2) Solomon Islands PM Raises West Papua Issue at UN
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1) TNI commander says Papua separatists must be defeated
September 27, 2026 20:32 GMT+700
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian National Armed Forces Commander General Agus Subiyanto said separatist groups in Papua must be defeated, while security operations should be conducted alongside territorial approaches to support development and residents' welfare.
"The OPM (Free Papua Movement) is separatist, so it must be defeated. There can be no separatists in our country," Agus told reporters in Jakarta on Sunday.
Asked about public concerns over armed-group activities, Agus said resolving the Papua conflict could not rely solely on the military and required cooperation among multiple parties.
"As I said from the beginning, resolving the Papua issue requires collaboration, not just the TNI. If it is only the TNI, there will be violence," he said.
Agus said the military was also conducting extensive territorial operations through various activities to support the needs of people in Papua.
Those efforts include building churches, providing bore wells for clean water, repairing schools, delivering healthcare, and deploying soldiers to teach in remote areas.
"So we go there to help accelerate development and improve the welfare of the people there, to speed up development," Agus said.
Agus said security and development approaches must be pursued collaboratively so that efforts to address Papua's problems are not viewed solely through a military lens.
Earlier, OPM Kodap III Ndugama-Derakma leader Egianus Kogoya and operations commander Major Belia Kogeya protested the TNI's use of Super Tucano aircraft in military operations in Nduga, Highland Papua.
Both rebel figures voiced objections to the use of heavy weaponry and aerial strikes during ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the area.
The separatist group claimed airstrikes and heavy fire wounded six members, alleging military operations targeted coordinates near their Nduga headquarters.
Related news: TNI reports four OPM members killed in Central Papua clash
Related news: TNI hunts OPM suspects after Papua driver killed
Related news: TNI orders air evacuation for OPM victim's widow in Papua
"The OPM (Free Papua Movement) is separatist, so it must be defeated. There can be no separatists in our country," Agus told reporters in Jakarta on Sunday.
Asked about public concerns over armed-group activities, Agus said resolving the Papua conflict could not rely solely on the military and required cooperation among multiple parties.
"As I said from the beginning, resolving the Papua issue requires collaboration, not just the TNI. If it is only the TNI, there will be violence," he said.
Agus said the military was also conducting extensive territorial operations through various activities to support the needs of people in Papua.
Those efforts include building churches, providing bore wells for clean water, repairing schools, delivering healthcare, and deploying soldiers to teach in remote areas.
"So we go there to help accelerate development and improve the welfare of the people there, to speed up development," Agus said.
Agus said security and development approaches must be pursued collaboratively so that efforts to address Papua's problems are not viewed solely through a military lens.
Earlier, OPM Kodap III Ndugama-Derakma leader Egianus Kogoya and operations commander Major Belia Kogeya protested the TNI's use of Super Tucano aircraft in military operations in Nduga, Highland Papua.
Both rebel figures voiced objections to the use of heavy weaponry and aerial strikes during ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the area.
The separatist group claimed airstrikes and heavy fire wounded six members, alleging military operations targeted coordinates near their Nduga headquarters.
Related news: TNI reports four OPM members killed in Central Papua clash
Related news: TNI hunts OPM suspects after Papua driver killed
Related news: TNI orders air evacuation for OPM victim's widow in Papua
Translator: Devi NSR, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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2) Solomon Islands PM Raises West Papua Issue at UN
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has raised concerns over reported human rights violations in West Papua during the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Speaking during a session on decolonisation, Wale described the people of West Papua as “our Melanesian brothers and sisters” and said reports of alleged human rights abuses had persisted for too long and should be independently verified.
Wale said Solomon Islands continued to respect Indonesia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while maintaining its friendship with the Indonesian Government and people.
He also renewed the Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ call for Indonesia to facilitate a long-awaited visit to West Papua by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
According to Wale, allowing the UN rights chief to visit West Papua would demonstrate confidence between the parties and create an opportunity for concerns about the situation to be independently assessed.
Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea’s position on West Papua has not been publicly stated during the week.
Prime Minister James Marape remains one of two Pacific Islands Forum Special Envoys responsible for engaging Indonesia on the issue. Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is the other envoy.
The Melanesian Spearhead Group has set December 31, 2026, as the deadline for the proposed visit by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
MSG leaders have indicated that Indonesia’s associate membership of the group could be reviewed at its 2027 summit if access to West Papua is not granted
He also renewed the Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ call for Indonesia to facilitate a long-awaited visit to West Papua by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
According to Wale, allowing the UN rights chief to visit West Papua would demonstrate confidence between the parties and create an opportunity for concerns about the situation to be independently assessed.
Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea’s position on West Papua has not been publicly stated during the week.
Prime Minister James Marape remains one of two Pacific Islands Forum Special Envoys responsible for engaging Indonesia on the issue. Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is the other envoy.
The Melanesian Spearhead Group has set December 31, 2026, as the deadline for the proposed visit by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
MSG leaders have indicated that Indonesia’s associate membership of the group could be reviewed at its 2027 summit if access to West Papua is not granted
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