1) Security-backed intimidation of indigenous community in Sayosa Timur linked to timber exploitation

 

2) Environmental destruction and indigenous rights violations: The Nickel mining crisis in Raja Ampat

3) In bed with a (pig’s) head- packages of dead animals intimidate media and activists 

4) Papua govt calls for prioritizing locals in healthcare recruitment 

5) Papua can drive national development forward: Minister  

6) Ministry targets 24 type C hospitals in Papua  

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Human Rights Monitor

https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/security-backed-intimidation-of-indigenous-community-in-sayosa-timur-sorong-linked-to-timber-exploitation/

1) Security-backed intimidation of indigenous community in Sayosa Timur linked to timber exploitation

Cases, Human Rights News / Indonesia, West Papua / 4 July 2025 

Indigenous residents have reported ongoing intimidation and harassment by Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officers stationed at PT Mancaraya Argo Mandiri (MAM) and PT Siliwangi Karya Sejahtera (SKS) in the Sayosa Timur District, Sorong Regency, Papua Barat Daya Province. On 27 May 2025, residents erected a traditional blockade (see photos, source; Suara Papua) in protest against what they described as constant surveillance, threats, and coercive restrictions on their right to sell their timber freely. The Brimob unit forcibly dismantled the barrier without consulting the local community. Residents are reportedly pressured to sell all timber exclusively to the two companies and face armed questioning when travelling to their gardens, causing widespread fear and trauma among the community.

According to local accounts, including statements by community leaders, Brimob personnel have carried out arbitrary checks. Some elders were allegedly given state-issued weapons for staged photographs, raising concerns about potential criminalisation or manipulation. Traditional hunting and gathering activities have been severely disrupted due to the heavy presence of armed personnel. The situation escalated when the community re-erected traditional barricades after the initial structure was destroyed. Despite a meeting held on 28 June 2025 between the community, Sorong Regency government, local legislative bodies (DPRD and MRP PBD), and police, residents remain dissatisfied with the unilateral actions of Brimob personnel and the lack of accountability.

The community demands the withdrawal of Brimob from company premises, a review of the operating licences of PT MAM and PT SKS, and legal consequences for officers involved in acts of intimidation. Their demands include the immediate asphalting of local roads to facilitate community mobility and a transparent, inclusive process for resolving conflicts over land and economic rights.

The case reflects broader patterns of militarised resource extraction in West Papua, where state security forces are deployed to serve corporate interests rather than public safety, in clear violation of both Indonesia’s constitutional protections and international human rights law. The intersection of extractive industry interests and militarised state presence in indigenous territories accelerates the marginalisation of indigenous communities in West Papua. The loss of access to their land makes indigenous communities particularly vulnerable to impoverishment.

Road block erected by community in the Sayosa Timur District, Sorong Regency, Papua Barat Daya Province

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Human Rights Monitor

https://humanrightsmonitor.org/news/environmental-destruction-and-indigenous-rights-violations-the-nickel-mining-crisis-in-raja-ampat/

2) Environmental destruction and indigenous rights violations: The Nickel mining crisis in Raja Ampat

Human Rights News / Indonesia, West Papua / 4 July 2025 

The pristine waters and biodiversity-rich islands of Raja Ampat, Papua Barat Daya Province, are facing a devastating environmental and human rights crisis as multiple nickel mining companies destroy one of the world’s most ecologically significant marine areas in the world. Despite Raja Ampat’s recognition as a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2023 and its status as the heart of the global coral triangle, containing 75% of the world’s coral species, the Indonesian government has permitted extensive mining operations across several small islands. The mining operations are violating both national law and international conservation standards.

Between 8-27 June 2025, widespread protests erupted across Indonesia as indigenous communities, environmental activists, and civil society organizations demanded an end to the destructive mining practices that have already cleared over 500 hectares of forest and natural vegetation. The environmental damage extends far beyond deforestation, with mining waste causing severe sedimentation that affects the coral reefs, contaminated coastal waters, and destroys the marine ecosystems that indigenous communities in Raja Ampat depend upon. On Manuran Island, mining operations by PT Anugerah Surya Pratama have created visible pollution plumes that flow directly into village areas during high tide, while residents on Gag Island report being afraid to swim due to fears of skin diseases caused by contaminated waters.

