2) Security members recorded pressuring indigenous community in Beoga to pay social funds
3) Labour rights protest at PT PMP amid management transition in Sorong Selatan
4) Death of sick detainee raises concerns about negligence and denial of adequate health services at Sorong Prison
5) Another ojek driver attacked with machete in Central Papua
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Human Rights Monitor
1) Amnesty International Indonesia documented 104 attacks against human rights defenders in the first half of 2025
Amnesty International Indonesia released a troubling report on 14 July 2025, documenting attacks against at least 104 human rights defenders across 54 separate cases during the first six months of the year. The peak of violence occurred in May 2025, when 35 human rights defenders became victims of attacks, highlighting what Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director, Mr Usman Hamid, described as “the government’s failure to respect efforts to protect human rights in Indonesia.“
The report reveals that more than half of the attacks targeted indigenous community members fighting for land rights and journalists covering sensitive issues, with 36 indigenous community members and 31 journalists among the victims. Other affected groups included community leaders, fishers, human rights activists, student activists, environmental advocates, academics, farmers, and anti-corruption campaigners. Law enforcement officers emerged as the primary perpetrators, with police suspected in 20 of the 53 documented cases. This figure was significantly higher than attacks committed by private companies, government employees, military personnel, or public order agencies.
Amnesty International identified five distinct forms of persecution: police reporting, arrests, criminalization, intimidation, physical violence, and attacks on human rights institutions. The civil society organisation attributes this surge in violence to the rise in authoritarian practices and policies, as well as the militarisation of civilian space, calling for immediate government action. Neither Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai nor National Police spokesperson Inspector General Sandi Nugroho responded to requests for comment regarding the report’s findings.
Amnesty International Indonesia documented 104 attacks against human rights defenders in the first half of 2025
Amnesty International Indonesia released a troubling report on 14 July 2025, documenting attacks against at least 104 human rights defenders across 54 separate cases during the first six months of the year. The peak of violence occurred in May 2025, when 35 human rights defenders became victims of attacks, highlighting what Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director, Mr Usman Hamid, described as “the government’s failure to respect efforts to protect human rights in Indonesia.“
The report reveals that more than half of the attacks targeted indigenous community members fighting for land rights and journalists covering sensitive issues, with 36 indigenous community members and 31 journalists among the victims. Other affected groups included community leaders, fishers, human rights activists, student activists, environmental advocates, academics, farmers, and anti-corruption campaigners. Law enforcement officers emerged as the primary perpetrators, with police suspected in 20 of the 53 documented cases. This figure was significantly higher than attacks committed by private companies, government employees, military personnel, or public order agencies.
Amnesty International identified five distinct forms of persecution: police reporting, arrests, criminalization, intimidation, physical violence, and attacks on human rights institutions. The civil society organisation attributes this surge in violence to the rise in authoritarian practices and policies, as well as the militarisation of civilian space, calling for immediate government action. Neither Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai nor National Police spokesperson Inspector General Sandi Nugroho responded to requests for comment regarding the report’s findings.
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Human Rights Monitor
2) Security members recorded pressuring indigenous community in Beoga to pay social funds
On 17 July 2025, members of the Indonesian security forces, including the Beoga Police Chief and personnel from the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), were captured on video engaging in the illegal collection of community funds from village heads in Beoga District, Puncak Regency, Central Papua Province. The recording (see video below, source: independent HRD) reveals a police officer, apparently in command, orchestrating and directing the unlawful redistribution of BLT (Direct Cash Assistance) funds, including orders to transfer money to armed personnel. The total amount allegedly extorted from all nine villages in the district is estimated at Rp. 450,000,000 (approx. € 24,000).
The 90-second recording, reportedly made on 17 July 2025, shows armed TNI officers and a high-ranking police officer addressing several village heads about the distribution of Direct Cash Assistance (BLT) funds. During the conversation, the officer suggests that part of the funds should be handed over to personnel from the TNI task force, Koramil, and Polsek as a form of “security” compensation. His statements imply an orchestrated and coercive appropriation of public aid funds by security forces.
