2) Officers forcefully disperse KNPB activists during protest preparations in Jayapura and Sentani – Seven activists sustain injuries from excessive police violence
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1) New reports document rights violations and ecological damage in Merauke Mega-Project
Two new reports published in August 2026 by the Pusaka Foundation and Satya Bumi document what their authors describe as widespread violations of indigenous peoples’ rights caused by the National Strategic Project (PSN) for the Food and Energy Estate Area (KPPE) in Merauke Regency, South Papua. The first, Tak Terbayang Keadilan: Laporan Kesaksian Korban Perampasan Alam PSN Papua Selatan, is a narrative documentation built around victims’ testimonies, a chronology of events, and patterns of security force involvement in the territories of the Marind-Makleuw, Yei and other affected communities. The second entitled Berulangnya Pembangunan Tanpa Perasaan is a human rights impact audit of Clusters II, III and IV of the project, covering large-scale rice field and sugarcane plantation developments.
The audit traces the project’s origins to the global food and energy crisis of the early 2000s, when food and energy companies began acquiring concessions in Merauke for oil palm, industrial timber, sugarcane, soya and rice, promising increased local revenue and jobs. According to the report, concession holders then lobbied in Jakarta for national mega-projects that would function as a safety net for their operations. First the Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and later the PSN KPPE under Joko Widodo, with the project continuing into the first year of Prabowo Subianto’s administration.
At least 16 indigenous communities say they have been deprived of rights to their land and territories, the audit states, with more than 10 private companies suspected of involvement in the seizure of land and natural resources, among them the Jhonlin Group, First Resources Group and KPN Corp Group. The reports also document intimidation of those who object: military personnel allegedly intimidated and sought to criminalise the Kwipalo clan chief in Jagebob X District following his opposition to a sugarcane company, while soldiers are said to have visited the home of Moiwend clan leader Tayoga shortly after he returned from Jakarta, where he had lodged a complaint with the national human rights institution. Complaints documented between July and December 2024 came from indigenous villages across six districts: Ilwayab, Animha, Kurik, Malind, Tanah Miring and Jagebob.
The ecological consequences described are severe. The clearing of forests, swamps and savannahs has driven deforestation and the loss of South Papua’s biodiversity, while the filling in of peatlands has left rivers unable to absorb rainfall, leaving villages and access roads repeatedly submerged after heavy rain. Fish and shrimp catches have fallen sharply, and dwindling clean water sources have left some communities entirely dependent on rainwater storage tanks. Indigenous women, the reports emphasise, carry a disproportionate share of these burdens: with food sources further away, they work longer hours gathering and processing food, and delays in preparing family meals have in a number of cases led to arguments, verbal abuse and physical violence at home.
Both reports frame these findings against Indonesia’s obligations under ratified international human rights instruments and national law, arguing that the state is required to investigate, prosecute those responsible, and provide redress to victims, and that companies operating in conflict-affected areas must conduct human rights due diligence to ensure their supply chains neither contribute to violations nor exacerbate conflict. The authors stress that indigenous communities are not opposed to development as such, but are defending their living space, dignity and right to determine their own future, a right they say has been bypassed by a project implemented without free, prior and informed consent. The audit closes with recommendations for immediate and phased measures the state should take to restore victims’ rights and prevent further violations, while acknowledging that its own documentation remains incomplete, as tight military control at project sites has left many victims unwilling to speak.
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2) Officers forcefully disperse KNPB activists during protest preparations in Jayapura and Sentani – Seven activists sustain injuries from excessive police violence
Police officers allegedly used physical violence against seven members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) in two separate incidents in Jayapura City and Sentani, Jayapura Regency, Papua Province, on 11 and 13 August 2026. The incidents occurred during preparations for a peaceful demonstration scheduled for 15 August 2026 under the theme “Papua: Military and Humanitarian Emergency Zone”. On 11 August, police officers reportedly assaulted two KNPB members while they attempted to submit a notification letter at the Papua Regional Police Headquarters in Jayapura City. Two days later, police officers allegedly used force to disperse KNPB activists distributing protest leaflets near Post 7 in Sentani, injuring five members.
On 11 August 2026, KNP representatives attempted to submit a notification letter concerning the planned demonstration to several government institutions in Jayapura City. These included the Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP), the Office of the Governor of Papua Province, the Papua Provincial House of Representatives (DPRP), the Papua Representative Office of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), the Papua Regional Police (Polda Papua) and the Jayapura City Police (Polresta Jayapura Kota). The notification outlined the objectives of the planned demonstration and informed the relevant authorities that the organisers intended to conduct the protest peacefully.