The human rights implications of these mining operations are profound and systematic. Indigenous communities have been denied their fundamental right to free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) regarding mining activities on their ancestral lands. The operations have divided communities, with mining companies reportedly offering financial incentives to secure local support while those who resist face intimidation and marginalization. Traditional livelihoods dependent on fishing and sustainable tourism are under threat, forcing communities into economic vulnerability and dependence on unstable mining employment. The government’s failure to consult with affected communities before issuing permits violates international indigenous rights standards and Indonesia’s constitutional protections for customary communities.

The legal framework governing these operations reveals the extent of governmental complicity in the violations. All mining activities on small islands in Raja Ampat directly contravene Article 35(k) of Law No. 1 of 2014 on Coastal Area and Small Islands Management, which explicitly prohibits mineral mining that causes environmental damage or harm to surrounding communities. Despite this legal prohibition, at least five companies, namely PT Gag Nikel, PT Anugerah Surya Pratama, PT Mulia Raymond Perkasa, PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining, and PT Nurham, have been granted mining permits covering thousands of hectares across the archipelago. When Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia visited the region in June 2025, he was met with massive protests at Sorong Airport, forcing him to exit through a back door to avoid demonstrators demanding the immediate revocation of all mining permits.

Civil society responses have highlighted the broader pattern of environmental injustice and corporate impunity. The Papua Coalition for Law Enforcement and Human Rights has accused government officials of maladministration for interfering with proper environmental monitoring procedures, while indigenous groups have organized coordinated protests across multiple cities demanding not only the cessation of mining in Raja Ampat but the end of all extractive projects throughout West Papua. Some activists like Paulina, a 24-year-old woman from the  Kabare Village, have faced arrest for peaceful protests, yet continue protesting.

Following sustained public pressure and international scrutiny, the Indonesian government announced on 10 June 2025, the revocation of mining permits for four companies operating in Raja Ampat: PT Anugerah Surya Pratama, PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining, PT Mulia Raymond Perkasa, and PT Nurham. However, this decision has been met with skepticism from environmental groups and indigenous rights advocates who view it as inadequate and potentially reversible. Significantly, PT Gag Nikel, the largest operation owned by state-owned PT Antam, was permitted to continue operations under increased monitoring, raising concerns about the government’s commitment to genuine environmental protection versus protecting state corporate interests. Greenpeace Indonesia criticized the decision as merely “a ploy to quell protests,” noting that the fundamental legal violations remain unaddressed and that operations could potentially resume once public attention diminishes.

The destruction of Raja Ampat represents not merely an environmental catastrophe but a systematic violation of indigenous rights and environmental justice. The crisis in Raja Ampat serves as a critical test case for whether Indonesia will uphold its commitments to indigenous rights and environmental conservation or continue to sacrifice irreplaceable ecosystems and indigenous communities for corporate interests. Only the complete revocation of all mining permits and the recognition of indigenous land rights can prevent further destruction of this globally significant marine ecosystem.

Mining operations in Raja Ampat

Indigenous communities in various locations carried out protests against the Nickel mines in Raja Ampat throughout June’25

Map of Raja Ampat Geopark

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https://tapol.org/news/bed-pigs-head-packages-dead-animals-intimidate-media-and-activists

3) In bed with a (pig’s) head- packages of dead animals intimidate media and activists 

TAPOL 04 July 2025

Summary

• Seven incidents of dead animals being sent to people between 19th March and 19th June.
• Journalists, students and environmental activists targeted in a new wave of intimidation.
• Intimidation started as TNI law was being passed and continued with targeting of activists in Sumatra and Papuan students and activists across Indonesia

In the last few months, a disturbing trend has become apparent in a string of incidents across Indonesia: the sending of innocuous packages that contain the corpses of dead animals. Whilst the actors, cases and context of each incident may differ, the very fact this newly prominent technique was used to intimidate them displays a commonality in tactics that hides the perpetrator and is designed to cause an atmosphere of fear. The parallels of the recipients of these packages shows a trend of targeted intimidation designed to cause fear and silence those speaking out against embedded interests.

