminately and planned to pursue the matter through government authorities and the legal system.
“We will follow up through the relevant government authorities, report the incident in accordance with the law and continue to monitor the process,” he said.
Residents have called for anyone found responsible to face legal proceedings. They said they would not seek compensation in the form of money or pigs, but wanted the alleged offender to be held accountable under the law.
If the person responsible cannot be identified, the community will consider acting under applicable customary law.
Residents of Mulima, Punakul and Kumima have also been urged to maintain public order and refrain from indiscriminate burning of gardens or other property. (*)
JAKARTA; Thick haze from forest and land fires has blanketed South Papua and the surrounding region, with pollution allegedly exacerbated by land clearing for food estate projects in the province, as the country’s easternmost island remains excluded from firefighting priorities.
The Merauke estate occupies 2.3 million hectares of land in the province, nearly twice the size of Greater Tokyo. It is a national strategic project (PSN) established for the development of rice, sugarcane and other plantations, as well as logistical hubs.
Ongoing monitoring by Papua-focused watchdog Pusaka Bentala Rakyat found that wildfire smoke had intensified throughout October in Merauke, including in parts of the estate where fires were reportedly ignited to clear land for rice and sugarcane cultivation.
“The fires have been spiralling out of control, particularly in areas plotted for the PSN,” Pusaka Bentala Rakyat executive director Franky Samperante told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
In low-lying Merauke, fires are common, as indigenous communities use controlled small burns as part of their traditional management of grasslands for agricultural purposes.
However, since mid-August, the group has documented multiple large-scale blazes originating from the Merauke estate, including around parts of a 58-kilometre-long food estate corridor stretching from near Wanam village in Ilwayab district to Muting district.
The land clearing was allegedly carried out to pave the way for the construction of a road and an airport.
In a separate report, environmental group the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) recorded 807 fire hotspots with high confidence levels inside the PSN between January and August. The monitored hotspots were located in areas operated by both the government and selected private contractors.
“There is no room for a PSN to dodge accountability for environmental risks and damage,” said Walhi campaign coordinator Uli Arta Siagian.
Officials from the Agriculture Ministry did not respond to The Jakarta Post’s request for comment at the time of publication.
The food and energy estate was launched under former president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration and later continued by President Prabowo Subianto. The project aims to help the country achieve food and energy self-sufficiency.
However, the project has faced criticism over the high risk of deforestation and the increasing militarisation of the estates.
Since 2024, the food estate has received substantial backing through the deployment of Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel in newly established territorial development infantry battalions (Yonif TP).
The project also involves Brigade Pangan (food brigade), a group of civilian farmers deployed and supervised by the TNI’s village supervisory non-commissioned officers (babinsa).
Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel carry flags of new military units on Oct. 5 during a ceremony commemorating the TNI’s 81st anniversary at the force’s headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta. President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated 204 new TNI units, including six regional commands and 150 territorial development infantry battalions (Yonif TP). (Antara/Galih Pradipta)
The country’s easternmost island has been affected by a decades-long conflict between Indonesian security forces and Papuan separatists, making the increased military presence a concern for civilian security.
Although the TNI has been assisting with firefighting operations, Franky of Pusaka argued that the alleged burning highlighted a contradiction, as land clearing under military oversight could increase the risk of human rights and environmental violations in Papua.
TNI spokesperson Brig. Gen. Muhammad Nas and Merauke-headquartered Mandala Trikora Command spokesperson Lt. Col. Ronny W. Koesuma did not respond to The Jakarta Post’s request for comment at the time of publication.
The government has been conducting firefighting and cloud-seeding operations in six priority provinces in Kalimantan and Sumatra, which have been heavily affected by forest and peatland fires. Haze from the blazes has reached neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore.
However, Papua remains excluded from the regions prioritised for these efforts, despite smoke from fires on the island reaching Timor-Leste.
The Europe-based Earth observation platform Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) has tracked a “much higher than normal” concentration of burning and fire emissions in the region since late July, with microscopic airborne pollutants mostly travelling west and north-west.
“Our data, and the satellite observations it is based on, also show a high concentration of burning in southern parts of Papua and also Papua New Guinea,” CAMS senior scientist Mark Parrington said on Tuesday.
Timor-Leste authorities closed schools across the country for three days from Oct. 15 after thick haze made air quality unsafe, including in the capital, Dili.
The haze has also affected health in South Papua, with at least 451 cases of respiratory illnesses recorded at Mopah Baru community health centre (Puskesmas) in Merauke regency throughout September. This represented a 50 per cent increase compared with the previous two months.
The Transportation Ministry said earlier this week that haze had disrupted operations at 16 airports across Papua between Oct. 13 and 17.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said all blazes in South Papua had so far been contained, while acknowledging that the region still needed more firefighting resources. - Jakarta Post/ANN