According to the information received from KNPB, police officers prevented the KNPB representatives from proceeding through the entrance checkpoint at the Papua Regional Police Headquarters. An officer identified as Alex, reportedly a member of the police Provost Unit, allegedly obstructed the activists and seized two KNPB flags. During the confrontation, officers reportedly used physical violence against Mr Beny Murib and Mr Benny Pahabol. According to the account, officers forcibly pulled Beni Murib’s hair while pushing and Mr Benny Pahabol away. The confrontation reportedly created tensions between the activists and police officers at the entrance checkpoint.
Following the incident, the KNPB publicly condemned the alleged use of force and called on the Indonesian security forces to respect the right to peaceful assembly. The organisation maintained that its planned demonstration would be conducted peacefully and urged the police to refrain from further violence against its members.
On 13 August 2026, at approximately 1:46 pm, KNPB activists were distributing leaflets near Post 7 in Sentani, Jayapura Regency, to inform residents about the planned demonstration on 15 August 2026. According to preliminary information provided by a local human rights defender, officers from the Jayapura District Police arrived at the location and reportedly dispersed the leafleting activity without prior warning or dialogue.
The intervention resulted in a tense confrontation between police officers and KNPB members. According to KNPB, several activists who attempted to de-escalate the situation were physically assaulted by police officers. Five KNPB activits reportedly sustained injuries to different parts of their bodies. Following the dispersal, local human rights defenders continued documenting the incident near the football pitch in front of STT Walter Post, Post 7, Sentani (see video below, source: KNPB).
Human rights and legal analysis
The reported incidents raise concerns regarding the protection of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly under Articles 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The submission of a notification letter for a planned demonstration and the peaceful distribution of leaflets are activities through which individuals exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Restrictions on peaceful assemblies must have a lawful basis, pursue a legitimate objective and satisfy the requirements of necessity and proportionality. The UN Human Rights Committee has emphasised that law enforcement authorities must seek to facilitate peaceful assemblies rather than impose unnecessary restrictions on them.
The allegations of physical violence raise further concerns regarding the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment under Article 7 of the ICCPR and the Convention Against Torture (CAT). Any use of force must be necessary for a legitimate law enforcement purpose and proportionate to the circumstances.
Particular concern arises from the reported assault on Eri Kawen, who was 17 years old at the time of the incident. Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child requires states to protect children from all forms of physical or mental violence, while Article 37(a) prohibits torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The Committee on the Rights of the Child has clarified that the obligation to protect children against violence extends to misconduct by state officials, including police officers.
The two incidents also raise questions regarding police compliance with Indonesian Law No. 9 of 1998 on Freedom of Expression in Public. Article 7 requires government officials to protect human rights and uphold the principle of legality when facilitating public expression, while Article 13 establishes police responsibilities concerning the receipt of demonstration notifications, co-ordination with organisers and protection of participants.
The Indonesian authorities should ensure that the allegations are investigated promptly, impartially and effectively, including through the examination of available video recordings, witness testimony, medical evidence and police operational records. Any officers found responsible for unlawful violence should be held accountable through appropriate disciplinary or criminal proceedings, and victims should have access to effective remedies and adequate reparation. The authorities should also ensure that police officers facilitate peaceful civic activities without discrimination and refrain from reprisals against individuals exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
KNPB members walk towards STT Walter Post Theological College in Sentani, shortly after being assaulted by police officers on 13 August 2026
Detailed Case Data
Document ID: HRM-CAS-133-2026
Location: CGQ5+2MC, Jl. Pos 7, Sentani Kota, Kec. Sentani, Kabupaten Jayapura, Papua 99359, Indonesia (-2.5624337, 140.5091405)
Region: Indonesia > Papua > Jayapura Regency > Sentani
Total number of victims: 7
Document ID: HRM-CAS-133-2026
Location: CGQ5+2MC, Jl. Pos 7, Sentani Kota, Kec. Sentani, Kabupaten Jayapura, Papua 99359, Indonesia (-2.5624337, 140.5091405)
Region: Indonesia > Papua > Jayapura Regency > Sentani
Total number of victims: 7
| # | Number of Victims | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1. | 1 | Eri Kawen | male | 17 | Activist, Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment |
| 2. | 1 | Wk Kogoya | male | 25 | Activist, Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment |
| 3. | 1 | Aweda Gobay | male | 25 | Activist, Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment |
| 4. | 1 | Yanse Milu | male | 27 | Activist, Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment |
| 5. | 1 | Elison Urwan | male | 23 | Activist, Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment |
| 6. | 1 | Benny Pahabol | male | adult | Activist, Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment |
| 7. | 1 | Beny Murib | adult | Activist, Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment |
Perpetrator: Republic Indonesia > Indonesian Security Forces > Indonesian Police > POLRES
Perpetrator details: Polresta Jayapura and Polres Sentani
Issues: indigenous peoples, security force violenceRelated Cases:
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