2) TNI personnel arbitrarily detain and torture four indigenous civilians in Intan Jaya
Jayapura, Jubi – For the Indigenous Marind people of South Papua, ipni is more than just a fish. Their name for barramundi—known locally as swamp barramundi or kakap rawa—has long been associated with the region’s rivers, wetlands, and mangrove forests, and remains one of the most sought-after fish in Merauke.
Its rich, tender flesh has made it a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Many describe its skin as having a uniquely chewy texture.
Barramundi is also a valuable catch for local fishermen, who often venture far into the Arafura Sea—and, in some cases, across the maritime border into Papua New Guinea (PNG)—to find it.
The Marind call it kakap rawa, or swamp barramundi, because it inhabits brackish swamps, large rivers, and mangrove ecosystems across South Papua. Scientifically, however, the species is known as barramundi (Lates calcarifer), a fish capable of living in saltwater, brackish water, and freshwater.
Adult barramundi spawn in the sea before migrating upstream through river estuaries into swamps and inland wetlands, making healthy wetland ecosystems essential to their life cycle.
Environmental observers warn that large-scale land conversion across South Papua is disrupting that ecological balance.
The transformation of native bushland, sago groves, wetlands, and savanna into vast agricultural estates threatens not only forests but also the food chains that sustain wildlife.
Although the government points to Wasur National Park—Papua’s largest wetland conservation area—as evidence that protected ecosystems remain, questions have been raised over whether the park alone can withstand the cumulative impacts of large-scale land conversion and increasingly severe climate events, including the 2026 El Niño.
“The high concentration of fire hotspots within the Food Estate area is a significant finding,” said Uli Arta Siagian, National Executive Campaign Coordinator of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI).
“It indicates that an area designated as a national food production hub has already been experiencing ecological pressure since the early stages of development.”
According to Siagian, recurring fires in the region should not be viewed solely as natural disasters but as a consequence of widespread landscape transformation.
She said deforestation, land clearing, road construction, and the drainage of swamps and wetlands have increased the vulnerability of the landscape to wildfires.
For decades, South Papua has been dominated by lowland forests, peatlands, swamps, and other wetland ecosystems that naturally retain moisture.
“When these landscapes are converted into large-scale production areas, their ecological characteristics change, making them far more susceptible to fires during the dry season,” she said.
Fishermen increasingly cross into PNG
The degradation of South Papua’s wetlands has also raised concerns that barramundi populations are shifting toward healthier habitats across the border in PNG’s Trans-Fly region.
Local fishermen say this helps explain why Indonesian boats are increasingly caught fishing illegally in PNG waters.
A fisherman from Bulukumba, South Sulawesi, who now operates from Lampu Satu Beach in Merauke, admitted that crews frequently cross into PNG while targeting barramundi, particularly for its highly valued swim bladder.
“Yes, fishermen from Merauke often fish as far as PNG,” he told Jubi.
The Trans-Fly region, which consists of vast wetlands and savannas, remains one of the best-preserved ecosystems in the Asia-Pacific.
Much of the sparsely populated area is protected, with roughly one-third designated as conservation land, including the Tonda Wildlife Management Area, a wetland recognized under the Ramsar Convention.
Healthy ecosystems there continue to support abundant fish stocks, including barramundi.
Indonesian fishermen have repeatedly been arrested—and in some cases fatally shot—by PNG authorities while fishing illegally in search of barramundi.
Most recently, on July 14, three fishing boats from Merauke reportedly encountered trouble in PNG waters. One vessel sank, while two others remained missing.
The fate of approximately 18 crew members aboard the three boats was initially unknown.
The captain of KM Raditi Jaya, Basri, reportedly survived after being rescued by PNG fishermen.
A fisherman in Merauke said rough seas, with waves reaching two to three meters, contributed to the incident.
Merauke Border Management Agency head Rekianus Samkakai said illegal crossings by local fishermen have become an annual occurrence.
