Australians don't have to be brave to show the West Papuan flag: West Papuans do.
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| # | Number of Victims | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1. | unknown | diverse | unknown | Labourer | labour rights |
| # | Number of Victims | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1. | dozens | unknown | unknown | Indigenous Peoples | safe environment | |
| 2. | 1 | Apolos Sroyer | male | unknown | Activist, Indigenous Peoples | safe environment |
Papua Legal Aid Institute lawyer Imanus Komba said the organisation had also called on law enforcement authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the shooting.
“We have received legal authorisation from the victims’ families to provide assistance and oversee this alleged human rights violation case,” Komba said.
He made the statement at a press conference attended by the victims’ families, students and humanitarian activists at the LBH Papua office in Kamkey, Abepura District, Jayapura, Papua Province, on Monday (November 2, 2026).
The shooting occurred in Yosoma Village, Kenyam District, Nduga Regency. The alleged perpetrators were members of the Rajawali VI Task Force, Den 1, under the Habema Joint Operations Command (Koops Habema).
The two people killed were Masut Serera (27), an official of Giliga Village, Gearek District, and Kelikia Karebea (14), a student.
The third victim, Kabera Karebea (20), is receiving intensive medical treatment at a hospital in Timika, Mimika Regency, Central Papua Province.
According to Komba, based on an account provided by the victims’ families to LBH Papua, the shooting occurred at around 7 a.m. Papua Time along the Trans Batas Batu–Kenyam Road in Nduga.
Before the shooting, military personnel reportedly flew a drone over the area from around 6 a.m. Approximately 15 minutes later, several members of the Habema Joint Operations Command arrived in three armoured vehicles and another vehicle.
“Two additional vehicles reportedly entered the residential area,” he said.
Komba said the families maintained that the three victims were civilians from Giliga Village, Gearek District, and not members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB-OPM), as alleged by security forces.
He said Masut Serera died from gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen after being hit by four bullets.
Kelikia Karebea also died from gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen, while Kabera Karebea sustained a gunshot wound to his right arm.
“According to the families, when three military vehicles arrived at the victims’ home, the three men tried to flee. However, TNI and police personnel then launched an attack and opened fire. Inside the house, there was a woman holding her baby. They were later surrounded and taken to a military post, but were released that night,” he said.
Komba said LBH Papua believed that the incident involved alleged human rights violations by state security personnel from the Indonesian Military (TNI) and police.
“Security forces have claimed there was an exchange of fire with an armed group. However, the victims’ families say they were unarmed civilians who were inside their homes,” he said.
Family representative Yunius Serera also said the three victims were civilians with no links to any armed group.
He said the victims had attempted to escape when security personnel arrived but were immediately shot.
“Our family’s hope is that the personnel responsible for the shooting are held accountable, prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and removed from their positions,” Yunius said.
He also questioned reports of an exchange of fire and allegations that an armed group was involved in the incident.
Yunius said the victims’ belongings had also been seized during the incident. The family called for all actions taken by security personnel to be thoroughly investigated.
The families also called on Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to order the withdrawal of non-organic TNI troops from Nduga Regency.
They said the presence of large numbers of security personnel in the region had created fear and trauma among residents, disrupting their daily activities, including their ability to find food.
“Prabowo is a major criminal leading this country, which is why so many human rights violations are happening on this land,” he said.
The government, customary leaders, religious leaders and intellectuals were also urged to pay attention to the situation facing Nduga residents.
“I also ask security personnel to verify people’s identities and status before carrying out operations in the field. They must not simply open fire,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nduga students studying in Jayapura called on President Prabowo and several state institutions to immediately investigate the shooting and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
Student representative Amanus Heluka said they had also submitted similar demands to TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto, the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, and the Minister of Human Rights.
“We demand that President Prabowo ensure this case is thoroughly investigated and brought before the courts. The victims’ families must receive genuine justice,” Heluka said.
