Caleb Fotheringham – The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) claims more than a dozen civilians have been killed in the Papuan highlands, including three men who were allegedly tortured and a woman who was allegedly raped.
However, the Indonesian government has dismissed the accusations "baseless".
On 20 October 2025, security forces opened fire at Moanemani Market, Kamu District, Dogiyai Regency, around 11:00 am. Three people were reportedly injured during the shooting. Later that day, security forces raided the Mauwa Village around 11:36 pm, resulting in the death of Mr Keni Dumupa, with one additional person arrested.
On 3 October 2025, Indonesian military personnel reportedly detained Mr Agustinus Tipagau, 22, in Timika City, at around 11:00 am (see photo on top, source: independent HRD).
On 15 October 2025, police personnel disrupted a student-led, anti-militarisation protest at the Abepura Roundabout in Jayapura City, Papua Province. At least five protesters were arbitrarily detained for over 24 hours before being released without charges, after authorities reportedly found no legal violations.
Preliminary field reports allege that Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) units raided the Soanggama Village, Hitadipa District, Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua, on 15 October 2025 before dawn. According to media reports and local informants, military members conducted house-to-house searches and opened indiscriminate fire, resulting in 15 fatalities.
Jakarta – The Indonesian Military said it killed 14 Papuan fighters during an operation to free a village from the control of separatists this week and residents had welcomed its troops.
The Indonesian government's ambitious National Strategic Project (PSN) in Merauke has entered a critical phase marked by escalating conflict between indigenous landowners and corporations backed by state authority, with customary land seizures now accompanied by police criminalization of community members resisting plantation development on their ancestral territories.
Basten Gokkon, Jakarta – In a new report, marine activists are demanding restoration efforts from nickel miners and the Indonesian government for affected areas of Raja Ampat while also urging authorities to enforce the ban on mineral extraction in coastal and small island regions.
Silpester Kasipka, Jayapura – The Papuan Journalist Justice and Safety Advocacy Coalition (KAKKJ) held a peaceful action in front of the Jubi media editorial offices on Jalan SPG Taruna Bakti in Waena, Jayapura city, on Thursday October 16.
On 23 September 2025, police officers from the Jayapura Police arbitrarily detained thirteen members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) in the Sentani area while they were distributing leaflets to announce an upcoming peaceful demonstration marking International Farmers' Day (24 September 2025).
On 25 July 2025, members of the Indonesian National Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) reportedly intimidated indigenous residents in Sailala Village, Sayosa Timur District, Sorong Regency, through social media. The threats reportedly followed a local protest against the presence of armed security forces guarding the activities of palm oil company PT Mancaraya Agro Mandiri (MAM).
Indonesia, West Papua – Indonesia's National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) visited the Jubi Editorial Office on 15 August 2025 to inquire about developments in the ongoing investigation into a Molotov cocktail attack on the independent news agency.
Dani Aswara, Jakarta – The Central Command Headquarters of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) has formally urged President Prabowo Subianto and the House of Representatives (DPR) to take decisive action regarding the political status of Papua and the cessation of violence in the conflict zone.
On 27 August 2025, 22-year-old motorcycle taxi driver Maikel Welerubun was shot by security forces during a demonstration in Sorong City, Southwest Papua Province, protesting the transfer of four Papuan political prisoners from Sorong to Makassar.
On 30 September 2025, a peaceful demonstration organised by Solidaritas Peduli Uncen (SPU) at the Cenderawasih University (Uncen) campus gate in Perumnas 3, Waena, Jayapura, was forcibly dispersed by police. The demonstration was held to mark the 63rd anniversary of the 1962 Rome Agreement and to demand the right to self-determination for the Papuan people.
At least a dozen workers of PT Uni Raya Timber (URT) in Sorong Regency were abruptly suspended from work without notice or compensation. The Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Pos Sorong understands this practice as unilateral termination of employment in violation of Indonesian labour law.