Since 2024, 132 fishermen from Merauke have been detained at Bomana Correctional Institution near Port Moresby, according to records through March 2026.
In February alone, four Indonesian fishing boats were apprehended—two by PNG authorities and two by Australian authorities.
Data from Destructive Fishing Watch (DFW) Indonesia shows that PNG authorities arrested Indonesian fishing vessels on six separate occasions between May 2020 and November 2021.
According to DFW, illegal cross-border fishing persists because fish stocks remain abundant in PNG waters and productive fishing grounds lie only four to seven nautical miles from shore—close enough for Indonesian fishermen to reach despite crossing an international maritime boundary.
Target species include barramundi, Chinese seaperch, and kuro fish.
DFW says fish populations remain healthy because the region’s ecosystems remain largely intact, allowing barramundi to complete their natural life cycle—from spawning near mangrove forests to growing in river estuaries, swamps, and savannas.
For many Indonesian fishermen, the wetlands of PNG’s Trans-Fly region and Australia’s Torres Strait Islands have become increasingly attractive fishing grounds because their mangrove forests and swamp ecosystems remain well preserved.
While no comprehensive scientific study has yet confirmed that barramundi are migrating out of South Papua, the increasing number of Indonesian fishermen crossing into PNG waters suggests the ecological health of Merauke’s wetlands is under growing pressure.
As local fish stocks continue to decline, many fishermen are risking arrest—and even their lives—by crossing international borders in search of dwindling catches. (*)
2) TNI personnel arbitrarily detain and torture four indigenous civilians in Intan Jaya
Residents of Abundoga Village and surrounding communities later gathered outside the military post and demanded the men’s release. All four detainees were reportedly released on 17 July 2026.
Responses from civil society and authorities
Human rights and legal analysis
Military officers hand over rice and instant noodles on 18 July 2026 as compensation for the torture and arbitrary detention of Mr Yonas Nambagani, Mr Simon Kopeau, Mr Yoseph Pogau and Mr Agustinus Nabelau
Document ID: HRM-CAS-104-2026
Location: 726J+5QG, Bilogai, Sugapa, Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua 98768, Indonesia (-3.7395623, 137.0319626) Jalai Village
Region: Indonesia > Central Papua > Intan Jaya > Sugapa
Total number of victims: 4
| # | Number of Victims | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1. | 1 | Yonas Nambagani | male | adult | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention, torture |
| 2. | 1 | Agustinus Nabelau | male | adult | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention, torture |
| 3. | 1 | Simon Kopeau | male | adult | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention, torture |
| 4. | 1 | Yoseph Pogau | male | adult | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention, torture |
Perpetrator: Republic Indonesia > Indonesian Security Forces > Indonesian Military (TNI) > Indonesian Army (TNI-AD)
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The Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture has announced plans to increase the agricultural development budget for Papua to accelerate the development of priority commodities, improve farmers’ welfare, and strengthen national food self-sufficiency.
“The Papuan people have experienced significant improvements in their welfare. However, they still need additional support. I have proposed an additional budget and we will prepare it for next year,” Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said.
Previously, the government allocated Rp1.3 trillion (US$69.9 million) for agricultural assistance in South Papua this year, covering agricultural equipment and machinery, irrigation development, farm roads, warehouses, dryers and agricultural land development.
Sulaiman revealed that enthusiasm for agricultural development among Papuans continues to grow, as several regional leaders and farmer representatives from West Papua, Southwest Papua, Central Papua and Highland Papua had traveled to Jakarta to propose similar programmes in their respective regions.
Therefore, the ministry is adjusting its budget allocation to meet the specific needs of each region. For example, Highland Papua and Central Papua will each receive 100,000 units of agricultural equipment packages to support the development of priority commodities, including cassava.
Overall, the government has allocated approximately Rp3.2 trillion (US$172 million) for agricultural development in Papua through 2026.
Over the past two years, total government support for the agricultural sector in Papua has reached approximately Rp5.3 trillion (US$285 million).
