Photos: Human Rights Monitor
Graduating West Papuan students were attacked by Indonesian security forces, on May 5, for carrying their national flag, the Morning Star, in a parade to celebrate their achievement.
The parade took place in Kobakma town, in Indonesian occupied West Papua’s Central Mamberamo Regency.
The situation allegedly escalated after police tried to stop the celebration. The Indonesian security forces fired bullets and tear gas, injuring seven students.
The students allegedly scuffled with police, leading to an escalation in the situation. Local residents also objected to the police intervention, which further heightened tensions. The situation deteriorated, with some students allegedly throwing stones at the police.
The police responded by firing shots and tear gas to disperse the crowd. Human Rights Monitor (HRM) reported that seven Papuans were injured by bullets and one police officer sustained injuries.
The injured West Papuan students range in age from 17 to 24.
Collins said, "Again we have the usual heavy-handed approach to a peaceful celebration by students all because they were carrying their national flag, a symbol of great importance to the West Papuan people".
HRM said Indonesia should conduct a prompt and impartial investigation into the incident “capable of identifying those responsible and ensuring accountability and reparations for the victims”.
AWPA said that while the Australian government “talks a lot about regional stability … the ongoing conflict in West Papua is the one issue that can cause the very instability that Canberra fears”.
“If Canberra thinks that by ignoring the issue it will disappear, it should remember that the West Papuan people are not going to give up their fight for self-determination.”
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Jayapura, Jubi – Central Papua Governor Meki Nawipa said he will instruct authorities to take action against the growing number of illegal gold mining operations in the province. The move comes in response to concerns that such activities are causing environmental damage and harming Indigenous communities in Central Papua.
Nawipa made the statement in a written press release after serving as a keynote speaker at a focus group discussion themed “Upstream-Downstream Integration Strategy for Gold Reserve Management Towards Sovereign Monetary Resilience,” held at a hotel in Jakarta on Tuesday (May 5, 2026).
“Upon returning from Jakarta, I will instruct the Central Papua Energy and Mineral Resources Office (ESDM) to take action against all illegal mining activities. We want the best outcome and must bring order to everything,” Nawipa said.
He noted that illegal mining not only damages ecosystems and disadvantages Indigenous communities, but also results in lost regional revenue.
In addition, such activities are often linked to conflicts among local groups, disrupting long-standing social and cultural ties.
“In several areas of Central Papua, communities that once lived closely together are now divided. There have even been inter-tribal conflicts. This cannot be allowed to continue. It must be brought under control and properly regulated,” he said.
Nawipa stressed the need to organize mining activities in the province, noting that many operations currently lack permits.
Nawipa warned that illegal mining carries criminal penalties, including up to five years in prison and fines of up to Rp100 billion.
He added that sanctions also apply to those who collect or trade illegally mined gold, in accordance with Law No. 4 of 2009 on Mineral and Coal Mining.
According to Nawipa, if all mining activities were properly licensed, the sector could significantly contribute to economic growth.
“It would improve public welfare, create jobs, and increase both regional and national revenue. But with illegal mining like this, the benefits are limited and not shared by all,” he said. (*)
Jayapura, Jubi – Indigenous communities in Central Papua province will have the opportunity to manage natural resource potential in their territories through the People’s Mining Permit (Izin Pertambangan Rakyat/IPR).
The policy was outlined by Central Papua Governor Meki Nawipa in a written statement on Tuesday (May 5, 2026), highlighting opportunities for Indigenous communities to manage mineral resources such as gold.
Nawipa said that after the government completes its crackdown on illegal mining activities in the province, the next step will be to regulate community-based mining in line with the division of authority between provincial and central governments.
“People’s mining is governed by regulations. We will organize it in accordance with those rules. For now, our focus is to first bring all illegal mining activities under control,” Nawipa said.
He added that the provincial government will then formulate a framework for how community mining will be implemented in Central Papua.
One approach under consideration is granting IPR permits through cooperatives or micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) managed by Indigenous landowners in areas with mining potential.
“We will grant IPR to communities that are the rightful customary landowners and have cooperatives or MSMEs, so they can benefit directly from their natural resources. That is what we intend to do,” he said.
Nawipa noted that MIND ID oversees several major mining companies in Indonesia, including Freeport Indonesia, Aneka Tambang Tbk, Bukit Asam Tbk, Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (INALUM), Timah Tbk, and Vale Indonesia Tbk.
He said the collaboration aims to strengthen the contribution of the mining sector to national and regional economic growth, while improving the welfare of Indigenous communities.
Nawipa emphasized that the policy would be implemented carefully and in stages, taking into account multiple aspects, including environmental sustainability, security, revenue generation, and community welfare.
“All considerations must be carefully weighed—environmental, security, revenue, and community welfare aspects—so that the benefits can be shared broadly,” he said. (*)
The Education and Culture Office underscored the agenda during the 2026 Education Coordination Meeting, which gathered eight district governments across the province.
“This event’s theme pivots toward program synergy, quality enhancement, access expansion, and the acceleration of education digitalization,” said Nurhaidah, acting head of the office, in Nabire, Central Papua, on Thursday.
She emphasized the need for collective measures to address pressing education challenges in Central Papua, citing low scores in the education index, inaccurate student and educator data, inadequate infrastructure and facilities, and gaps in teachers’ capacity across several regions.
The Central Papua government, she continued, has mandated that all teachers in the province hold at least a bachelor’s degree by 2029. To that end, two affirmative programs have been introduced.
“We have identified 867 potential teachers to be prioritized in qualification enhancement programs in order to achieve the mandatory bachelor’s degree target by 2029,” Nurhaidah added.
She further said that capacity-building initiatives would be complemented by the acceleration of school digitalization, focusing on optimizing interactive digital panels already distributed by the central government.
The official acknowledged, however, that obstacles remain, including limited electricity access in remote areas, risks of device theft, and substandard school infrastructure.
On that note, the provincial government urged district administrations to help install school gates and fences, tailor device specifications to local electrical conditions, and initiate school revitalization efforts.
Furthermore, Nurhaidah underscored the importance of synchronizing data on schools, students, and educators to enable welltargeted policies based on real conditions.
“The accuracy of basic education data should be fundamental to policymaking and school accreditation,” she said.
The coordination meeting also discussed plans to map teacher needs in each district and involve local communities in school revitalization efforts.
Related news: VP Gibran inspects schools, notes facility issues in Central Papua
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Translator: Ali Nur, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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