Indonesia, West Papua – On 30 March 2025, Indonesian military forces reportedly shot dead Mr Okto Zanambani, an indigenous resident of Janamba village, during an intensified counterinsurgency campaign in the districts of Hitadipa and Sugapa, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua Tengah Province. According to reports by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), the operation, part of a broader offensive targeting TPNPB forces. According to local informants, Mr Zanambani was not affiliated with any armed group.
The killing took place amid a series of coordinated ground and air assaults by the Indonesian military, including aerial bombings in six locations across the two districts. Mr Zanambani was reportedly doing timber works near the Villages Eknemba as military infantry forces opened fire at him. Relatives began searching for the body after the raids had been seized. They discovered the body on 3 April 2025 and cremated the remains at his home in Janamba Village. The attack occurred in the context of ongoing clashes between TPNPB forces and Indonesian troops, particularly around military posts in Titigi. At the same time, intense bombardment led to the destruction of civilian houses, causing widespread fear and mass displacement.
The incident is emblematic of a broader pattern of extrajudicial killings and indiscriminate military operations in the Papuan central highlands. Similar to other reported cases, the death of Mr Okto Zanambani highlights the grave risks civilians face during counterinsurgency raids, which are often carried out without distinction between combatants and non-combatants. The continued use of airstrikes, village raids, and collective punishment reflects systemic impunity and a disregard for international humanitarian and human rights law. Such actions further exacerbate the cycle of violence and deepen the mistrust between indigenous Papuans and Indonesian state institutions.