2) TNI identifies OPM figure killed in Intan Jaya clash
3) PM Wale raises West Papua concerns at UNGA
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1) Police disperse peaceful USTJ Student Protest in Jayapura with tear gas – Three students reportedly detained
On 30 September 2026, Indonesian police intervened in a student protest at the Jayapura University of Science and Technology (USTJ) campus in Padang Bulan, Abepura District, Jayapura City, Papua Province. Hundreds of students reportedly participated in the peaceful political protest, during which they raised the Morning Star flag and delivered speeches concerning West Papua’s political history and the right to self-determination.
Following the events, police personnel entered the university grounds and reportedly fired dozens of tear gas canisters to disperse the gathering (see photos below, source: independent HRD). Preliminary information indicates that police officers detained three USTJ students, identified as Mr Enias Enembe, Mr Mikael Obaipa and Mr Apniel Jagani. The place of detention is not known at the time of reporting.
Hundreds of USTJ students gathered on the university campus in Padang Bulan on 30 September 2026, to commemorate and critically discuss political developments concerning West Papua in 1962. During the protest, students raised a Morning Star flag on a flagpole inside the campus grounds and displayed additional Morning Star flags as well as a flag associated with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). Students delivered political speeches and displayed banners calling for international attention to the human rights situation in West Papua and for self-determination.
According to Jubi, dozens of officers from the Jayapura City Police entered the USTJ campus while the demonstration was underway. Police deployed a water-cannon vehicle and riot-control personnel (see video below: source: independent HRD). At that stage, students continued delivering political speeches and stated that they intended to keep the Morning Star flag flying until sunset. The situation subsequently escalated when police officers entered the university grounds and fired dozens of tear gas canisters to disperse the students.
Following the events, police reportedly detained Mr Enias Enembe, Mr Mikael Obaipa and Mr Apniel Jagani in connection with the protest. Their current place of detention remained unclear, with sources indicating that they may have been taken either to the Abepura Sector Police Station or the Jayapura City Police Headquarters. The legal basis for the detention is currently not known.
Human rights and legal analysis
The events raise serious concerns regarding the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, protected under Articles 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Indonesia ratified the ICCPR through Law No. 12/2005. These guarantees apply to political expression, including expression that challenges government policies or advances controversial political positions.
Under international human rights law, peaceful assemblies may be subject only to restrictions that satisfy the requirements of legality, legitimate purpose, necessity and proportionality. The UN Human Rights Committee has emphasised that states have obligations not merely to refrain from unjustified interference but to facilitate peaceful assemblies and protect participants. Dispersal, arrest or other sanctions against participants therefore require specific and compelling justification.
The political content of the USTJ protest, including advocacy concerning self-determination and the display of the Morning Star flag does not remove the activity from the protection afforded to political expression under international human rights law. Restrictions cannot be justified merely because authorities disagree with the political message being expressed. Whether individual conduct falls outside the protection of peaceful assembly depends on the actual behaviour concerned, particularly whether participants engage in violence, rather than simply on the political position they advocate.
The deployment and use of tear gas inside university grounds requires particular scrutiny. Law-enforcement authorities must seek to facilitate peaceful assemblies and should resort to dispersal only where this is justified under applicable human rights standards. Any use of force must comply with the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, precaution and accountability. The available information does not indicate that the students were engaging in violence immediately before police reportedly fired tear gas.
Indonesian domestic law also recognises freedom of public expression. Law No. 9 of 1998 on Freedom to Express Opinions in Public remains in force and provides the domestic statutory framework governing public expression. Indonesia has additionally informed the UN Human Rights Committee that freedom of assembly, association and expression is constitutionally guaranteed under Article 28E(3) of the 1945 Constitution, alongside relevant protections under Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights.
If the reported detention of Mr Enias Enembe, Mr Mikael Obaipa and Mr Apniel Jagani is confirmed, the authorities must immediately disclose their whereabouts and legal status. Article 9 ICCPRprohibits arbitrary arrest and detention and requires that arrested persons be informed, at the time of arrest, of the reasons for their arrest and promptly informed of any charges. They must also have an effective opportunity to challenge the lawfulness of their detention and obtain access to legal assistance.
Police personnel enter the USTJ Campus with water cannons and teargas, 30 September 2026
Detailed Case Data
Document ID: HRM-CAS-137-2026
Location: Jl. Sosial Padang Bulan, Hedam, Kec. Abepura, Kota Jayapura, Papua 99352, Indonesia (-2.6051992, 140.6573053) USTJ Campus, Jayapura
Region: Indonesia > Papua > Jayapura > Abepura
Total number of victims: 3
Document ID: HRM-CAS-137-2026
Location: Jl. Sosial Padang Bulan, Hedam, Kec. Abepura, Kota Jayapura, Papua 99352, Indonesia (-2.6051992, 140.6573053) USTJ Campus, Jayapura
Region: Indonesia > Papua > Jayapura > Abepura
Total number of victims: 3
| # | Number of Victims | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1. | 1 | Enias Enembe | male | adult | Indigenous Peoples, Student | arbitrary detention |
| 2. | 1 | Mikael Obaipa | male | adult | Indigenous Peoples, Student | arbitrary detention |
| 3. | 1 | Apniel Jagani | male | adult | Indigenous Peoples, Student | arbitrary detention |
Perpetrator: Republic Indonesia > Indonesian Security Forces > Indonesian Police > POLRES
Perpetrator details: Polresta Jayapura
Issues: indigenous peoples, security force violenceSources:
Jubi
Suara Papua
Related Cases:
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2) TNI identifies OPM figure killed in Intan Jaya clash
September 29, 2026 22:33 GMT+700
Timika (ANTARA) - Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) confirmed that a figure of the Papua Liberation Army/Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM), namely Hermanus Hogajau, also known as Pontianus Hogajau, was killed in an exchange of fire with Indonesian military personnel in Agisiga Subdistrict, Intan Jaya District, Central Papua.