Tempo Media were the first to be hit by this new wave of dead animal packages. On 19th March, a package containing a rotting pig’s head addressed to Francisca (‘Cica’) Christy Rosana, a Tempo journalist and one of the hosts of the popular podcast Bocor AlusPolitik, which critically covers some of the biggest stories in Indonesian politics, was sent to Tempo’s office. An Instagram account, @derrynoah, threatened that the pig’s head would be followed up by burning down Tempo’s offices, as well as a targeting of her family. A package containing six headless mice was also sent to the office on 22nd March. As this sequence of events occurred in the run-up to the passing of the controversial TNI (Military) Law, which she and the podcast had been critically covering, it seemed likely to be an attempt to intimidate and silence criticism of the new law, and allow it to pass without opposition.

A second incident affected Delima Silalahi, an environmental activist based in North Sumatra, who received a package containing a bloody carcass of a bird addressed to her at her house on 30th May. Delima and others had demanded the closure of PT Toba Pulp Lestari, a company that had been accused of causing an ecological and social crisis in the community through its deforestation activities. The timing and target of the package coincides again with the fact that someone was speaking up on an issue against vested interests.

Furthermore, Papuan students across Indonesia received packages across Indonesia on three separate occasions in June. On 6th June in Denpasar, Bali, two packages were received by students, containing rotting pig’s heads. One of the packages, addressed to Wemison Enembe, had a note saying it contained the book Papua Bergerak (Papua on the Move), which turned out to be false. The book itself had already been part of an intimidation campaign, when its launch on 18th May was disrupted by people who had received a hoax invitation claiming that they were handing out money and groceries at the event. Wemison himself is the chair of the Bali chapter of the Papuan Student Alliance (Aliansi Mahasiswa Papua, AMP). The alliance, both in Bali and nationally, has organised a number of protests in the past several years. The second package was delivered later in the evening to another residence full of Papuan students, this time addressed to Yuberthinus Gobay, a member of the national executive of the same organisation. The timing and recipients of these packages bear the hallmarks of attempts to intimidate Papuan students activists and their supporters from carrying out further protests.

Incident Map 19th March to 19th June. Background map Source: OpenStreetMap

This was followed up on 18-19th June with another package, this time with threatening notes and a dead chicken and chicken droppings, to other members of AMP in Yogyakarta. Thirdly, also on 19th June, AMP members in Surabaya received a package containing a dead monitor lizard, after receiving threats from an unknown phone number and seeing threatening posters plastered around the city. This arose after their participation in protests against militarism in West Papua.  

This renewed surge is not entirely without precedent. Veronica Koman, a human rights defender and lawyer, had boxes sent to her and her family threatening retribution for her work, including a dead chicken with a message stating that anyone ‘hiding’ her “would end up like this”. Nevertheless, the increasing prevalence of this tactic has contributed to a climate of fear amongst the media and human rights defenders. This is very worrying and needs to be taken seriously by the Indonesian Government, as is their duty, as the suspicion of collusion hangs over these incidents where those receiving the packages have been critics of government policy or the actions of oligarchs. TAPOL calls upon the police force to condemn these acts in the strongest possible terms and to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice. 

 

Image: Alliance of Papuan Students

Themes

Business & Human Rights

 

Freedom of Expression & Association

 

Justice

 

West Papua

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/364105/papua-govt-calls-for-prioritizing-locals-in-healthcare-recruitment

4) Papua govt calls for prioritizing locals in healthcare recruitment 

 July 4, 2025 22:25 GMT+700

Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - The Papua government has urged the Ministry of Health to devise affirmative policies that prioritize indigenous Papuans in filling medical personnel vacancies in the province.

Acting Regional Secretary of Papua Suzana Wanggai said here on Friday that many local Papuan youth now possess medical skills.

“We request special affirmative action for Papuan children in the recruitment of health workers, especially at central government hospitals such as those in Jayapura,” she said at the groundbreaking ceremony for Kwaingga Hospital in Keerom District, Papua.

Wanggai noted that indigenous Papuan youth have shown strong competence in the health field and should be given opportunities for recruitment through affirmative policies.