The minister expressed optimism that increased budget support, agricultural infrastructure development and collaboration with indigenous communities would enable the agricultural sector to drive prosperity in Papua while reinforcing its contribution to national food self-sufficiency.
Meanwhile, Wanam Village head and customary landowner Arnold Awalik said the community fully supports the government’s agricultural program on its customary land.
According to Awalik, the development of the rice field will provide indigenous communities with greater opportunities to improve their livelihoods.
“We already have the equipment, but we do not yet have our own rice fields. We hope to cultivate our own land so that the people of Wanam can achieve greater prosperity,” he said.
Responding to the proposal, Sulaiman has approved the clearing of approximately 250 hectares for rice cultivation in Wanam and ensured that work would begin this year.
The government will also provide additional tractors, build irrigation networks, and introduce modern agricultural technology to develop the area into a hub for agricultural development in Papua.
Jayapura, Jubi – The Department of Compassion and Justice of the Evangelical Christian Church (GKI) Synod in the Land of Papua has launched a week-long training program in Jayapura to equip people with disabilities with the skills to manufacture prosthetic arms and legs.
The training, which opened on Monday at the GKI Synod headquarters in Argapura, South Jayapura District, marks the church’s first step toward establishing a rehabilitation service that is accessible to communities across Papua.
Rev. Hiskia Rollo, First Vice Chair of the GKI Synod Executive Board, said the program is open to everyone regardless of religious affiliation.
“This ministry is an expression of Christian compassion that knows no boundaries. It is not only for GKI members, but also for people from other churches and anyone in need of prosthetic limbs or healthcare services,” Rollo said.
The training also forms part of preparations for the inaugural GKI Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving for Persons with Disabilities, which will be observed on July 29.
Designed as a training-of-trainers (TOT) program, participants will not only learn how to produce prosthetic devices but will also be prepared to become skilled technicians who can work at a prosthetics workshop the church plans to establish.
“After this training, we will set up a prosthetics workshop under the GKI Synod’s Department of Compassion and Justice. Anyone who needs a prosthetic arm or leg will be welcome, and we will serve them to the best of our ability,” Rollo said.
To support the program, GKI invited Kuncoro, an experienced prosthetics instructor from Solo, Central Java, to lead the training.
Rev. Leonora Balubun, secretary of the department, said the initiative revives a prosthetics service previously carried out by the GKI Synod in collaboration with partner organizations, including an earlier program in Sorong.
She said establishing a workshop in Jayapura would enable people with disabilities to access prosthetic services locally instead of traveling to Sorong or other cities.
“We want to establish a prosthetics workshop in Jayapura so that Papuans, especially people with disabilities who need assistive devices, can receive services here. This will significantly reduce the time and costs they currently face,” Balubun said.
Beyond providing prosthetic devices, she said the program is expected to create employment opportunities by equipping participants with practical skills that can be developed into sustainable livelihoods while contributing to the church’s humanitarian mission.
“This service is not only for Christians. Anyone who needs a prosthetic arm or leg is welcome to register and receive assistance,” she said.
Meanwhile, Robby Nyong, chair of the Papua chapter of the Indonesian Association of People with Physical Disabilities (PPDFI), described the initiative as a concrete example of the church investing in the capacity of people with disabilities.
Although initiated by the GKI Synod, he said the training is open to all members of the public regardless of religion or background.
“We appreciate this because it is the first initiative of its kind in Papua led directly by a church. More importantly, it is open to everyone, giving anyone the opportunity to learn,” Nyong said.
Nyong, who is also participating in the training, said demand for prosthetic limbs in Papua continues to grow due to congenital disabilities, traffic and workplace accidents, and illnesses such as diabetes that require amputations.
He noted that quality prosthetic limbs remain prohibitively expensive. Between 2021 and 2023, a single prosthetic leg typically cost between Rp17 million and Rp21 million (approximately US$1,000–1,300), excluding shipping and other associated expenses.
