1) Impunity persists: Rights groups in West Papua demand accountability as military courts shield security forces

Human Rights News / Indonesia, West Papua / 3 July 2026

Human rights defenders, victims’ families, lawyers and civil society organisations continue to raise concerns over persistent impunity for alleged human rights violations committed by Indonesian security forces in West Papua. Despite public protests, legal complaints and disciplinary proceedings in several cases, meaningful criminal accountability remains limited. Recent developments demonstrate growing demands for independent investigations, transparent judicial processes and an end to the structural barriers that have long prevented justice for victims.

Broader concerns regarding impunity remain closely linked to Indonesia’s military justice system. During proceedings before the Constitutional Court on 28 April 2026, the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) argued that as long as members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) accused of ordinary criminal offences continue to be tried before military courts, impunity will persist. KontraS cited numerous historical cases, including killings in West Papua, where military courts imposed comparatively lenient sentences. The organisation also highlighted the military prosecution of four intelligence officers accused of carrying out the acid attack against human rights defender Andrie Yunus, arguing that civilian courts are necessary to guarantee equality before the law and public confidence in judicial independence.

On 16 June 2026, the Head of Komnas HAM’s Papua Representative Office, Frits Ramandey, publicly acknowledged the institutional difficulties faced by the National Human Rights Commission when investigating alleged violations involving TNI personnel. He explained that the military’s separate legal system and military courts significantly limit external oversight. Ramandey called on the Indonesian Government to comprehensively evaluate military operations in West Papua, including Operation Habema and the Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force, and emphasised that lasting peace in West Papua can only be achieved through justice, accountability and respect for humanitarian law rather than continued reliance on military force.

As general concerns over structural impunity in Indonesia continue, human rights organisations, lawyers, relatives and solidarity groups in Wesst Papua continue to fight for justice for the victims of security force violence. Most Human rights cases are not timely investigated due to institutional barriers and lack of political will. Investigations often result in disciplinary police proceedings or military tribunals, where perpetrators get away with lenient sentences, as the following compilation of recent cases illustrates.

The developments documented across these cases illustrate persistent structural obstacles to accountability for alleged human rights violations committed by Indonesian security forces in West Papua. Although internal disciplinary proceedings, public demonstrations and legal complaints have generated increasing pressure for accountability, victims’ families and civil society organisations continue to report slow investigations, limited transparency and the absence of meaningful criminal prosecutions. Human rights organisations continue to call for independent investigations, civilian judicial oversight where appropriate, and effective remedies that comply with Indonesia’s obligations under international human rights law.

Dogiyai Police Shooting: Internal police process and its outcome

Indonesian police have discharged or demoted twelve officers over the killing of six civilians in Dogiyai, Central Papua, but human rights activists warn that the internal disciplinary process is being used to substitute for criminal accountability. Human rights organisations are calling for the case to be brought before a Human Rights Court as a gross human rights violation. Between 31 March and 2 April 2026, five civilians were killed and at least three others wounded by live ammunition in Moanemani, the capital of Dogiyai regency in Central Papua. The events have become known as the “Dogiyai bloody tragedy.”

On 7 May 2026, the Central Papua Regional Police (Polda Papua Tengah) convened a hearing of the Police Professional Ethics Commission (KKEPP) against twelve members of the Dogiyai district police (Polres Dogiyai). The outcome, reported by several media outlets on 13 May 2026, was that four officers were dishonourably discharged and eight were demoted.

The regional police account, delivered by the Polda Papua Tengah spokesperson AKBP I Made Suartika, stated that the force had carried out a thorough investigation and disciplinary enforcement after the incident. According to that account, three discharged officers (identified by the initials GR, ZPF and YWY) were dismissed for abuse against members of the community, and a fourth (HN) for provoking other officers.

Of the eight demoted, one (AS) received a two-year demotion for knowing of an assault and failing to act. Six others (JRR, AFK, GLY, JFN, WD and JF) received two-year demotions for involvement in the burning of vehicles. The Kamuu sub-district police chief (YHA) received a three-year demotion for inadequate supervision of his officers. Suartika added that all of the sanctioned officers have appealed. He said the appeal notifications were received on 11 May 2026, that the officers were given 21 days to prepare their submissions, and that an appeals commission would be formed.

On 20 May 2026, the Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua) formally urged the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) to classify the events as an alleged gross human rights violationconstituting crimes against humanity. LBH Papua argued that the violence formed part of a widespread and systematic attack against civilians following the discovery of the body of a police officer, and criticised Komnas HAM’s lack of meaningful progress, warning that continued inaction would reinforce impunity and further deteriorate the humanitarian situation.