In an official statement received in Timika on Tuesday, Commander of the Joint Regional Defense Command III Lt Gen Lucky Avianto said Hermanus and three of his men, allegedly members of the TPNPB-OPM, were killed in an armed clash with personnel from the 315 Garuda Infantry Battalion Special Team and the Taipur Team of the Habema Joint Operations Command.
The clash occurred in Agisiga Subdistrict in the early hours of Friday (Sept 25).
Besides Hermanus, who acts as the TPNPB-OPM Kodap III Balamai Dulla commander, TNI has identified three members, namely Malobega Hogajau, Eselon Hogajau, and Aguni Hogajau.
Lucky alleged that Hermanus is a prominent and violent OPM figure and that the three others were suspects in several violent crimes, particularly alleged human rights abuses in Intan Jaya, including the rape of village women and health workers, robbery of people's property, agricultural produce and livestock, abduction of children and women, and the burning of churches and schools.
Lucky said Hermanus did not hesitate to injure or even kill anyone who refused to comply with their demands.
According to the statement, Hermanus was the first to fire hundreds of live rounds with a machine gun at TNI personnel.
The personnel from the 315 Garuda Infantry Battalion and the Taipur Team of the Habema Joint Operations Command had detected and anticipated the TPNPB-OPM's plan to enter residential areas in 10 villages of Agisiga Subdistrict.
Lucky said the Indonesian Military and Police would continue efforts to pursue and arrest perpetrators of alleged human rights abuses in Papua.
Indonesian Military would take firm action in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, with Rules of Engagement serving as a guiding principle to ensure that all actions by personnel remained professional and upheld the law and human rights.
Related news: TNIcommander says Papua separatists must be defeated
Related news: TNI reports four OPM members killed in Central Papua clash
Related news: TNI orders air evacuation for OPM victim's widow in Papua
In an official statement received in Timika on Tuesday, Commander of the Joint Regional Defense Command III Lt Gen Lucky Avianto said Hermanus and three of his men, allegedly members of the TPNPB-OPM, were killed in an armed clash with personnel from the 315 Garuda Infantry Battalion Special Team and the Taipur Team of the Habema Joint Operations Command.
The clash occurred in Agisiga Subdistrict in the early hours of Friday (Sept 25).
Besides Hermanus, who acts as the TPNPB-OPM Kodap III Balamai Dulla commander, TNI has identified three members, namely Malobega Hogajau, Eselon Hogajau, and Aguni Hogajau.
Lucky alleged that Hermanus is a prominent and violent OPM figure and that the three others were suspects in several violent crimes, particularly alleged human rights abuses in Intan Jaya, including the rape of village women and health workers, robbery of people's property, agricultural produce and livestock, abduction of children and women, and the burning of churches and schools.
Lucky said Hermanus did not hesitate to injure or even kill anyone who refused to comply with their demands.
According to the statement, Hermanus was the first to fire hundreds of live rounds with a machine gun at TNI personnel.
The personnel from the 315 Garuda Infantry Battalion and the Taipur Team of the Habema Joint Operations Command had detected and anticipated the TPNPB-OPM's plan to enter residential areas in 10 villages of Agisiga Subdistrict.
Lucky said the Indonesian Military and Police would continue efforts to pursue and arrest perpetrators of alleged human rights abuses in Papua.
Indonesian Military would take firm action in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, with Rules of Engagement serving as a guiding principle to ensure that all actions by personnel remained professional and upheld the law and human rights.
Related news: TNIcommander says Papua separatists must be defeated
Related news: TNI reports four OPM members killed in Central Papua clash
Related news: TNI orders air evacuation for OPM victim's widow in Papua
Translator: Bayu Prasetyo
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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3) PM Wale raises West Papua concerns at UNGA
September 30, 2026 _ EMA GANIVATU
SOLOMON Islands Prime Minister Mathew Wale has urged Indonesia to allow a long-awaited United Nations human rights visit to West Papua, telling the UN General Assembly that persistent reports of abuses must be independently verified.
Addressing the Assembly’s decolonisation agenda in New York, Wale linked the issue to wider Pacific calls for self-determination and described West Papuans as “our Melanesian brothers and sisters”.
“Leaving no one behind demands that we complete the unfinished work of decolonisation,” he said. Solomon Islands, he added, continued to support the right to self-determination of the Kanak people of New Caledonia and the Maohi Nui people of French Polynesia.
Wale said the UN decolonisation process “must offer more than hope” and provide practical pathways for people in Non-Self-Governing Territories to determine their political future and development aspirations.
Turning to West Papua, he stressed that the Solomon Islands respected Indonesia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and valued its friendship with the Indonesian government and people. “It is precisely because of that friendship that we speak with candour,” Wale said.
“Reports of human rights violations in West Papua have persisted far too long. They must be independently verified, not left in dispute,” he said.
Wale renewed the Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ call for Indonesia to facilitate, without further delay, a visit by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to West Papua.
“Such a visit is an act of confidence between friends, and an affirmation that there is nothing to fear from the light,” he said.
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