4) 42 Years After His Death, Arnold Clemens Ap’s Legacy Endures in West Papua
A rallies were held in Jayapura and other regions of West Papua on Tuesday to protest the deteriorating human rights situation in West Papua, particularly in the Dogiyai regency.
Around 7.30am local time protestors gathered in Jayapura for a peaceful rally and while police initially allowed the march to take place, the demonstrators were subsequently blocked in front of Den Zipur Waena by police and Mobile Brigade (Brimob) personnel.
The Australia West Papua Association said demonstrators attempted to negotiate with the police, however, the negotiations failed.
"The situation then escalated resulting in the policing firing tear gas. It was also reported that the security forces threw stones at the protestors," AWPA said.
"The protesters then fled in various directions to avoid the tear gas. It was also reported that several negotiators were hit with batons during the situation. A number of demonstrators received injuries."
AWPA (Sydney) representative Joe Collins of AWPA said the violent action taken against the protestors was part of a pattern of behaviour.
"Yet again we have the Indonesian security forces cracking down on peaceful demonstrators who were trying to peacefully bring the authorities attention to the grave human rights situation in the territory," he said.
"There has been no improvement in the human rights situation in the territory over recent years and it is in fact seriously deteriorating."
Jayapura, Jubi – Papuan political figure Laurenzus Kadepa said Papua is not only rich in natural resources such as gold and natural gas, but also home to Indigenous Papuans whose existence must be protected.
Kadepa, a former member of the Papua Regional House of Representatives (DPR Papua) serving the 2014-2019 and 2019-2024 terms, said Indigenous Papuans have a long history and identity as a distinct people, which he argued has been shaped by political processes that integrated them into Indonesia.
He made the remarks in response to a series of recent shootings allegedly involving security forces that have left several civilians dead across Papua.
In Dogiyai, for example, six residents—including children and elderly people—were reported shot dead between March 31 and April 2, 2026, during a police sweep operation.
The operation followed the killing of a police officer, Brigadier Second Class (Bripda) Jufentus Edowai, who died after being attacked with a machete by unidentified individuals in Kimupugi Village, Kamuu District, Dogiyai, on Tuesday (April 1, 2026).
A separate incident occurred in Puncak, where at least nine residents from Tenoti and Kumikomo villages in Kembru District were reported shot dead, and five others injured, following a military operation allegedly carried out by the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) on April 14, 2026.
“Papua is not only about wealth such as gold and gas. It is not just about Freeport Indonesia or LNG. There are people here, and Papuans have their own history and existence as a people,” Kadepa said in an audio statement received by Jubi on Sunday (April 27, 2026).
“We must acknowledge how the state or central government has responded over the years. When victims are in Papua, or when such situations occur here, they are often treated as something ordinary—‘it’s just Papua.’ So why bother addressing it?” he said.
According to Laurenzus Kadepa, this pattern continues today. He argued that if similar incidents occurred elsewhere in Indonesia, they would prompt immediate responses from the president and state institutions, even if the number of victims were smaller than in Papua.
He added that national media would also provide extensive and repeated coverage—something he said is lacking when incidents occur in Papua.
“This is the reality we have faced for years. For the incidents in Dogiyai and Puncak, I urge the president to take a wise and serious approach in addressing Papua,” he said.
Kadepa reiterated his call for the central government to evaluate its security policies in Papua, arguing that the current approach has harmed local communities.
“Papuans do not need more security operations. What they need are proper healthcare services and quality education,” he said.
He also urged the National Commission on Human Rights Indonesia to establish an independent fact-finding team, involving neutral and credible institutions, to investigate the shootings in Dogiyai and Puncak and ensure accountability.
He said identifying the perpetrators should not be difficult, as some victims survived and witnessed the incidents firsthand, but emphasized that a thorough investigation remains necessary.
“The president must speak out, because Papuans are human beings like any other Indonesians and have their own existence as a people. Their dignity and presence must be respected,” Kadepa said.
He also expressed appreciation for Elvis Tabuni, Regent of Puncak, who recently traveled to Jakarta to raise humanitarian concerns affecting his region directly with the central government.
During the visit, Tabuni, along with Puncak Regional Legislative Council (DPRK) Speaker Thomas Tabuni, met with Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai and submitted key demands, including details of victims affected by the violence.
“The regent’s willingness to express his grief publicly is commendable. He is not only a regional leader, but also a community elder and traditional figure in Puncak. It is natural for him to feel this deeply, and we hope he can help bring justice to his people,” Kadepa said. (*)
On behalf of the ULMWP and the West Papuan people, I demand that Indonesia cease their crackdown on peaceful protest in the wake of the massacres in Dogiyai and Puncak.
The West Papua National Committee has organised numerous peaceful demonstrations against Indonesian colonialism since the military (TNI) murdered fifteen West Papuans in the Puncak massacre on April 15th. In response, the TNI and Indonesan police have launched a brutal crackdown, dispersing protesters with water cannons, tear gas, and beatings.
