2) Arbitrary arrest of Mr Aprianus Nabelau in Nabire
3) Security forces kill 14-year-old and injure two other minors in Dogiyai
4) Jayapura police urges residents to join war on PNG's marijuana
5) Papua grants seeds, tools to boost food security
6) Indonesia's Highland Papua empowers youth to grow creative economy
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Human rights Monitor
1) Battalion 754 members allegedly assaulted civilians and destroyed vehicle in Timika
On 14 July 2025, at approximately 8:00 pm, lawyer Mr Joshua Rumbiak and six companions, including Wenior Pakage, Head of the Religious Affairs Working Group of the Central Papua People’s Assembly), were allegedly assaulted by a dozen members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Battalion 754 in front of the battalion’s headquarters in Timika. The victims’ vehicle, an Isuzu Panther, was severely damaged, with all windows smashed (see video below, source: independent HRD). All seven victims sustained injuries and were hospitalised at Mimika Regional General Hospital. The attack reportedly occurred without provocation, while the victims were passing the battalion compound on their way through town.
According to victim testimonies, several TNI personnel stopped the car as the victims’ vehicle passed the 754th Infantry Battalion post and began destroying the vehicle’s windows before physically assaulting all occupants. The military members reportedly punched and kicked the seven men, resulting in head injuries and bruises requiring hospital care. Mr Joshua Rumbiak stated that no questions were asked before the assault began, describing the attack as “like terrorists” and “completely without cause.” On 15 July 2025, he lodged a formal complaint with the Military Police in Timika, demanding justice and accountability.
Human rights analysis
This incident constitutes a serious violation of the victims’ rights to personal security, bodily integrity, and freedom from arbitrary violence under both Indonesian law and international human rights standards, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Indonesia is a State party. The assault appears to be an arbitrary and disproportionate use of force by state security personnel against unarmed civilians, in violation of the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. It also raises concerns regarding impunity for military personnel operating in West Papua, where similar cases have historically gone unpunished.
Video of the damaged car recorded shortly after the assault in front of the Battalion 754 Mimka military post on 14 July 2025
Detailed Case Data
Location: GRXJ+V8J, Utikini Baru, Kuala Kencana, Mimika Regency, Papua 99910, Indonesia (-4.4502658, 136.8307549) Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Battalion 754 Mimika headquarters
Region: Indonesia, Central Papua, Mimika, Kuala Kencana
Total number of victims: 7
Location: GRXJ+V8J, Utikini Baru, Kuala Kencana, Mimika Regency, Papua 99910, Indonesia (-4.4502658, 136.8307549) Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Battalion 754 Mimika headquarters
Region: Indonesia, Central Papua, Mimika, Kuala Kencana
Total number of victims: 7
| # | Number of Victims | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1. | 1 | Joshua Rumbiak | male | unknown | Lawyer | |
| 2. | 1 | Wenior Pakage | unknown | Indigenous Peoples | ||
| 3. | 5 | unknown | Indigenous Peoples |
Perpetrator: , Indonesian Military (TNI)
Perpetrator details: Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Battalion 754 Mimika
Issues: indigenous peoples, security force violence—————————————————————————
Human rights Monitor
2) Arbitrary arrest of Mr Aprianus Nabelau in Nabire
According to information received from local human rights observers, 22-year-old Aprianus Nabelau, was arbitrarily detained in SP2, Nabire Town, Central Papua Province, by members of the Indonesian military on 8 July 2025, without presenting any legal grounds or arrest warrant. The arrest occurred without explanation, raising serious concerns about potential due process violations and the right to liberty. The military members reportedly brought Mr Nabelau to the Nabire Police Station, where he remained in custody with no official charges disclosed.
No public statement was issued by the authorities in response to the arrest. The absence of a warrant and the lack of clear charges suggest that the arrest did not follow Indonesia’s criminal procedure safeguards.
Human rights analysis
From a human rights perspective, this case appears to constitute arbitrary arrest and detention under Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Indonesia is a State party. The alleged involvement of military personnel in the arrest of a civilian further raises concerns regarding the militarisation of law enforcement functions in West Papua, contrary to international human rights standards.