In the exchange, one village head confirms that such a process had occurred previously and volunteers to facilitate the distribution. Another village leader, dressed in a red shirt, expresses concern and requests that the funds first be presented to traditional leaders for oversight. The police officer disregards the concern and insists that the handover be completed swiftly. The environment of the exchange, taking place in the presence of fully armed and uniformed personnel, added an element of intimidation.
Following the incident, community members reported that security forces forcibly collected Rp. 50,000,000 from nine villages. The total amount allegedly extorted reached Rp. 450,000,000. From 17 to 22 July 2025, the Papua Justice and Human Integrity Foundation (YKKMP) received complaints from residents, describing the incident as extortion under duress by members of the security apparatus.
On 22 July 2025, the Papua Coalition for Law Enforcement and Human Rights (KPH HAM Papua), comprising several civil society organisations, issued a Press Release in Jayapura, calling for a thorough investigation and for those responsible within the police and military forces to be held legally accountable.
The following day, 23 July 2025, KPH HAM Papua addressed official complaints to the Attorney General of Indonesia, the Papua High Prosecutor, and the Nabire District Prosecutor. They demanded legal proceedings against the alleged perpetrators for the misuse of social aid funds, illegal levies, and abuse of power carried out under the guise of state authority.
Human rights analysis
This incident constitutes a serious violation of economic and social rights, particularly the right to social protection as enshrined under Article 9 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), to which Indonesia is a State Party. The direct coercion of civilian representatives under military and police presence represents a blatant abuse of power and an infringement on the principle of free and informed access to state-sponsored social assistance.
The use of military force and full armament during civil aid distribution also violates the principle of civil-military distinction and may amount to state-led intimidation and coercion of indigenous populations, contravening protections outlined in United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), particularly Article 21 and Article 22.
Moreover, this case indicates a potential pattern of corruption, intimidation, and militarisation of public administration in West Papua, exacerbating the vulnerability of conflict-affected communities and undermining lawful governance and local autonomy.
Video showing TNI officers and a police chief addressing village leaders in Beoga District, Puncak Regency, on 17 July 2025
Detailed Case Data
Location: 5CPF+2RP, Unnamed Road, Nungai, Beoga, Kabupaten Puncak, Papua 98972, Indonesia (-3.8149074, 137.4245889) Beoga District
Region: Indonesia, Central Papua, Puncak, Beoga
Total number of victims: hundreds
Location: 5CPF+2RP, Unnamed Road, Nungai, Beoga, Kabupaten Puncak, Papua 98972, Indonesia (-3.8149074, 137.4245889) Beoga District
Region: Indonesia, Central Papua, Puncak, Beoga
Total number of victims: hundreds
| # | Number of Victims | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1. | hundreds | diverse | unknown | Indigenous Peoples |
Perpetrator: , Indonesian Security Forces
Perpetrator details: Beoga Police Chief and personnel from the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI)
Issues: indigenous peoples———————————————
Human Rights Monitor
3) Labour rights protest at PT PMP amid management transition in Sorong Selatan
On 28 July 2025, employees of the palm oil company PT Putera Manunggal Perkasa (PT PMP) in Kais, Sorong Selatan Regency, staged a peaceful protest (see photo on top, source: Jubi) demanding clarity over their employment status and labour rights following a management transition. The demonstration, held at the PT PMP factory, involved workers on fixed-term contracts (PKWT), who voiced concerns about contractual ambiguities after the company’s transfer from Austindo Nusantara Jaya Group (ANJ) to First Resources Ltd (FR), allegedly now operating under a new entity, PT KAS. Workers raised urgent issues such as unpaid social security contributions, unfair severance pay, intensified working hours, and lack of transparency in employment agreements.
The protest began in the morning hours at the PT PMP factory premises, drawing the participation of numerous PKWT employees. The employees’ representative, Ifanli, stated that the transfer of management had brought substantial confusion, especially due to the sudden emergence of PT KAS without any formal announcement or consultation with the workers. Significant workplace changes were reported, including reduced quality of food rations (“bama”), altered leave provisions, and unclear procedures for employee deaths.
