Reiner Brabar, Jayapura – The timber industry in Sorong regency, Southwest Papua, generates billions of rupiah in profits from merbau wood, but indigenous communities who own customary land only receive around 0.6 percent of the export value.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Indigenous rights activists have condemned the Indonesian government's decision to grant 328,000 hectares (810,505 acres) of cultivation rights for a massive rice plantation project in Papua, warning that the final land permit was issued at unusually rapid speed, compared with the years-long process typically required for large-scale plantation permits.

Endang Mulyani, Jakarta – Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka on Thursday reiterated the government's commitment to accelerating development in Papua, one of Indonesia's poorest regions, citing plans to expand healthcare, improve transport infrastructure, and widen access to education.

On 24 January 2026, Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) tortured and intimidated 20-year-old Nonis Bahabol in the Tomon 2 area of Dekai Town, Yahukimo Regency.

Jayapura – The People's Earth Heritage Foundation (Pusaka) says there are four patterns used by the government to "rob" Papua of its natural resources.

Indonesia, West Papua – The indigenous Byak community of Papua Province is facing an unprecedented crisis. State agencies, particularly the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), have launched a systematic land-grabbing campaign across the regencies of Biak Numfor, Supiori, and Waropen.

Laurens Ikinia, Jakarta – The logbook of presidential flights in Indonesia reveals an unusual pattern – from the Merdeka Palace to the Land of the Bird of Paradise.

By 2023, then President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo had set foot in Papua at least 17 times – a record in the republic's history, surpassing the total visits of all previous presidents combined.

Jakarta – Governance is in short supply in Indonesia. In the administration of Prabowo Subianto, transparency and accountability – the fundamental principles of public management – have been eroded by increasingly apparent conflicts of interest. The food estate project in South Papua is one example of this.

Indonesia, West Papua – Southwest Papua Senator Paul Finsen Mayor interrupted a Regional Representatives Council (DPD) plenary meeting in Jakarta on 14 January 2026 to deliver a pointed message from the Papuan people (see photo on top).

Twelve members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) allegedly tortured and repeatedly raped a 48-year-old Papuan woman in the Beoga District, Puncak Regency, Central Papua Province, on 13 January 2026. The incident occurred during an ongoing military operation in the Dambet Village. Local reports allege that the perpetrators are stationed at Dambet Military Post.

Indonesia, West Papua – The Indonesian government's militarised approach to conflict resolution and economic development in West Papua has reached alarming levels, triggering widespread internal displacement, human rights violations, and growing civil society resistance.

On 16 January 2026, Mr Kataw Kulua, 27, Mr Yaikunus Murib, 26, and Mr Lois Murib, 29, were arbitrarily arrested by personnel of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) near the BNPB Logistics Warehouse, Agandugume District, Puncak Regency, Central Papua Province.

Jakarta – National Strategic Projects may well become one of the worst economic development legacies from the administrations of Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto. As well as creating social and environmental problems, these projects ignore the principles of good governance and are rife with conflicts of interest.

Jacobus E. Lato – Church leaders in Indonesia's Christian-majority Papua have criticized the 'excessive military' presence in the region, calling it a flawed state policy to counter insurgency in the conflict-scarred easternmost territory.

Andrew Mathieson – Human rights violations against Indigenous West Papuans on their ancestral territory makes Indonesia's appointment to head the United Nations Human Rights Council a "mockery" of the position, according to a prominent West Papuan independence leader.

A Catholic bishop has joined rights activists and tribal leaders to oppose a government plan to expand palm oil plantations in Indonesia's Papua region, terming the move a threat to environment and indigenous communities.

Nabire, Jubi – Jubi's CEO, Victor Mambor, urged Papuan journalists to become key players in covering major issues in Papua, rather than merely being spectators while media from outside Papua dominates.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) claims to have shot down a Hercules aircraft passing through the Yahukimo region of the Highland Papua.

On 31 December 2025, Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) personnel stationed at the Aisa Military Post reportedly ill-treated an elderly man named Mr Markus Sahbuku in the Sahbuku Village, East Aifat District, Maybrat Regency, Southwest Papua Province..

Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) rescued 18 workers at gold and copper miner Freeport Indonesia that had been surrounded by armed rebels for three days at a company outpost in the insurgency-plagued Papua region, officials said on Thursday.

On 9 January 2026, Indonesian military (TNI) personnel arbitrarily detained six Indigenous Papuans in Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Highland Papua province. At least three of them were subjected to torture during interrogation. All victims are Indigenous Papuans and civilians.

Johnny Blades – Indonesia's vice-president cancelled a visit in West Papua after a shooting attack on an aircraft in the area.

Gibran Rakabuming Raka was scheduled to land in Papua's Yahukimo regency yesterday, but changed plans following reports that Papuan militants shot at a plane the day before.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – Paul Finsen Mayor, a member of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) from Southwest Papua, expressed his disapproval of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's plan to encourage oil palm plantations in Papua. Finsen stated that his opposition represents the aspirations of the indigenous Papuan people.

Indonesian military (TNI) personnel arbitrarily detained five indigenous Papuans after returning from Sunday worship at a church in Jampul Village, West Beoga District, Puncak Regency, on 4 January 2026.

On 5 May 2025, members of the Damai Cartenz Police Unit arbitrarily arrested 17-year-old Papuan high school student, Ivan Kabak, in Dekai town, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province.

Jessi Carina, Jakarta – Southwest Papua Senator Paul Finsen Mayor interrupted a Regional Representatives Council (DPD) plenary meeting in Jakarta to voice the Papuan people's opposition of the establishment of new territorial development battalions in the region.