The students also presented 11 demands, including:
– The withdrawal of both organic and non-organic military personnel from Nduga Regency, particularly non-organic troops deployed in the region.
– A public and thorough investigation by the commander who led the operation during the shooting of civilians.
– The Nduga Regent and the Chair of the Nduga Regional House of Representatives (DPRK) to take responsibility and oversee the resolution of the case.
– The Nduga Regency administration and all 25 members of the Nduga DPRK to facilitate an investigation by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).
– Komnas HAM to immediately establish an investigation team and follow up on the alleged serious human rights violations.
– Recognition that the area stretching from Wamena District to Kenyam District, the capital of Nduga Regency, is a refuge area, and that TNI and police personnel must not attack civilians there.
– The Minister of Law and Human Rights to handle the case seriously. The students warned that they would halt government activities if Komnas HAM failed to resolve the case promptly.
– Security personnel stationed at the Yosoma post to retract their statements identifying the victims as TPNPB members and acknowledge that they were civilians.
Urijanti Wasiangge, representing Nduga women, said she did not want future generations to inherit fear caused by conflict and violence.
She called on all parties to thoroughly investigate alleged human rights violations in Nduga and other regencies across Papua.
She said the suffering of communities, bloodshed and grief experienced by victims’ families must not go unanswered, and those responsible for violence against civilians must be held accountable.
“I do not want the bloodshed and our tears to end here. I demand accountability and answers for what happened,” Wasiangge said.
She also urged President Prabowo to stop the deployment and reinforcement of military personnel in Papua, particularly in Nduga Regency.
“President Prabowo Subianto, please stop the deployment and reinforcement of military personnel in Papua Province, especially in Nduga Regency,” she said. (*)
They replace the 2023-2026 leadership, led by Lucky Ireeuw as chair and Anang Budiono as secretary.
Theo Kelen and Maurits Yansip were elected during AJI Jayapura’s city conference (Konferta) held in the Jalan Baru area of Youtefa, Abepura District, Jayapura City, on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
The election was witnessed by AJI Indonesia Secretary-General Bayu Wardhana, who expressed hope that the new AJI Jayapura City leadership would strengthen the organisation’s activities and programmes across Papua, including West Papua, Southwest Papua, South Papua, Central Papua and Highland Papua.
Bayu said AJI Indonesia was ready to support programmes undertaken by AJI Jayapura City to strengthen press freedom and independent media in Papua.
The conference also approved the establishment of an AJI Jayapura City Bureau in Merauke.
“The establishment of the AJI Merauke Bureau is based on a decree issued by AJI Jayapura City. It will later become a preparatory AJI chapter once its membership reaches 15,” Bayu told Jubi on the sidelines of the AJI Jayapura City leadership election.
He said that, in addition to the Merauke Bureau, a Sorong Bureau could also be established based on the needs and agreement of the new AJI Jayapura City leadership, through an official decree.
Meanwhile, newly elected AJI Jayapura City Chair Theo Kelen said press freedom and journalists’ safety remained major challenges for journalists working in Papua.
“In addition to threats to press freedom, the vast coverage area and high operational costs are also challenges faced by journalists,” Kelen said.
He said collaboration was essential to jointly promote and strengthen journalism across Papua.
Kelen added that improving journalists’ skills through training should also be a priority for the new leadership, particularly in responding to developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and the spread of disinformation.
He also said AJI Jayapura City did not yet have a secretariat office where members and board representatives could gather to develop work programmes and organise activities.
“However, the new leadership’s work programmes have not yet been formulated in detail, as we are still waiting for the organisational structure to be established,” he said.
Meanwhile, former AJI Jayapura City chair for two consecutive terms, Lucky Ireeuw, said membership fees had not been collected consistently.
“I hope everything will run smoothly under the new leadership to support AJI Jayapura City’s work programmes in the years ahead,” said Ireeuw, who is also the editor-in-chief of Cendrawasih Pos newspaper. (*)
Through the programme, PAPEDA encouraged families to share childcare responsibilities, support breastfeeding from the earliest stages of a child’s life and make use of local food to improve family health.
