On 23 March 2026, Marine Corps (TNI AL) members arbitrarily detained Yuni Suhun, 23, and Mr Eliaton Wetapo, 31, at the marines' post in the Kokamo Village, Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Highlands Papua Province. They were reportedly subjected to torture during interrogation.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – The Directorate General of Immigration has handed over three Australian nationals to the Indonesian Prosecutor's Office following an illegal entry case involving a private aircraft. The suspects, identified by their initials ZA, DTL, and the pilot JVD, will undergo the judicial process after their investigation files were declared complete (P21).

On 28 March 2026, officers of the Nabire Police Intelligence and Criminal Investigation Units intercepted a group of activists associated with the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) following a peaceful fundraising activity at Karang Tumaritis Market in Nabire Town.

Papuan Journalist Mr Mis Murib, affiliated with the Nadi Papua Media, was reportedly subjected to intimidation following the publication of an investigative report on illegal gold mining activities in the Siriwo upstream area, Nabire Regency.

Tempo, Jakarta – PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) has stated that the mining production rate following the landslide incident in the underground mining area of Grasberg Block Cave (GBC) on September 8, 2025, has reached around 40-50 percent.

On 12 March 2026, Indonesian security forces arbitrarily apprehended Mr Oksal Kobak, 28, Mr Yos Payage, 36, Mr Simion Payage, 29, Mr Menase Heluka, and Mr Oser Kobak at the Old Sentani Market in Jayapura Regency, Papua Province. The arrests were reportedly carried out without the presentation of warrants, and some individuals were subsequently designated as suspects.

Aida Ulim, Jayapura – The West Papua Independent Student Forum, along with several students in Jayapura City, Papua, staged a protest against the management of natural resources in Papua, which they say has failed to deliver justice for Indigenous communities and their future.

Aida Ulim, Jayapura – The West Papua Independent Student Forum (FIM-WP) City Leadership Committee (KPK) in Sentani has expressed its rejection of the presence of PT Freeport Indonesia, while calling for the Papuan people to be granted the right to self-determination.

On 10 March 2026, Members of the Indonesian Marine Corps arbitrarily detained indigenous gold panner, Mr Anton Payage, at the Marine Corps post on Seradala Road near the Nami River gold panning site in Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands Province. Mr Payage was apprehended while travelling to a traditional gold panning location.

Jayapura – The Papuan people's demand for PT Freeport to be closed down is considered reasonable, given the lack of involvement of customary landowners in the initial licensing process and the hidden interests of global capitalism that sacrifice the rights of the Papuan people.

Reports from West Papua say as many as four people have been shot dead in Dogiyai regency in an alleged retaliatory attack after a policeman was killed.

On 31 March and 1 April 2026, joint security forces (TNI-Polri) allegedly carried out indiscriminate shootings against civilians in the Kamu District of Dogiyai Regency, Central Papua Province. The operations were conducted in response to the killing of a police officer earlier that morning.

Jayapura, Jubi – Amnesty International Indonesia (AII), the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) and the Dogiyai High School and University Student Association (IPMADO) in Jayapura, Papua, have declared their position on the incident in Dogiyai regency, Central Papua.

On 23 March 2026, Joint security forces allegedly detained and tortured Mr Yenus Mohi,19, together with two other young men in Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Highlands Papua Province. The arrest was carried out without a warrant or legal justification.

On 29 March 2026, plain-cloth-police officers arbitrarily detained 14-year-old Yerikson Nabyal, an indigenous Papuan belonging to the Una Ukam ethnic group, in the town of Dekai, Yahukimo Regency, Highlands Papua Province. According to the information received from a local source, Yerikson was using Wi-Fi in front of a small shop (Khanza Jalur Satu kiosk) at approximately 5:00 pm.

On 28 March 2026, undercover police officers allegedly detained Mr Kenias Payage, 25, Mr Atera Payage, 20, and Mr Nerry Heluka, 21, without showing a warrant. The three papuan men were intercepted at the Sentani Airport, Jayapura Regency, Papua Province, where they wanted to board a Trigana Air flight from Jayapura to Wamena.

On 16 March 2026, sixteen-year-old Rio Keroman, and Mr Ferly Wesapla, 23, were arbitrarily detainted and subsequently tortured by Indonesian security personnel at the District Police station in Dekai (Polres Yahukimo). The arrest occurred at approximately 2:00 pm at Kali Biru, Kurima Road.