A primary grievance was the unpaid BPJS Ketenagakerjaan and health contributions since June 2025, alongside compensation practices that provided only 0.5 times the legally mandated severance amount. The workers also criticised the company’s failure to formally communicate these changes and condemned the excessively long working hours introduced after the management transition, which labour representatives labelled as “inhumane”.
Company representatives, including General Manager Saipul Arif and a spokesperson named Faisal, engaged with the protestors. Faisal attempted to reassure employees that working hours complied with regulations and that rest periods were observed. He mentioned that employment contracts remained unchanged and promised a clarifying written agreement, not constituting a new contract. He added that existing rights, such as leave entitlements and transport allowances, would remain intact.
Despite these assurances, workers voiced strong dissatisfaction and reiterated their demand for immediate, written clarification on key issues, including social security payments, severance rights, and contract status. From a human rights perspective, the Ministry of Manpower and the Southwest Papuan provincial labour office should launch an independent investigation into these allegations, ensure the enforcement of labour laws, and hold the responsible parties accountable. PT PMP and its parent companies must engage in good faith dialogue with workers and trade unions to resolve the dispute following national and international labour standards.
Human rights & labour law analysis
The events at PT PMP raise serious concerns under Indonesian labour law and international human rights standards, particularly ILO Convention No. 87 (Freedom of Association) and No. 98 (Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining), as well as the right to just and favourable conditions of work under Article 7 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), to which Indonesia is a State Party.
The alleged non-payment of BPJS contributions and inadequate severance pay fall short of the protections guaranteed under Indonesian Law No. 13/2003 on Manpower and subsequent amendments. Moreover, the imposition of excessively long working hours without clear consent or renegotiation of contracts, especially without due consultation with the affected workers or their representatives, may amount to exploitative labour conditions and breach standards for decent work.
Detailed Case Data
Location: 5F8J+8VV, Istikem, Moskona Barat, Teluk Bintuni Regency, West Papua 98455, Indonesia (-1.834134, 132.4821843) PT. Putera Manunggal Perkasa
Region: Indonesia, Southwest Papua, South Sorong
Total number of victims: dozens
Location: 5F8J+8VV, Istikem, Moskona Barat, Teluk Bintuni Regency, West Papua 98455, Indonesia (-1.834134, 132.4821843) PT. Putera Manunggal Perkasa
Region: Indonesia, Southwest Papua, South Sorong
Total number of victims: dozens
| # | Number of Victims | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1. | dozens | diverse | unknown | Labourer |
Perpetrator: Private Company
Perpetrator details: PT Putera Manunggal Perkasa (PT PMP)
Issues: business, human rights and FPIC——————————————————
Human Rights Monitor
4) Death of sick detainee raises concerns about negligence and denial of adequate health services at Sorong Prison
Mr Samson Same, a displaced Papuan man from Kisor Village, died in custody on 9 July 2025 at the Class IIB Sorong Prison (see photo, source: Jubi), Papua Barat Daya Province. He had surrendered voluntarily to the Indonesian government on 25 April 2024, following assurances from the Aifat Selatan District Government and the Indonesian military that internally displaced persons (IDPs) would be protected. Instead of receiving the promised safeguards, Mr Same was arrested, prosecuted over his alleged involvement in the 2 September 2021 Kisor military post attack, and ultimately died during detention from a respiratory illness that was allegedly left untreated. His family and human rights advocates hold the Maybrat Regency Government accountable for his death, citing neglect, denial of medical care, and a broken promise of protection.
On 25 April 2024, Mr Samson Same surrendered himself to the Aifat Selatan District Government, responding to calls for reconciliation and reintegration from state officials and military actors. He was one of thousands of IDPs who fled into the forest following military operations in Maybrat Regency. His return was facilitated through his family, who had received verbal assurances that the returnees would be protected.
