On 23 May 2026, members of the Kamuyen indigenous community reportedly maintained a peaceful blockade (pemalangan salib) against the construction of a 135-kilometre road project crossing their customary land in Nakias Village, Ngguti District, Merauke Regency, South Papua Province. According to reports, approximately 10 members of the Indonesian Army (TNI AD) attended the site and questioned community members about the blockade, raising concerns over the involvement of military personnel in a civil land dispute.
According to information received by LBH Papua Merauke, which represents the Kamuyen indigenous community, the community first erected a cross blockade on 8 October 2025 to prohibit activities on the disputed customary land. The organisation alleges that the cross was subsequently removed without consultation and that land-clearing activities continued. During the incident on 23 May 2026, community members reportedly informed the soldiers that they rejected both the company operating on their customary land and the National Strategic Project (PSN) associated with the road development. Earlier reports also alleged that company representatives sought to remove the blockade despite the community's continued opposition.
LBH Papua Merauke further stated that the disputed road project remains the subject of ongoing legal proceedings and that the Jayapura Administrative High Court (PTUN Jayapura) had ordered that no activities should take place on the disputed land until a final judgment has been issued. Nevertheless, according to the reports received, activities associated with the project have continued.
The case raises concerns regarding the protection of Indigenous Peoples' customary land rights, the right to peaceful protest, and the reported involvement of military personnel in a civilian land dispute. Relevant international standards include ICCPR Articles 21 and 27, ICESCR Article 1, and UNDRIP Articles 26 and 32, which recognise Indigenous Peoples' rights to their traditional lands and require their free, prior and informed consent before development projects affecting those lands are undertaken.
Detailed case data
Document ID: HRM-CAS-097-2026
Region: Indonesia > South Papua > Merauke > Ngguti
Total number of victims: dozens
1. Dozens , diverse unknown Indigenous Peoples cultural rights
Period of incident: 23/05/2026-23/05/2026
Perpetrator: Republic Indonesia > Government
Issues: business, human rights and FPIC