On 13 March 2025, a 30 Indonesian Air Force (TNI AURI) personnel collectively tortured Mr Bernadus Eusebius Ndawe, a member of the Kimam indigenous tribe, near the Indonesian Air Force barracks complex (Rajawali/AURI complex) in Merauke Regency, South Papua Province.

Jayapura - The Papua Student Association (IMAPA) in the Greater Jakarta area (Jakarta, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi) has called on the Supreme Audit Agency Republik Indonesia (BPK RI) to conduct an audit of budget use within the Papuan People's Assemblies (MRP) across the Land of Papua.

Indonesia, West Papua – Between January and March 2026, human rights defenders and local media covered new internal displacements in West Papua due to new security force raids and the increasing presence of military personnel in the central highlands.

Indonesia, West Papua – Christian Solidarity International (CSI) has called on the Indonesian government to grant international observers access to West Papua, warning that ongoing military operations in the region are driving a mounting humanitarian crisis.

On 23 March 2026, military personnel allegedly tortured Mr Yusup Sorry, 32, during detention following an armed clash between the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) in the Sory Village, South Aifat District, Maybrat Regency, Southwest Papua Province. Mr Sorry is a local civilian who was not participating in the hostilities.

Rabin Marselino Yarangga, Kumurkek, Southwest Papua – A suspected attack by the Free Papua Movement (OPM) killed two Indonesian soldiers in South Aifat district, Maybrat regency, on Sunday, a military official said.

An exiled leader of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has condemned Indonesia's "cruel and humiliating" arbitrary arrest of 12 West Papuan local farmers in Tambrauw Regency this week and has demanded their release.

On 17 March 2026 at approximately 10:00 am, joint security forces belonging to the Damai Cartenz Task Force arbitrarily detained 21-year-old Neri Balingga, a student at Cenderawasih University, on the Yahukimo – Pengunungan Bintang connecting road in the Nami village, Seradala District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands Province.

On 2 March 2026 at approximately 11:00 pm, joint security force personnel conducted a search operation in the Telkomsel housing complex in Duram District, Yahukimo Regency, Highlands Papua province. During the operation, officers arbitrarily detained 15-year-old Setir Wed and Mr Dinis Wed, 21, while they were escaping from the security operation.

Between 12 December 2025 and February 2026, a series of incidents of alleged shooting, vandalism, robbery, intimidation and continued harassment were reported at the home of Rev. Victor Kobak in Jalan Gunung, Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan province. Rev Kobak leads the Evanhastia congregation, belonging to the Evangelical Church in Indonesia (GIDI).

Between 1 March 2026, joint Indonesian military and police forces conducted raids in the districts Fef and Bamus Bama, Tambrauw Regency, South West Papua province. Security force personnel reportedly detained at least 12 villagers without warrants.

Jayapura – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) central management has stated that the terror attack that occurred at the KNPB central secretariat in Kampwolker, Waena, Jayapura city, Papua, was part of a widespread pattern of intimidation against activists and civil liberties.

The headquarters of the Papuan movement organisation West Papua National Committee (KNPB) in Jayapura, Papua Province, were attacked by a drone in the early hours of 16 March 2026 at approximately 04:16 am. The drone reportedly dropped an explosive device which detonated in the office courtyard whilst several KNPB members and officials were asleep inside the building.

Aida Ulim, Jayapura – The Central Board of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) says that the bomb attack on their office is part of a widespread campaign of intimidation.

The KNPB central office in Kampwolker Waena, Yabansai Village, Heram district, Jayapura City, Papua, was terrorised by an explosion suspected to be a bomb early on Monday March 16.

Joint members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and Dogiyai District Police (Polres Dogiyai) reportedly injured three indigenous Papuans in Moanemani town and Pogito Village, Kamu District, Dogyai Regency, Central Papua Province. The shootings followed forceful dispersal of a civil unrests using life ammunition.

On 18 February 2026, members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) reportedly detained twelve Papuans, consisting of civil servants and other civilians, in the Holomama area, Sugapa District, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua Tengah province.

Johnny Blades – For a country with a record of large deforestation projects, Indonesia's current activities in the far south eastern corner of the republic, South Papua province, surpass all.