The latest crackdown occurred this morning (27th April), after protestors gathered in front of the Mimika Dormitory in Waena, Jayapura. They were met by a heavily armed TNI squadron, who broke up the peaceful protest by firing tear gas canisters and blasting activists with water cannons.
The violence committed against the KNPB and allied student protestors is part of Indonesia’s strategy in West Papua. By suppressing peaceful action in this way, Indonesia hopes to stoke a cycle of violence in West Papua in order to strengthen their colonial grip over our land.
Ultimately, intensified militarisation serves Indonesia’s economic interests – by deploying additional troops and establishing new checkpoints, Indonesia protexts their investment and creates a pretext for new destructive economic developments. Chaos and violence are good for business: this is Indonesia’s reason for keeping hold of West Papua.
This crackdown shows once again that democracy does not exist in West Papua. We have never been allowed to peacefully voice our demand for self-determination, whether under the Suharto dictatorship or so-called democratic rule. West Papuans will never achieve justice through colonial systems.
The ULMWP asks that our solidarity groups and parliamentary allies apply pressure on Indonesia to stop this crackdown, withdraw their military, and facilitate a visit to West Papua by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Our own actions are not enough: international pressure is the only language Indonesia understands.
Benny Wenda
President
ULMWP
4) 42 Years After His Death, Arnold Clemens Ap’s Legacy Endures in West Papua
Jayapura, Jubi – The body of Arnold Clemens Ap, a prominent advocate of Melanesian cultural identity in West Papua, was found on Pasir Enam Beach in Jayapura on April 26, 1984.
He was discovered dead from gunshot wounds, allegedly inflicted by Indonesian elite forces known at the time as Kopassandha. His body was found alongside that of his cousin, Edu Mofu. More than four decades later, his death continues to be commemorated.
Arnold Clemens Ap was born on July 1, 1945, in Ampombukor Village, Biak. His cousin Edu Mofu also hailed from the same village in West Biak.
Ap began his education at a primary school in Numfor before continuing to Primaire Middlebare School (PMS) in Biak, a junior secondary-level institution during the Dutch colonial period.
During his time at PMS, he studied alongside several prominent Papuan figures, including Sam Kapisa, JR Mansoben, Frans Wospakrik, Agus Rumansara, HE Mackbon, and SP Morin. Among his juniors were Michael Menufandu, Abraham Atururi, and Piet Wospakrik.
After completing his studies at PMS, most of his peers continued to YPK High School in Ridge, Biak, while others pursued education in Jayapura.
Ap later enrolled at the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FIK), majoring in Geography, where he earned a diploma-level qualification. In 1974, he joined a research expedition to Asmat alongside JR Mansoben under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Walker.
Upon returning from Australia, Ap settled in Jayapura and began working at the museum of Cenderawasih University. Under his influence, the university museum evolved into a center for cultural preservation and artistic activity in Papua.
While working as a curator and later establishing the Mambesak group, Arnold Clemens Ap had earlier formed the Manyori Group to perform in the Pelangi Budaya (Cultural Rainbow) program on Republic Indonesia’s Radio (RRI).
At the time, weekly cultural activities were also held at the courtyard of the Cenderawasih University Museum in Abepura. These events featured traditional dance, vocal group performances, and mob (Papuan choral singing), involving local artists as well as high school students.
These cultural activities were largely driven by the emergence of the Mambesak, a Papuan folk music group founded on August 5, 1978, at Cenderawasih University.
“I typed the invitation letters and delivered them to all members. Everyone agreed on the name Mambesak, and Brother Arnold was appointed as its leader,” said Th. Wolas Krenak.
Among those present at the group’s formation were Eddy Mofu, Sam Kapisa, Yoel Kafiar, Martiny Sawaki, Abner Korwa, Yohana Yembise, Uslin Monim, and others.
Shortly after its establishment, Mambesak began producing songs in local Papuan languages, recording them independently on cassette tapes despite limited technology. Costan Ruhukail served as the group’s recording technician, producing up to six albums featuring songs from various ethnic groups across Papua.
Arnold Clemens Ap placed strong emphasis on authenticity. He ensured accurate pronunciation in each local language and insisted that traditional instruments such as the tifa (West Papuan traditional drum) be played according to the distinct styles of each ethnic group, including the well-known rhythms and dances of the Asmat people.
Krenak recalled performing with Mambesak at a national cultural event in Jakarta, where he played the tifaand learned the diverse drumming techniques—known as toki tifa—from different Papuan traditions.
Mambesak’s songs were also broadcast through radio programs such as Pelangi Budaya and Pancaran Sastra on Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) Nusantara V Jayapura, aired every Sunday afternoon. Members of the group often served as broadcasters, introducing Papuan culture through music, dance, and storytelling.
However, Mambesak’s final performance took place on November 29, 1983, at the Governor’s Office of then Irian Jaya Province.
Soon after, Arnold Ap, Edu Mofu, and two others were arrested and detained.
Three months later, the bodies of the two Papuan artists and cultural figures were found floating at Pasir Enam Beach on April 26, 1984. (*)
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