Papuan peace advocates have called on Indonesia to initiate dialogue or peace negotiations to end 50 years of conflict.

The church and civil society groups said talks between President Prabowo Subianto and the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) were essential to a peaceful resolution of indigenous issues.

On 12 December 2025, Indonesian military forces (TNI) conducted a large-scale air and ground military operation against indigenous settlements in Woneworasosa village, Gearek District, Nduga Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province.

Between 30 November and 9 December 2025, a series of intimidation and surveillance incidents were reportedly directed against Mr Apolos Sroyer, Chair of the Biak Customary Council and Chief of the Biak Tribe, in the Biak-Supiori Regency, Papua province.

Johnny Blades – As Indonesia ascends to the presidency of the UN Human Rights Council, the country has been described by a West Papuan independence campaigner as "unfit" to hold the position.

On 6 December 2025, Jayapura Resort Police (Polres Jayapura) officers forcefully dispersed a peaceful assembly organised by the West Papua National Committee (KNPB)at the BTN Matoa Field, Sentani, Jayapura Regency.

On 8 December 2025, police officers carried out acts of intimidation and physical violence against students during a peaceful free speech rally at the P3 Uncen Atas bus stop, Jayapura City, in the Papua province.

Julie Wark – The patterns of genocide, or the various ways humans go about killing large groups of other humans and their attempted justifications for doing so, are so sadly predictable or systematised that, in the case of West Papua, if you take just a small sample, say the last three months, about 2.5% of 60-plus years of Indonesian mass slaughter and environmental destruction, th

A West Papuan advocacy group has condemned Indonesia over taking up the presidency of the United Nations Human Rights Council, saying it was "totally unfit" and the choice "makes a mockery" of the office.

Andrew Mathieson – The West Papua provincial government has stressed to Jakarta any release of forest areas for palm oil plantation expansion must obtain approval from Indigenous communities, who under new protections hold customary land rights.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – The Ministry of Agriculture has expanded its paddy field expansion program to several regencies across Papua. The initiative is no longer concentrated solely in Merauke, but now includes West Papua, Southwest Papua, the Papua Mountains, and other surrounding regions.

On 16 December 2025, Mr Ermin Dabiye, a twenty-one-year-old student from Kenyam, was reportedly killed in Kenyam District, Nduga Regency, Papua Pegunungan province, under circumstances strongly suggesting unlawful use of lethal force by Indonesian military (TNI) personnel. The body was later found far from the victim's last known location.

Laurens Ikinia, Jakarta – The island of Papua is a land of profound paradox. Beneath its ancient, cathedral-like forests and within its mineral-rich mountains lies a narrative of staggering contrast.

It is a place where immense natural wealth exists alongside some of Indonesia's most acute human development challenges.

Theology student, Mr Yoas Pigai, died following an incident involving members of the Nabire Resort Police in Nabire Town, Central Papua Province, on 28 November 2025.

On 19 December 2025, Papuan students in Makassar City, South Sulawesi province, carried out a peaceful demonstration in commemoration of the TRIKORA Military Operation, which took place on 19 December 1961.

On 13 December 2025, at around 4:00 pm, Indonesian military personnel arbitrarily arrested and ill-treated 27-year-old Papuan, Mr Nomianus Nabelau, in Enarotali Town, Paniai Regency, Central Papua Province.

Larius Kogoya, Jayapura, Jubi – Reinhart Kmur, a legal aid officer from the Papua Legal Aid Foundation, (LBH Papua), says that the formation of three new Indonesian Military (TNI) battalions in three regencies in Papua has the potential to create human rights violations.

On 7 December 2025, at approximately 10:40 am, police officers forcibly detained indigenous environmental and land-rights defender, Mr Stenly Dambujai, outside the Divine Mercy (Kerahiman Ilahi) Church in Mangga Dua, Kelapa Lima Village, Merauke Regency, South Papua province (see photos, source: LBH Merauke).

On 9 December 2025, at approximately 10:00 pm, Mr Natan Matuan and Mr Selis Pahabol were arbitrarily arrested in Jalur 3 settlement, Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan province.

On 24 November 2025, at around 07:15 pm, police officers arbitrarily detained four members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) at a coffee shop near Karang Tumaritis Market, Nabire town, Nabire Regency, Central Papua province, and subsequently detained them at the Nabire District Police Station (Polres Nabire).

On 28 November 2025, members of Brimob under Ops Damai Cartenz (Cartenz Peace Operation) arrested 21-year-old student, Mr Iron Heluka (see photo on top, source: independent HRD), in Dekai town, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan province (West Papua/Papuan provinces), and subsequently detained him at the Yahukimo Police Station.

On 28 November 2025, at approximately 2:40 pm, Nabire Police reportedly blocked a student convoy returning from a graduation celebration linked to the STAK Nabire campus. Officers reportedly used tear gas and firearms to disperse the crowd.

Indonesia, West Papua – Between November and December 2025, human rights defenders and local media covered new internal displacements in West Papua due to new security force raids and the ongoing expansion of military infrastructure in the central highlands.

Antara, Jayapura – Sporadic attacks by separatist groups across Papua have killed at least 94 people throughout 2025, according to data released by local police on Thursday.

The fatalities stemmed from 104 recorded attacks across three provinces in the Papua region, Papua Police Chief Patrige Renwarin said.

On 23 December 2025, forty-year-old Papuan civilian, Mr Agus Magayang, suffered fatal blast injuries after allegedly stepping on a victim-activated explosive device placed on a civilian path used for daily movement between gardens and homes in the Jalan Gunung area of Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan province.