2) Indonesia’s food estate push targets self-sufficiency amid growing concerns in Papua
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1) TPNPB-OPM Declares War on Indonesian Military in Papua
Reporter Vedro Imanuel Girsang
May 2, 2025 | 04:23 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB OPM) of the XVI Yahukimo Defense Command has declared war against the Indonesian militia.
hey believe that the Indonesian military has been carrying out an illegal occupation in the land of Papua.
"Indonesian militias currently roaming the war zone are ready to be shot dead," said Commander of the XVI Yahukimo Kodap Brigadier General Elkius Kobak in his written statement as quoted by Tempo, Friday, May 2, 2025.
TPNPB OPM spokesperson Sebby Sambom said they are ready to confront the Indonesian military directly in the war zone.
However, he requested the government to immediately withdraw the use of heavy weapons such as military helicopters, fighter jets, bombs, and bazookas from the field.
"The use of heavy weapons will cause casualties to civilians living in the red zone," said Sebby.
Meanwhile, TPNPB OPM had previously mapped nine areas in Papua which have entered the war zone. These nine areas are Yahukimo Regency, Star Mountains, Nduga, Puncak Jaya, Intan Jaya, Maybrat, Dogiyai, Paniai, and Deiyai.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the Indonesian National Armed Forces or Mabes TNI chose to ignore the threats of the separatist group.
"The OPM's behavior is always like that. Threatening, intimidating the public, scaring people, killing the public. It should not be taken seriously," he said when contacted on Friday, May 2, 2025.
He said the presence of TNI soldiers in Papua is basically needed to protect the public and Indonesian citizens. In addition, he said, TNI is responsible for aiding the government in accelerating development in Papua.
"We are not burning schools or health centers, killing teachers and health workers like what the OPM does," he added.
Novali Panji Nugroho contributed to the writing of this article.
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2) Indonesia’s food estate push targets self-sufficiency amid growing concerns in Papua
Indonesia’s food self-sufficiency drive, spearheaded by President Prabowo Subianto, has raised environmental and Indigenous rights concerns
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Amy Sood Published: 12:30pm, 2 May 2025
President Prabowo Subianto’s ambitious plan to boost Indonesia’s food self-sufficiency is fuelling a major expansion of agricultural projects into regions such as Papua – a strategy viewed by some as a path to greater national resilience, but which has also raised concerns among environmental organisations and advocates for Indigenous rights.
During his inaugural presidential speech in October, Prabowo said he wanted Indonesia to become a “global food estate” – a sentiment he reiterated last week when he mentioned the country would consider exporting rice.
“Previously we have been importing and importing … now we should help other countries,” he said. “We will have food self-sufficiency, we will be [the] world’s food barn.”
Home to more than 280 million people, Indonesia has long relied on food imports – particularly for staples like rice, wheat and sugar. During the last crop season, the government raised the import quota by 1.6 million tonnes because of insufficient domestic production caused by dry weather, marking its highest rice purchases since the 1997-1998 period.
However, the administration is now trying to lower imports with production recovering.
Japan and
Malaysia, among other countries, have shown interest in sourcing rice from Indonesia.
Analysts said that while the government is exploring export opportunities, its immediate focus remains securing stable domestic food reserves. The food estate programme – which involves creating large-scale agricultural zones – is a central component of that strategy.
Initially accelerated under former president
Joko Widodo to counter global supply chain shocks during the pandemic, the scheme has designated large portions of Kalimantan and Papua for agricultural cultivation. Officials said the goal is to improve national food resilience and support rural development.
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