On 6 March 2026, a Police officer attacked 24-year-old Mrs Ardhalina Lanuhu multiple times at the Jaya Permai housing complex, East Sorong District, Sorong City, Papua Barat province. The victim reportedly sustained eight stab wounds to her chest, arms, and legs and was admitted to Sele Be Solu Hospital in Sorong City, where she remains under intensive medical care.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – A worker at PT Freeport Indonesia was fatally shot by an unknown assailant in the open-pit mining area of Grasberg Mining, Mimika, Central Papua, on Wednesday morning, March 11, 2026. Vice President Corporate Communications of Freeport Indonesia, Katri Krisnati, stated that the incident occurred around 08:30 WIT (UTC+9) in the operational mining area.

Ali Mirin – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has increasingly presented himself on the international stage as a mediator and promoter of peace.

Yet this global diplomatic posture raises a critical question: how credible is Indonesia's claim to peace leadership while a prolonged humanitarian crisis continues in West Papua?

Armed conflict is not the only frontline for West Papuans in their struggle against Indonesian rule, according to a new film.

The documentary 'Pesta Babi (Pig Feast)' had its world premiere in Auckland at the weekend to kick off a West Papua Forum organised by the West Papuan solidarity movement in New Zealand.

West Papuan diaspora, academics, students and community activists warmly applauded the screening of the new investigative documentary, Pesta Badi (Pig Feast): Colonialism in our Time, in its pre-launch international premiere in New Zealand last night.

Khalia Strong – Indigenous communities in West Papua are losing land, food systems, and cultural heritage as armed conflict forces tens of thousands from their homes.

The Melanesian nation has faced decades of militarisation and exploitation since being annexed by Indonesia in the 1960s, following the controversial transfer of the region by the United Nations.

On 2 March 2026, members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) shot dead Mr Eanus Mom, a civilian gold miner, during a security operation conducted by near Mile 69 in the PT Freeport Indonesia mining concession area, Tembagapura District, Mimika Regency, Central Papua Province.

Igor Oneill, Jayapura – Marind Indigenous people from the south of West Papua today filed a legal challenge against a 135-kilometre access road planned to facilitate a government National Strategic Project (PSN) to convert their tropical forest, savannah and wetlands into rice paddies and commodity plantations in Merauke district.

During the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council, in Geneva, Switzerland, WCC convened a side event on 4 March, titled "Human Rights in Indonesia – The Right to a Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment."

The event was co-sponsored by Franciscans International and Forum Asia.

A new documentary film on the devastating "ecocide" happening in West Papua will be screened as a world premiere at a weekend solidarity forum in Auckland Tamaki Makaurau this weekend.

Between 21 and 23 February 2026, joint forces of the Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force conducted a series of arbitrary arrests against at dozens of civilians, including minors and students, in the Kali Biru area, Seradala Road (Kilo 4), and at the old KPU/Bawaslu office on Sohosa Road.

Silpester Kasipka, Jayapura – The Borme District Government in Pegunungan Bintang Regency, Highland Papua Province, together with church leaders from 13 villages, have declared their rejection of a plan to establish an Indonesian military (TNI) post in their area.

Aida Ulim, Jayapura – Lecturer at the Sekolah Tinggi Filsafat Driyarkara, Dr. Budi Hernawan, said that February 26, 1999, is an important milestone in modern Papuan political history that is beginning to be forgotten. At that time, the late Tom Beanal led the "Team of 100" to meet the third President of the Republic of Indonesia, B. J.

Reiner Brabar, Jayapura – The Papua Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) has issued a strong critique stating that Papua is being pushed to the brink of ecological destruction by a coalition of oligarchs, capitalism and the state, hiding behind the narrative of investment and green development.

Alberth Yomo, Jayapura – Aspirations gathered from Papuan mothers over the past two and a half years have become the foundation for the MRP (The Papuan People's Assembly) of Papuan Province, through its Women's Working Group, to push for a special regulation aimed at protecting Indigenous women.

Victor Mambor, Jayapura – Weynand Watory of the Papua Customary Council (DAP) described the late Tom Beanal as a true representative of Indigenous Papuans. Watory said Tom Beanal was shaped by strong cultural values from an early age, long before he was enriched by religion, education, and political experience.