Following his return, Mr Same was arrested. The authorities alleged that he was involved in the 2021 Kisor military post attack. He was then transferred to the Papua Barat Regional Police Headquarters and later to the Sorong Prosecutor’s Office. During his prolonged detention at Sorong Class IIB Prison, he reportedly became seriously ill and died on 9 July 2025. The prison head, Mr Sukarna Trisna Armaja, confirmed that Same had a history of pneumonia and asthma, but noted that due to the lack of medical infrastructure in the prison, treatment was delayed and insufficient.
This case underscores the critical need for improved oversight of detention conditions in Papua and a re-evaluation of state approaches to conflict resolution that prioritise repression over reconciliation. The failure to uphold promises of protection erodes public trust and perpetuates a cycle of fear in the region.
Human rights analysis
The case constitutes a serious violation of multiple human rights norms. Mr Same’s death in custody raises critical concerns under Article 9 (right to liberty and security) and Article 10 (humane treatment of detainees) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Indonesia is a party. It also contravenes Indonesian Law No. 12/1995 on Corrections, which mandates the state to provide adequate medical care for detainees, and Law No. 39/1999 on Human Rights, which affirms the state’s responsibility to protect all citizens’ health and well-being in detention.
Moreover, Indonesia’s obligations under the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, ratified through Law No. 5 of 1998, require the state to prevent and respond to inhumane treatment of detainees. The failure to provide timely and adequate healthcare, particularly after explicit state promises of protection, amounts to cruel and degrading treatment and may also reflect systemic neglect within the prison system.
The state’s actions following Same’s surrender reflect a pattern of breach of trust and coercive state conduct, undermining principles of voluntary reintegration and reconciliation in post-conflict regions. The practice of immediately prosecuting individuals upon return to their village after being promised protection amounts to arbitrary arrest and violates the principle of good faith under domestic and international human rights law.
Detailed Case Data
Location: Lapas kelas 2b sorong, Jl. Sapta Taruna masuk No.km.10, Sawagumu, Kec. Sorong Utara, Kota Sorong, Papua Bar. 98451, Indonesia (-0.8823169, 131.3209503) Sorong State Prison
Region: Indonesia, Southwest Papua, Sorong City, Sorong Kota
Total number of victims: 1
Location: Lapas kelas 2b sorong, Jl. Sapta Taruna masuk No.km.10, Sawagumu, Kec. Sorong Utara, Kota Sorong, Papua Bar. 98451, Indonesia (-0.8823169, 131.3209503) Sorong State Prison
Region: Indonesia, Southwest Papua, Sorong City, Sorong Kota
Total number of victims: 1
| # | Number of Victims | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1. | 1 | Samson Same | male | adult | Indigenous Peoples, Internally Displaced Person (IDP) |
Perpetrator: POLRES, Correctional Forces
Issues: indigenous peoples
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5) Another ojek driver attacked with machete in Central Papua
August 1, 2025 21:59 GMT+700
Manokwari (ANTARA) - Violence against civilians in Central Papua continued on Thursday, July 31, with another ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver falling victim to a machete attack — the second such incident in a week.
Previously on Saturday, July 26, an ojek driver named Aris Munandar, 28, was brutally attacked with a machete after dropping off a passenger in the Pasar Baru Waghete II area of Tigi Subdistrict, Deiyai District.
According to the Operation Peace Cartenz Task Force, the latest attack occurred in Mulia town, Yamo Subdistrict, Puncak Jaya District, where a 51-year-old ojek driver named Satu'in suffered serious injuries to his left hand after being assaulted.
Speaking to ANTARA from Manokwari, West Papua Province, the task force's Operation Head, Brig Gen Faizal Ramadhani, said the ill-fated ojek driver is currently hospitalized at Mulia Public Hospital in Mulia town, and the manhunt for his attackers is still underway.
Speaking to ANTARA from Manokwari, West Papua Province, the task force's operation head, Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhani, said Satu'in is currently hospitalized at Mulia Public Hospital, and a manhunt for the attackers is underway.
Ramadhani said the victim, a resident of Usir Village in Mulia Subdistrict, was driving a female passenger from Mulia town to Dokome Village when he was ambushed by two men riding a blue Yamaha RX King motorcycle.