The activity was part of PAPEDA’s efforts to reach Indigenous communities in Keerom through education on the importance of breastfeeding, family support for mothers after childbirth, and the use of local food to meet family nutritional needs.
“The selection of Pyawi Village as the location for this activity was based on a recommendation from Ross Muyasin, chair of the Keerom Women’s Association,” PAPEDA said in an electronic message on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
Through the programme, PAPEDA aimed to provide education relevant to the community’s daily lives while encouraging both mothers and fathers to take part in supporting children’s health and development.
Ema Kristiana, who delivered the first session titled “Papuan Children Must Be Smart and Healthy”, emphasised that caring for and raising children was not solely a mother’s responsibility but a shared responsibility between both parents.
“When two people make a child, two people should raise that child,” was one of the key messages Ema delivered.
The message encouraged fathers to take an active role in childcare and support mothers from the postpartum period through breastfeeding.
She said family support could begin with simple actions, such as helping with household chores, sharing childcare duties, and listening without judgement when their wives expressed concerns or faced difficulties.
According to Ema, such involvement was important to ensure mothers felt physically and emotionally supported, particularly while recovering from childbirth and breastfeeding.
She explained that colostrum is generally yellowish in colour and contains antibodies and other protective components that help babies fight the risk of infection.
Because of these early protective benefits, colostrum is often described as a baby’s first immunisation. The term refers to the protection colostrum provides in the early stages of life and does not mean it replaces vaccinations administered according to the recommended immunisation schedule.
“Colostrum should not be discarded because it is highly beneficial for babies. Breastfeeding from the beginning of life is one of the most precious gifts a mother can give her newborn,” she said.
Ema said mothers should therefore receive support to begin breastfeeding as soon as possible after giving birth, depending on the condition of both mother and baby, and be given assistance if they experience difficulties breastfeeding.
She emphasised that family support was essential to ensure mothers did not have to go through the process alone.
Sanya Andalusiana, who delivered the second session, presented a topic titled “Nutritious Eating: Local Food for Healthy Families”.
During the session, participants were encouraged to recognise the nutritional value of local foods, including papeda, fish and various types of vegetables in meeting their families’ nutritional needs.
The session encouraged community members to make use of locally available ingredients and prepare them in a variety of ways.
Using local food was presented as one way to help meet family nutritional needs, including those of breastfeeding mothers.
The activity included presentations and discussions with community members. Mothers and fathers who attended actively participated by asking questions and sharing their experiences.
The discussion provided an opportunity to strengthen understanding that maternal and child health requires the attention and involvement of the entire family.
A total of 75 participants were recorded on the attendance list. In addition to those registered, other family members and community residents also attended without signing the register.
The total number of people at the venue was estimated at around 100 or more, although this figure has not been verified through participant registration.
Through the activity in Pyawi Village, PAPEDA hopes more families will understand that successful breastfeeding is not solely the mother’s responsibility.
The involvement of fathers, shared childcare responsibilities, emotional support and attention to family nutritional needs are all important in creating an environment that supports maternal health and children’s growth and development.
PAPEDA plans to extend similar educational activities to other villages across Papua. The location of the next activity is still being planned.
Through its slogan, “ASI Bisa, Ko Bisa, Papua Bisa!” (Breastfeeding Is Possible, You Can Do It, Papua Can Do It!) PAPEDA encourages families and communities to support breastfeeding mothers, protect children’s right to receive breast milk, and help build a healthy Papuan generation.
Papua Peduli ASI (PAPEDA) is a volunteer community working to provide breastfeeding education and support to communities across Papua.
PAPEDA seeks to improve public understanding of the importance of breast milk, family support, maternal and child health, and the use of local food to promote healthier families. Its tagline is: “ASI Bisa, Ko Bisa, Papua Bisa!” (Breastfeeding Is Possible, You Can Do It, Papua Can Do It). (*)
