Indonesia, West Papua – In the early hours of 16 October 2024, unidentified assailants launched a Molotov cocktail attack on the editorial office of Jubi, an independent media outlet in Jayapura City, Papua Province. The arson attack caused material damage but no casualties.
Investigations led to the identification of two suspects – Sergeant First Class Devrat and Private Arga Wisnu Tribaskara, both members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI). However, the case has become mired in institutional conflict between the Papua Regional Police (Polda Papua) and the XVII/Cenderawasih Military Command (Kodam XVII/Cenderawasih), with each agency presenting contradictory conclusions. On 17 May 2025, the Papuan House of Representatives (DPR Papua) announced it would escalate the matter to the TNI Headquarters (Mabes TNI) and the Indonesian National Police Headquarters (Mabes Polri) in Jakarta.
Legal developments and institutional tensions
Shortly after the attack, Polda Papua launched an investigation, collecting CCTV footage, forensic evidence, and testimonies from nine witnesses, which pointed to the involvement of military personnel. According to Jubi's legal counsel, this evidence was deemed sufficient under Article 184 of the Indonesian Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) and led to the case being transferred to the Cenderawasih Military Police for military judicial proceedings.
However, the TNI investigators rejected the case, citing inconsistent witness statements and insufficient evidence, and returned the case file to the police. This back-and-forth has obstructed legal progress and prompted DPR Papua's Commission I, responsible for security and human rights, to intervene. A hearing on 16 May 2025 failed to resolve the impasse, leading Third Deputy Speaker Supriadi Laling to announce the DPR Papua's plan to involve the national-level military and police authorities.
Meanwhile, the Coalition for Justice and Safety of Journalists in Papua, along with Jubi's legal team, called for the formation of a special parliamentary committee (Pansus) to oversee the case. They also highlighted serious concerns about witness intimidation, including bribery attempts and threats, which forced at least one key witness to flee Jayapura.
Human rights and press freedom concerns
The attack on Jubi is emblematic of a broader and deeply concerning trend of impunity for violence against journalists in Indonesia, particularly in West Papua. According to data from the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), the TNI and Polri were the top perpetrators of media-targeted violence in 2024, with 11 and 19 recorded incidents, respectively. Most cases remain unresolved, contributing to a climate of fear and censorship.
Human rights observers and journalists have criticised the lack of state accountability and the military's unwillingness to prosecute its personnel, describing the institutional responses as symbolic and ineffective. They warn that the repetitive nature of these attacks, combined with the state's silence or dismissive rhetoric, points to a systemic failure to uphold press freedom and the rule of law.
The attack's proximity to multiple security installations, including a TNI post, Papua Police Headquarters, and Regional Police Station, raises troubling questions about state complicity or deliberate inaction. The fact that the suspects are known to witnesses and have been previously identified undermines the military's claim of "insufficient evidence."
The Indonesian state bears legal and moral responsibility under domestic and international law to guarantee freedom of the press and ensure protection against arbitrary violence, especially by state actors. Key legal instruments include Law No. 40/1999 on the Press, Law No. 39/1999 on Human Rights, Article 28F of the 1945 Constitution, and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
The apparent impunity surrounding the Jubi case constitutes a violation of these obligations and sets a dangerous precedent. Moreover, the failure to harmonise criminal procedures between civilian and military justice systems reveals a legal vacuum that enables impunity. The military's ability to investigate its personnel without oversight or transparency contradicts the principles of fair trial and accountability. The attack on Jubi is not an isolated incident but part of a wider pattern of systemic repression in West Papua. The failure to hold perpetrators accountable not only endangers media workers but also erodes democratic principles and public trust in the institutions tasked with protecting them