Media statement -AWPA condemns the Indonesian security forces operation in Dogiyai , Central Papua

Australia West Papua Association Sydney

AWPA condemns the Indonesian security forces operation  in Dogiyai , Central Papua.

Statement 3 April 2026 

AWPA condemns the Indonesian security forces operation  in Dogiyai , Central Papua, which began on  Tuesday 31st March.   The operation was in response to the death of a member of  the  Moenamani Police Station, Jufentus Edowawho, who was killed around  10 am near the Ebenezer Moanemani Church intersection on Tuesday morning by persons unknown. 

 

During the operation six residents, including a 60-year-old woman  were reported killed by the security forces. Two residents received serious injuries and are in critical condition. 

 

With their usual security minded approach,  the TNI-Polri personnel  conducted raids around the city searching for the culprit, causing fear amongst the local population.

 

The situation escalated with incidents  such as the torching of passing vehicles, the destruction of a number of buildings belonging to civilians, and a reported attack on the Dogiyai Police headquarters by persons unknown. A  building belonging to residents not far from the police station was reportedly burned.

                          Situation in Dogiyai District, Central Papua, Tuesday (31/03/2026) night - IST (Photo in Jubi)
 

 

A witness reported that Papuan youths scattering boulders, logs, and various materials on the main access roads into Dogiyai  after reports that a convoy of cars consisting of a joint  TNI / Police force were approaching from the  direction of Paniai and Deiyai ​​Districts towards Dogiyai.

 

 

Residents evacuate one of the victims who allegedly died of gunshot wounds as police conducted raids in Kamuu District, Dogiyai County, Central Papua, Tuesday (31/03/2026) - IST.  (Photo in Jubi)

 

The security force operation also caused  residents living around Moanmenani City to flee to their relatives’ places outside the city with some families fleeing to the mountains for safety.

The Papua Law Enforcement and Human Rights (HRA) Coalition  has called on the security forces to stop the raids in Dogiyai County, Central Papua, carried out since, Tuesday (31/3/2026). The coalition called the operation  a retaliatory operation.

 

In a Jubi article (3 April) 
A church source said that “the situation in Dogiyai remained tense and volatile as of Wednesday (April 1, 2026) with the streets  deserted”.  

Meanwhile the police were maintaining heightened security and are conducting patrols, and restricting access to the town,  warning that any suspicious activity around Moenamani would be met with gunfire.

Joe Collins of AWPA said," tragically the death of civilians in West Papua during military operations is not unusual. The security forces can act with impunity in the territory.  During military operations people flee  in  fear for their lives to the jungle and other regencies”. 

 

In the latest  Human Rights Monitor report (27 March 2026) it reported that,  "As of late March 2026, more than 107,039 civilians across multiple regencies remained internally displaced due to military operations and armed conflict”.

 

 

Joe Collins said,  "the human rights situation in West Papua continues to seriously deteriorate. It doesn’t matter what the world might say about Indonesian sovereignty over West Papua, the territory is a colony of Jakarta with ongoing human rights abuses being committed against Papuans by the security forces and massive exploitation  of the territories natural resources including the destruction of forests for palm oil  and sugarcane plantations particularly in the Merauke region.

Victims.  Reported in Jubi (3 April)

A Catholic seminarian undertaking pastoral orientation  in Dogiyai,  identified the deceased civilians as Siprianus Tibakoto (25), who was shot in the head; Yulita Pigai (80), a disabled elderly woman, shot in the body; Martinus Yobe (14), an elementary school student, shot in the abdomen; Ankian Edowai (19), shot in the head; as well as Feri Auwe (20) and Yafet Tibakoto.

The two critically injured victims are Maikel Waine (12), shot in the chest with the bullet exiting through the shoulder, and Kikibi Pigai (20), who sustained a gunshot wound to the thigh.

Ends

Sources.

Jubi. 

https://jubi.id/rilis-pers/2026/koalisi-desak-hentikan-operasi-balas-dendam-di-dogiyai/

AI Indonesia.

https://www.amnesty.id/kabar-terbaru/siaran-pers/usut-tuntas-kekerasan-berdarah-di-dogiyai-papua-tengah/04/2026/

ULMWP

https://www.ulmwp.org/urgent-multiple-west-papuans-massacred-by-indonesian-police-in-dogiyai

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