The case has also triggered widespread public mobilisation. Throughout May 2026, demonstrations were organised in Jakarta, Jayapura and Nabire demanding transparent investigations, the establishment of an independent fact-finding team, accountability for those responsible and an end to military operations across Papua. Protesters warned that the Dogiyai case must not become another unresolved incident contributing to the long-standing pattern of impunity in the region.

Ebenius Tabuni Shooting: Six months without progress

On 31 March 2026, LBH Papua publicly criticised the Papua Regional Police for failing to make meaningful progress in the investigation into the shooting of student Ebenius Tabuni during a protest in Jayapura on 15 October 2025. According to the organisation, an official criminal complaint had been filed in October 2025, yet six months later investigators had failed to identify suspects or provide transparency regarding the status of the investigation. LBH Papua described the delay as evidence of institutional neglect and warned that prolonged inaction risks reinforcing impunity for unlawful police violence. The organisation called for an independent investigation, criminal prosecutions where appropriate and oversight by Komnas HAM and the Indonesian Ombudsman.

Bokondini Shooting: Family seeks independent investigation

The family of 20-year-old Elki Wunungga, who was allegedly shot by a police officer in Bokondini District, Tolikara Regency, on 14 April 2026, continues to seek an impartial investigation. In May 2026, lawyers representing the family urged the Papua Regional Police to assume control of the case, arguing that the local investigation lacked transparency and had failed to produce tangible results. Autopsy findings recovered a bullet projectile from the victim’s body, contradicting earlier explanations suggesting the death resulted from other causes. The legal team has also submitted complaints to Komnas HAM, the police internal affairs division (Propam) and Indonesia’s Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK), while the victim’s relatives continue to call for criminal prosecution of those responsible

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https://en.tempo.co/read/2111967/indonesian-military-to-reinforce-troops-in-papua-after-pilot-killing

2) Indonesian Military to Reinforce Troops in Papua After Pilot Killing

Reporter Dede Leni Mardianti July 5, 2026 | 12:31 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) will be adding defense personnel in several vulnerable areas in Papua. The increase in the number of troops comes in the wake of the shooting of a pilot and the burning of an AMA airline aircraft in Balinggaman, Sobaham District, Yahukimo, Papua on Thursday, July 2, 2026.

The Commander of the Joint Regional Defense Command III, Lieutenant General Lucky Avianto, stated that security posts in the area are currently limited, including at the site of the shooting incident. He said, "It's true that there is no security post in Balinggaman, where the shooting of pilot Nicholas Gosselin took place," as reported by Antara on Sunday, July 5, 2026.

According to Lucky, the nearest security post from the location of the incident is about 40 kilometers away, in mountainous terrain. Lucky mentioned that the situation is similar to the attack on the Smart Air aircraft at the Korowai Airport in Boven Digoel Regency, South Papua on February 12, which resulted in the deaths of two crew members.

Based on this, Lucky stated that TNI will evaluate which areas require additional security posts, especially in regions that serve as pioneer flight services. He said that they will coordinate with Bishop Yanuarius You of Jayapura. "Perhaps we can collaborate to identify the areas that require additional security posts and reinforcement of personnel," he said.

Prior to this, American pilot Nicholas F. Goselin was shot dead by the West Papuan National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement or TPNPB-OPM. Nicholas was shot while flying the PT AMA aircraft in the Sobaham District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands, on Thursday, July 2, 2026.

The spokesperson for the TPNPB headquarters, Sebby Sambom, stated that the shooting of the American pilot and the burning were carried out by the TPNPB Kodap XVI Yahukimo militia led by Elkius Kobak. The aircraft piloted by Nicholas was executed due to suspicion of transporting logistical support for the TNI forces in Papua.

"We shot as an ultimatum so that no more Indonesian airlines fly over Papua land," said Sambom in a written statement on Friday, July 3, 2026.

He explained that 36 defense regional commands (Kodap) of TPNPB have issued flying bans in their respective areas to all airlines operating in Papua. This ban is an anticipation by TPNPB against the arrival of non-organic TNI troops in Papua.

According to Sambom, Indonesian airlines that operate in Papua, including the PT AMA aircraft that was burned in Yahukimo, are often used to transport personnel or logistics for TNI to remote points in Papua. "They bring TNI, deliver logistics, and weapons to carry out military operations that oppress the Papuan people. We prohibit that," he said.

Read: Key Facts About American Pilot Shot Dead in Indonesia's Papua

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AWPA Sydney

Sunday, July 5, 2026