Indonesia, West Papua – On 7 October 2025, the Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua) branch office in Sorong urged the Southwest Papua People's Assembly (MRP PBD) to take an active role in monitoring and supporting the legal process into allegations of arbitrary detention and torture committed by officers of the Sorong City Police against Papuan civilian, Mr Ortizan F.
Indonesia, West Papua – A 52-year-old man, Septinus Andreas Sesa, died after reportedly inhaling tear gas fired by police during a spontaneous protest in Manokwari. The incident occurred on 28 August 2025, near Yossudarso Road, West Manokwari District.
Samira Homerang Saunders and David Whyte, West Papua – the Indonesian-administered western half of the island also known as New Guinea – hosts much of the world's third-largest rainforest after the Amazon and Congo basins.
Pes Yanengga, Jayapura – Students from several regions in Papua have agreed to form the Papuan Customary Land Student and Youth Alliance of Concern or AMPPTAP to fight against the seizure of customary land and militarism.
On 20 August 2025, at 5:55 pm, Mr Jemi Mirip, Mr Botanus Agimbau, Mr Meinus Mirip, Mr Yupinus Weya, Mr Melianus Mirip, and Mr Seprianus Weya were arrested by Damai Cartenz Police Task Force members in the Topo Village, Uwapa District, Nabire Regency, Central Papua Province.
Indonesia, West Papua – The 54th Pacific Islands Forum, held 8-12 September 2025 in Honiara, Solomon Islands, concluded with leaders celebrating achievements on climate resilience and regional security. Similar to previous PIF communiques, Pacific leaders devoted one paragraph to West Papua in their final communique.
On 19 September 2025, at approximately 10:00 am, an incident of physical violence occurred in the courtyard of PT Inti Kebun Sejahtera, a palm oil company located in Klasof Village, Moisegen District, Sorong Regency, Southwest Papua Province.
A fatal shooting occurred in Kalimo Village, Waris District, Keerom Regency, Papua Province, on 7 September 2025, at approximately 08:00 am. The perpetrator, identified as Captain John, Commander of the Ketapang Swasembada Task Force, unlawfully executed Private Petrus Muenda, a member of Kodim 1715/Yahukimo, who was reportedly on desertion status.
Agencies, Jakarta – Miner PT Freeport Indonesia said on Sunday that all seven workers who went missing after a mud-flow disaster at Indonesia's Grasberg copper and gold mine have been confirmed dead, following the discovery of five more bodies.
Samira Homerang Saunders and David Whyte – West Papua is home to one of the world's most important rainforests – third only to the Amazon and Congo basins. It is home to a plethora of species not found anywhere else on earth and its resource-rich lands, forests and mountains have been home to the Indigenous West Papuan people for more than 50,000 years.
Indonesia, West Papua – The systematic militarisation of West Papua's highland regions since August 2025 represents an unprecedented transformation of civilian territories into military operation zones, with implications for armed conflict escalation, natural resource extraction, and population displacement.
Indonesia, West Papua – Christian Solidarity International (CSI) has called on the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to consider the threats facing the traditional economies of the people of West Papua.
Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has successfully reached an agreement with Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX), the parent company of PT Freeport Indonesia.
Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Even as UNESCO hails Raja Ampat as a global conservation model, nickel mining threatens to carve up its forests and coral reefs.
On 30 August 2025, at approximately 11:07 am, a serious incident occurred on Jalan Mayon in front of the TNI 754/ENK Kuala Kencana headquarters in the Mimika Regency, Central Papua Province. Indonesian military personnel driving a Yonif 754 vehicle were driving in the opposite direction, hitting a civilian motorcycle driven by Mr Paulinus Tabuni.
On 18 September 2025, at approximately 01:30 am, a fatal hit-and-run occurred at the Lokpon-Poumako intersection in Timika, Mimika Regency, Central Papua Province. The victim, Mr Santo Serew, 28, of Asmat origin, was struck and killed instantly by a truck transporting timber to the port of Poumako.
Jayapura – The Rome Agreement signed in Rome, the capital of Italy on 30 September, 1962 following the New York Agreement on August 15, 1962, was carried out without the involvement of a single representative of the Papuan people, even though the two agreements were related to the future of the people of West Papua.