Detailed Case Data
Location: HFF7+J3W, Wadio, Nabire Barat, Nabire Regency, Papua 98856, Indonesia (-3.4259891, 135.4628078)
Region: Indonesia, Central Papua, Nabire, Nabire
Total number of victims: 1
Location: HFF7+J3W, Wadio, Nabire Barat, Nabire Regency, Papua 98856, Indonesia (-3.4259891, 135.4628078)
Region: Indonesia, Central Papua, Nabire, Nabire
Total number of victims: 1
| # | Number of Victims | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1. | 1 | Aprianus Nabelau | diverse | 22 | Indigenous Peoples |
Perpetrator: , Indonesian Military (TNI)
Issues: indigenous peoples
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Human rights Monitor
3) Security forces kill 14-year-old and injure two other minors in Dogiyai
On 10 August 2025, Indonesian security forces opened fire on a group of indigenous Papuans, predominantly children, without prior warning in the Moanemani Airport area of Kamu District, Dogiyai Regency, Central Papua Province. The shooting reportedly resulted in the death of 14-year-old Martinus Tebai and serious injuries to two other minors named Yuvensius Degei and Edion Tebai. The incident followed an altercation involving local youths and a migrant, reportedly linked to alcohol consumption in the area. Witnesses stated that the security forces’ response was immediate and lethal, with no attempt at de-escalation, constituting a grave breach of police procedure under national and international human rights law.
According to the information from local informants and media sources, a group of youths was consuming alcoholic beverages at the Moanemani Airport area around 2:20 pm. An altercation occurred between a resident and an immigrant, who subsequently reported the incident to nearby Indonesian military personnel. Upon arrival, the military members immediately dispersed the group, releasing shots with live ammunition. Some of the shots were reportedly directed at the crowd. Yuvensius Degei and Edion Tebai, both fourteen years old, sustained gunshot wounds to their left shoulder during another shooting around 5 pm (see photos below, source: independent HRDs).
Tensions persisted until the night. At around 10:00 pm, another security force shooting inEkemanida Village resulted in the death of Martinus Tebai. He was struck in the thigh with the bullet penetrating the genital area. Witnesses reported that residents, fearing further violence, treated the injured themselves in a remote location without medical facilities, including manually extracting bullets (see video below, source: independent HRDs). Shootings reportedly continued until the early morning of 11 August 2025.
Human rights analysis
The deliberate use of lethal force against unarmed minors without warning violates fundamental principles under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Indonesia is a State party, particularly Articles 6 (Right to Life) and 9 (Liberty and Security of Person). It also contravenes the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), specifically Articles 6 and 37, which require States to protect children from unlawful or arbitrary deprivation of life and violence by State actors. The indiscriminate nature of the shootings constitutes an excessive and disproportionate use of force, in violation of the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. The militarised approach to civilian unrest in Dogiyai reflects a pattern of impunity and disregard for the principle of necessity and proportionality in law enforcement.
Victims of security force violence in Moanemani and Ekemanida, Dogiyai Regency, on 19 August 2025
Residents in Ekamanide try to remove the bullet projectile at the site of the incident
Detailed Case Data
Location: Ekemanida, Kamu, Dogiyai Regency, Papua, Indonesia (-3.9892706, 136.0491689)Ekemanida Village and Moanemani Airport area
Region: Indonesia, Central Papua, Dogiyai, Kamu
Total number of victims: 3
Location: Ekemanida, Kamu, Dogiyai Regency, Papua, Indonesia (-3.9892706, 136.0491689)Ekemanida Village and Moanemani Airport area
Region: Indonesia, Central Papua, Dogiyai, Kamu
Total number of victims: 3
| # | Number of Victims | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1. | 1 | Martinus Tebai | diverse | 14 | Indigenous Peoples, Student | |
| 2. | 1 | Yuvensius Degei | 14 | Indigenous Peoples, Student | ||
| 3. | 1 | Edion Tebai | 14 | Indigenous Peoples, Student |
Perpetrator: , Indonesian Security Forces
Issues: indigenous peoples, security force violence, women and children
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4) Jayapura police urges residents to join war on PNG's marijuana
August 11, 2025 23:59 GMT+700
Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - The Jayapura city police has called on residents to support efforts to combat the spread of marijuana that increasingly gets trafficked across the Papua New Guinea (PNG) border and poses a serious threat to younger generation.
"Community support is crucial in preventing the circulation of marijuana, which greatly impacts our younger generation," Jayapura City Police Narcotics Unit Chief Adjunct Commissioner Febry Pardede said here on Monday.
According to Pardede, most of the marijuana the police confiscated in Jayapura was smuggled into the city from PNG through footpaths along the Indonesia-PNG border.
In the first half of this year, police seized 22.6 kilograms of marijuana allegedly smuggled from PNG, leading to the arrest of 30 suspects across 22 investigation files, he said.