“We hope that staffing for this hospital, which is under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, will prioritize the local community,” she added.

She explained that recruiting health workers from Papua would help address the urgent issue of hospital staffing shortages and therefore, improve healthcare services for the community.

Related news: Ministry targets 24 type C hospitals in Papua

“Medical personnel from outside Papua often request transfers after a few years due to family reasons. This is not a matter of discrimination; it is about ensuring continuity of care. We need health workers who are willing to stay and serve in Papua,” she emphasized.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin affirmed his commitment to supporting indigenous Papuan general practitioners who wish to pursue specialist training through scholarship programs.

He also urged the local government to collect data on local medical personnel so they can be prioritized in the government’s medical education programs.

“We are ready to help. If there is a doctor whose education is funded by the regional government but later requests a transfer, report it to me. We can hold their practice license,” he said. 

Related news: Restoring health, education services in Yahukimo: minister

Translator: Qadri, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/363969/papua-can-drive-national-development-forward-minister

5) Papua can drive national development forward: Minister  

July 4, 2025 16:18 GMT+700

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto expressed confidence that the Papua region can play a central role in Indonesia's journey toward a better future.

"I am not here for a mere working visit, as I intend to demonstrate my genuine commitment and dedication (to this region). I am convinced that this spirit will live on," the minister noted in an official statement cited here on Friday.

Yuliarto made the statements during a public lecture at Cendrawasih University in Jayapura, Papua Province, on Thursday (July 3).

The minister emphasized that his visit serves as a testament to his respect and gratitude for the people of Papua for their unwavering spirit and hope for progress despite facing myriad challenges.

Speaking to over one thousand students, academicians, and local community figures, he highlighted the importance of the people of the easternmost region of Indonesia supporting the transformation of the higher education system, fostering self-reliance, and driving innovations.

Addressing students, Yuliarto stressed their vital role in transforming local universities into engines of progress and sources of solutions for social and economic challenges.

He underlined that campuses should not only generate high-quality human resources but also emerge as prolific research centers in support of the formulation and implementation of strategic policies.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology offers a variety of initiatives to boost access to universities for all citizens, including those in Papua, such as the Indonesia Smart College Card (KIP Kuliah).

Furthermore, the ministry has introduced the Higher Education Affirmation Scholarship for students with disabilities, as well as the Indonesian College Student Dormitory (AMN) Scholarship, which reserves a minimum quota of 40 percent for Papuan students.

In addition, the Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs is working to launch a guideline for the establishment of units dedicated to students with disabilities at universities.

Related news: Indonesia, Russia forge deeper relations in higher education

Related news: Govt prioritizes scholarships for lecturers in remote areas

Translator: Sean F, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Arie Novarina

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/364053/ministry-targets-24-type-c-hospitals-in-papua

6) Ministry targets 24 type C hospitals in Papua  

July 4, 2025 18:47 GMT+700

Papua (ANTARA) - The Health Ministry aims to establish 24 type C hospitals across Papua to provide high-quality healthcare for local residents.

"I received a directive from the president to establish type C hospitals in 514 districts and cities, and in Papua, it is targeted to build some 24 hospitals," Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated at the groundbreaking ceremony for Kwaingga Hospital in Keerom, Papua, on Friday.

The minister explained that these hospitals are part of the Quick Win programs. Sadikin expects the 24 hospitals to be completed in two years.

Related news: Papua's Jayapura General Hospital to improve healthcare access

The minister stated that President Prabowo Subianto is keen to reduce lengthy referral processes. These measures are intended to ensure that diseases can be treated locally, without the need for patients to travel to provincial hospitals.

"As a result, fewer patients will need to be referred to provincial hospitals, or even sent outside Papua for treatment," Sadikin noted.

He expected the regional government to also support the initiative by preparing medical and health personnel, so that healthcare services offered can be more optimal.

The minister stated that human resources will complement other aspects being improved, such as upgrading hospital equipment. 

Related news: Army providing free healthcare services to native Papuans in Kimaam

Translator: Qadri Pratiwi, Mecca Yumna Ning Prisie
Editor: Rahmad Nasution

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