As he passed the PT Nikita area on his way to Unduh Village, the two men—who had been tailing him—suddenly forced him to stop and attacked him with a machete. One of the attackers then seized his motorcycle and fled to Purbalo Village along with the female passenger.
Despite his severe injuries, Satu'in managed to call his fellow ojek drivers for help. They found him and rushed him to the hospital for treatment.
"We are still investigating the case, and task force personnel have been deployed to secure the crime scene," Ramadhani said, urging locals to remain calm.
As previously reported, Aris Munandar sustained serious wounds to his shoulder and right hand during the earlier attack.
Ramadhani condemned the continued assaults on innocent civilians, including Munandar, and said the task force is investigating the potential involvement of an armed Papuan group.
In recent years, armed separatist groups in Papua have frequently used hit-and-run tactics against Indonesian security personnel and have carried out acts of terror targeting civilians in Intan Jaya, Nduga, Puncak, and Maybrat Districts to spread fear.
Their victims have included construction workers, ojek drivers, teachers, students, street vendors, and even civilian aircraft.
On Friday, July 25, 2025, a separatist also shot and killed a kiosk owner, Joni Hendra, in Wandoga Village, Sugapa Subdistrict, Intan Jaya District, as he was serving a customer.
Related news: BMKG records 19cm tsunami wave at Sarmi Port, Papua
Related news: BMKG alerts Manokwari residents about possible tsunami risk
Previously on Saturday, July 26, an ojek driver named Aris Munandar, 28, was brutally attacked with a machete after dropping off a passenger in the Pasar Baru Waghete II area of Tigi Subdistrict, Deiyai District.
According to the Operation Peace Cartenz Task Force, the latest attack occurred in Mulia town, Yamo Subdistrict, Puncak Jaya District, where a 51-year-old ojek driver named Satu'in suffered serious injuries to his left hand after being assaulted.
Speaking to ANTARA from Manokwari, West Papua Province, the task force's Operation Head, Brig Gen Faizal Ramadhani, said the ill-fated ojek driver is currently hospitalized at Mulia Public Hospital in Mulia town, and the manhunt for his attackers is still underway.
Speaking to ANTARA from Manokwari, West Papua Province, the task force's operation head, Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhani, said Satu'in is currently hospitalized at Mulia Public Hospital, and a manhunt for the attackers is underway.
Ramadhani said the victim, a resident of Usir Village in Mulia Subdistrict, was driving a female passenger from Mulia town to Dokome Village when he was ambushed by two men riding a blue Yamaha RX King motorcycle.
As he passed the PT Nikita area on his way to Unduh Village, the two men—who had been tailing him—suddenly forced him to stop and attacked him with a machete. One of the attackers then seized his motorcycle and fled to Purbalo Village along with the female passenger.
Despite his severe injuries, Satu'in managed to call his fellow ojek drivers for help. They found him and rushed him to the hospital for treatment.
"We are still investigating the case, and task force personnel have been deployed to secure the crime scene," Ramadhani said, urging locals to remain calm.
As previously reported, Aris Munandar sustained serious wounds to his shoulder and right hand during the earlier attack.
Ramadhani condemned the continued assaults on innocent civilians, including Munandar, and said the task force is investigating the potential involvement of an armed Papuan group.
In recent years, armed separatist groups in Papua have frequently used hit-and-run tactics against Indonesian security personnel and have carried out acts of terror targeting civilians in Intan Jaya, Nduga, Puncak, and Maybrat Districts to spread fear.
Their victims have included construction workers, ojek drivers, teachers, students, street vendors, and even civilian aircraft.
On Friday, July 25, 2025, a separatist also shot and killed a kiosk owner, Joni Hendra, in Wandoga Village, Sugapa Subdistrict, Intan Jaya District, as he was serving a customer.
Related news: BMKG records 19cm tsunami wave at Sarmi Port, Papua
Related news: BMKG alerts Manokwari residents about possible tsunami risk
Translator: Rahmad Nasution
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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