The amount marks a sharp increase from the 7.5 kilograms seized during the same period in 2024.
The marijuana is not only sold in Jayapura but also transported to other cities in the Papua region, including Manokwari in West Papua, Nabire in Central Papua, and Sorong in Southwest Papua.
According to police, traffickers often use ships departing from Jayapura Port to smuggle the drugs to other islands.
Pardede urged the public not to hesitate in reporting suspected drug activity, particularly involving marijuana, to help break the supply chain.
"Don't be afraid to speak up. Your information can help disrupt the marijuana trafficking network," he said, adding that police remain committed to working with communities to curb drug distribution in the region.
The Indonesia-PNG border has long been vulnerable to cross-border criminal activity, particularly drug trafficking.
On July 8, 2025, for instance, the RI-PNG border security task force secured a big bag containing 128 packs of marijuana during a routine military patrol in a forest near Skofro Village, Arso Timur Subdistrict, Keerom District, Papua.
On May 9, 2024, the Indonesian Navy's quick-response team thwarted an attempt by six drug traffickers to smuggle 13.43 kilograms of dried marijuana from PNG into Papua.
Earlier, on March 21, 2024, at around 2:15 a.m. local time, Papua police arrested two PNG citizens for allegedly smuggling 51 packages of marijuana into Jayapura. The suspects, identified as Junior Lenga and Rindox, had hidden the drugs inside four sacks of rice.
Related news: Indonesian Navy steps up patrols to curb drug smuggling from PNG
Related news: TNI border patrol uncovers marijuana field near Papua border
"Community support is crucial in preventing the circulation of marijuana, which greatly impacts our younger generation," Jayapura City Police Narcotics Unit Chief Adjunct Commissioner Febry Pardede said here on Monday.
According to Pardede, most of the marijuana the police confiscated in Jayapura was smuggled into the city from PNG through footpaths along the Indonesia-PNG border.
In the first half of this year, police seized 22.6 kilograms of marijuana allegedly smuggled from PNG, leading to the arrest of 30 suspects across 22 investigation files, he said.
The amount marks a sharp increase from the 7.5 kilograms seized during the same period in 2024.
The marijuana is not only sold in Jayapura but also transported to other cities in the Papua region, including Manokwari in West Papua, Nabire in Central Papua, and Sorong in Southwest Papua.
According to police, traffickers often use ships departing from Jayapura Port to smuggle the drugs to other islands.
Pardede urged the public not to hesitate in reporting suspected drug activity, particularly involving marijuana, to help break the supply chain.
"Don't be afraid to speak up. Your information can help disrupt the marijuana trafficking network," he said, adding that police remain committed to working with communities to curb drug distribution in the region.
The Indonesia-PNG border has long been vulnerable to cross-border criminal activity, particularly drug trafficking.
On July 8, 2025, for instance, the RI-PNG border security task force secured a big bag containing 128 packs of marijuana during a routine military patrol in a forest near Skofro Village, Arso Timur Subdistrict, Keerom District, Papua.
On May 9, 2024, the Indonesian Navy's quick-response team thwarted an attempt by six drug traffickers to smuggle 13.43 kilograms of dried marijuana from PNG into Papua.
Earlier, on March 21, 2024, at around 2:15 a.m. local time, Papua police arrested two PNG citizens for allegedly smuggling 51 packages of marijuana into Jayapura. The suspects, identified as Junior Lenga and Rindox, had hidden the drugs inside four sacks of rice.
Related news: Indonesian Navy steps up patrols to curb drug smuggling from PNG
Related news: TNI border patrol uncovers marijuana field near Papua border
Translator: Evarukdijati, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Primayanti
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5) Papua grants seeds, tools to boost food security
- August 11, 2025 13:24 GMT+700
Jayapura (ANTARA) - The Papua provincial government has distributed agricultural assistance, including taro and paddy seeds, to four coastal regions as part of the efforts to strengthen food security and help local farmers improve productivity and welfare.
Speaking in Jayapura on Sunday (August 10), Head of the Papua Crop, Horticulture, and Food Office Lunanka Daimboa stated that the assistance was aimed at residents in the coastal districts of Biak Numfor, Waropen, Yapen Islands, and Supiori.
"Through the provision of superior seeds, we can expect farmers to increase the quality and quantity of their yields, which can be consumed or marketed," she stated.