“That prompted us to ask why we couldn’t make them ourselves in Papua. This training is the answer, enabling local people to develop the skills needed to produce prosthetic limbs independently,” he said.
Until now, most prosthetic assistance in Papua has depended on teams from outside the region, who take measurements locally before manufacturing the devices elsewhere and delivering them later.
Nyong said that approach has done little to build local expertise or self-reliance.
Through the GKI Synod’s training program, however, people with disabilities are directly involved in the manufacturing process, giving them practical skills that can become long-term employment opportunities.
He said PPDFI has begun discussions with the GKI Synod on establishing a rehabilitation and prosthetics workshop in Jayapura, which is expected to become Papua’s first dedicated prosthetics service center while creating opportunities for people with disabilities to work and support others in their communities.
Nyong called on the government, churches, and other stakeholders to continue supporting disability empowerment through training, mentoring, and improved access to facilities.
“People with disabilities have both the ability and the determination. What they need are opportunities, support, and training. If given the chance, they can produce work that benefits society,” he said. (*)
Jayapura, Jubi – Younger members of the Indigenous Tepra tribe in Jayapura Regency are showing declining interest in preserving Tiaitiki, a traditional marine conservation practice that once played a central role in protecting coastal resources in Red Bay (Teluk Tanah Merah), local leaders say.
Red Bay, in Depapre District, is known for its scenic beaches, abundant fisheries, rich Indigenous traditions, and remnants of U.S. military oil storage tanks dating back to World War II.
Today, however, tourism has largely eclipsed efforts to preserve the area’s cultural and historical heritage.
“People now prefer to manage beach tourism because it generates immediate income through entrance fees, hut rentals, and parking charges,” said Amos Soumilena, a member of the Jayapura Regency Legislative Council representing the Special Autonomy faction.
“Meanwhile, traditional culture and World War II relics are increasingly seen as having little economic value.”
Soumilena said the Tiaitiki tradition was once widely practiced by the Tepra Indigenous community in North Defonsero, Red Bay.
The customary system embodies principles of conservation through Indigenous knowledge, regulating the management, use, and protection of natural resources, including traditional zoning of marine areas—even though the rules were never formally codified.
“Today, the tradition is no longer practiced as it once was,” he said.
“The same applies to other heritage assets, such as the World War II oil tanks, which many people now regard simply as relics of the past with little economic benefit.”
Instead, local communities have shifted their focus toward beach tourism, which offers more immediate financial returns from visitors.
Soumilena, a former customary leader in North Defonsero, said younger generations have shown little interest in learning traditional ecological practices such as Tiaitiki.
He warned that without greater efforts to pass on Indigenous knowledge, valuable conservation practices could disappear altogether.
“I’m deeply concerned that young people are no longer interested in learning local traditions like Tiaitiki,” he said.
Soumilena noted that researchers have documented the Tepra people’s customary knowledge—including Tiaitiki—in locally produced educational materials in an effort to encourage younger generations to value their cultural heritage.
In his book Tiatiki: Concept and Practice, researcher Dr. Wiklif Yarisetou argues that Indigenous knowledge should serve as a foundation for coastal and marine development policies.
He describes Tiaitiki as a community-based conservation model that protects coastal and marine resources while demonstrating how local wisdom can support sustainable environmental management.
Yarisetou also emphasized the important role of customary institutions in maintaining Indigenous conservation practices and ensuring that coastal ecosystems are preserved for future generations.
During the 1990s, the Tiaitiki tradition attracted visitors from Japan through initiatives supported by the Village Community Development Foundation (YPMD), which also introduced tourists to traditional fish aggregating devices used by local communities.
One of the best-known examples took place in Tablanusu Village on Sept. 9, 1999, when the community ceremonially reopened a marine area that had been closed under Tiaitiki rules for six months.
“Parents, mothers, and young people paddled their canoes to the customary fishing grounds at Bityayo (Old Village) to catch fish, everyone was busy harvesting the sea together.” recalled Menase Soumilena. (*)
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