On the night of 3 September 2025, in the alley behind the Sagita Store in Entrop, Jayapura City, Papua Province, a shooting incident occurred involving Private (Pratu) Terian Barusa, 25, a member of the Military Police of Kodam XVII/Cenderawasih, and a civilian identified as Mr Obed Manaku.
Hans Makabori, Jayapura – The Jayapura City Municipal Police (Polresta) in Papua broke up a student demonstration at the gates of the Cenderawasih University (Uncen) Jayapura campus near the Waena 3 State Housing Company (Perumnas) in Heram district, Jayapura, on Tuesday September 30.
On the morning of 16 September 2025, a racist slur allegedly directed at an Indigenous Papuan student at SMA Negeri 1 Yalimo in the town of Elelim, Yalimo Regency, Highlands Papua Province, triggered a schoolyard altercation.
Indonesia, West Papua – On 27 September 2025, military members (TNI) of the 123/Rajawali Task Force opened fire on civilians in the town of Agats, Asmat Regency, South Papua Province, following an altercation. Mr Irenius Bawataipot, 21, was fatally shot at close range, while at least four other civilians, including a minor, Erik Yakonias Amiyaram, were injured.
Antara, Jakarta – A professor from the Faculty of Public Health at the University of Indonesia (UI), Fatma Lestari, asserted that the recent landslide at the Freeport Indonesia mine was not merely a natural disaster.
Jakarta – Nickel mining threatens one of the world's most important marine biodiversity and coral hotspots in Indonesia, despite the government revoking several permits, a report warned Thursday.
Antara, Mimika, Papua – Rescue operations entered their 17th day on Thursday at Freeport Indonesia's (PTFI) Grasberg Block Cave underground mine in Mimika, Central Papua, where five workers remain trapped following a deadly mudslide incident.
Aida Ulim, Jayapura – Thousands of members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) took to the streets to hold a peaceful demonstration to commemorate National Farmers' Day (HTN) on Wednesday September 24.
Kaneta Naimatau – Indonesia has made it clear that West Papua will not feature in Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) peace and security discussions, with its Ambassador to Fiji, Dupito Simamora, firmly dismissing the issue as an 'internal matter'.
Aida Ulim, Jayapura – The Central Executive Board of the West Papua National Committee (BPP-KNPB) has stated that it opposes Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto delivering a speech tomorrow at the General Debate session at the 80th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York on Tuesday September 23.
Salman Mardira, Jakarta – The National Strategic Project – or PSN – for a sugarcane plantation in Merauke, South Papua, is suspected of violating the rights of Indigenous peoples and committing human rights (HR) violations. Commission XIII of the House of Representatives has called for the project to be temporarily suspended.
Salman Mardira, Tembagapura, Papua – Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) on Saturday has recovered two bodies from a mudslide that struck its Grasberg Block Cave mine in Tembagapura, Mimika Regency, on Sept. 8, as rescue teams continue searching for the remaining trapped workers.
Antara, Nabire – The Siriwini Bawah Bridge, which connects Nabire City with Nabire Port in Central Papua, collapsed following a magnitude 6.5 earthquake that struck the region early Friday morning.
In addition, several buildings were reported damaged, while internet networks in Nabire Regency also experienced disruptions.
Christine Rovoi, PMN – Two men have been charged in an Australian court for allegedly trafficking guns and ammunition to a group of armed rebels after they kidnapped a New Zealand pilot and held him in captivity in West Papua for almost two years.
Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Defense has responded to the alleged smuggling of firearms by Australian citizens supplied to the combatants of the Free Papua Movement-National Liberation Army (TPNPB-OPM).
Divya Karyza, Jakarta – Seven workers from major mining firm PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) remain trapped underground, one week after a landslide struck the Grasberg Block Cave (GBC) mine in Tembagapura, Mimika, Central Papua.
Dani Aswara, Jakarta – A riot broke out in Elelim, Yalimo Regency, Highland Papua, on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, causing injuries to eight people.