Daimboa noted that in line with regulations from the National Food Agency (Bapanas), the Papua government aims to make better use of local food sources beyond the commonly cultivated sweet potatoes and sago.
Along with taro and paddy seeds, the aid package included fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, machetes, watering cans, mini chainsaws, and a rice power thresher.
Daimboa affirmed that the assistance also aims to support the Free Nutritious Meals program in the four districts.
Related news: President Prabowo reviews food security measures in South Papua
Related news: Women in Papua village grow taro to support food security
Related news: West Papua allocates 14 tons of rice for 2024 food security reserve
Speaking in Jayapura on Sunday (August 10), Head of the Papua Crop, Horticulture, and Food Office Lunanka Daimboa stated that the assistance was aimed at residents in the coastal districts of Biak Numfor, Waropen, Yapen Islands, and Supiori.
"Through the provision of superior seeds, we can expect farmers to increase the quality and quantity of their yields, which can be consumed or marketed," she stated.
Daimboa noted that in line with regulations from the National Food Agency (Bapanas), the Papua government aims to make better use of local food sources beyond the commonly cultivated sweet potatoes and sago.
Along with taro and paddy seeds, the aid package included fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, machetes, watering cans, mini chainsaws, and a rice power thresher.
Daimboa affirmed that the assistance also aims to support the Free Nutritious Meals program in the four districts.
Related news: President Prabowo reviews food security measures in South Papua
Related news: Women in Papua village grow taro to support food security
Related news: West Papua allocates 14 tons of rice for 2024 food security reserve
Translator: Qadri P, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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6) Indonesia's Highland Papua empowers youth to grow creative economy
August 10, 2025 18:41 GMT+700
Wamena (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Highland Papua Province is seeking to harness the potential of young people in its eight districts to grow the creative economy sector.
Timotius Matuan, head of the provincial Department of Youth, Sports, Tourism, and Creative Economy, said Sunday that promoting the creative economy is key to boosting the region’s income.
"Young people in the eight districts must turn their local potential into valuable products that generate income," Matuan said.
He noted that the sector can strengthen the economy by tapping into various local resources.
"Young people with skills in wood carving, weaving noken [traditional bags], and sustainable coffee processing should continue to hone their expertise," he said, adding that the provincial government will provide training and funding support.
To advance the sector, Matuan's office is working with technical agencies in each district to empower local communities.
"We continue to coordinate to ensure this program reaches indigenous Papuans, with the main goal of increasing their income and welfare," he said.
Matuan added that his office offers business capital of about Rp50 million (US$3,076) per group for initiatives such as coffee, honey, noken production, and batik. Groups will be evaluated annually — if a business fails to develop, funding will be redirected to others.
This year, the province has allocated around Rp3 billion to support creative economy players in the eight districts.
"In Jayawijaya District, there are dozens of assisted players with clear records, while in the other seven districts, monitoring is still lacking," Matuan said. "Going forward, evaluation and monitoring will be strengthened to ensure all players are well accommodated."
Related news: Committee backs Prabowo's plan for 2,200 new homes in Highland Papua
Related news: Free meals program running in eight districts of Highland Papua: Govt
Timotius Matuan, head of the provincial Department of Youth, Sports, Tourism, and Creative Economy, said Sunday that promoting the creative economy is key to boosting the region’s income.
"Young people in the eight districts must turn their local potential into valuable products that generate income," Matuan said.
He noted that the sector can strengthen the economy by tapping into various local resources.
"Young people with skills in wood carving, weaving noken [traditional bags], and sustainable coffee processing should continue to hone their expertise," he said, adding that the provincial government will provide training and funding support.
To advance the sector, Matuan's office is working with technical agencies in each district to empower local communities.
"We continue to coordinate to ensure this program reaches indigenous Papuans, with the main goal of increasing their income and welfare," he said.
Matuan added that his office offers business capital of about Rp50 million (US$3,076) per group for initiatives such as coffee, honey, noken production, and batik. Groups will be evaluated annually — if a business fails to develop, funding will be redirected to others.
This year, the province has allocated around Rp3 billion to support creative economy players in the eight districts.
"In Jayawijaya District, there are dozens of assisted players with clear records, while in the other seven districts, monitoring is still lacking," Matuan said. "Going forward, evaluation and monitoring will be strengthened to ensure all players are well accommodated."
Related news: Committee backs Prabowo's plan for 2,200 new homes in Highland Papua
Related news: Free meals program running in eight districts of Highland Papua: Govt
Translator: Primayanti
Editor: Anton Santoso
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