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 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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Paul Gregoire – West Papuan provisional government president Benny Wenda has called on Pacific leaders to condemn the ongoing occupation of his peoples' country by Indonesia, as Jakarta, the so-called administrator of the region, has again been carrying out aerial and land raids upon villages in the West Papuan highlands, specifically in Puncak Regency, commencing on 31 January 2026

During the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council, in Geneva, Switzerland, international human rights and faith-based organizations will convene a side event on 4 March, titled Human Rights in Indonesia – The Right to a Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Indigenous communities in Indonesia's easternmost region of Papua accuse the government of underhanded zoning changes to expand the so-called food estate program there to include large-scale oil palm plantations.

A world premiere of a new documentary revealing the devastation of rainforest in the southeastern part of West Papua is one of two films being screened in Auckland next month.

Reiner Brabar, Jayapura – The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) says that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Indonesian government and Freeport McMoRan Inc to extend its mining contract until 2061, which was signed in the US on Wednesday February 18, has the potential to prolong the ecological crisis and suffering for indigenous peoples.

Bhima Yudhistira Adhinegara and Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat – Indonesia and the US mining giant Freeport-McMoRan have struck an agreement extending the operating rights of the vast copper and gold complex in Papua for the life of its reserves.

Church organizations, along with civil society groups, have urged the Indonesian government to halt its militaristic approach in the Papua region and its food and palm oil projects that are fueling conflict with indigenous people.

The call comes amid the ongoing violent conflict in the predominantly Christian region.

Jayapura – An Action Plan Workshop titled "Retracing the Footsteps of the Papuan Civil Society Movement", which was attended by non-government organisation (NGO) members from various regions in the land of Papua, has agreed to form the Civil Society Transformation Coalition in the Land of Papua, abbreviated as "KO MASI" in the land of Papua.

A West Papuan leader has accused the Indonesian government of lying over its operations and "masking" the military role of some civilian aircraft.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – The American mining company, Freeport-McMoRan, has announced an agreement with the Indonesian Government to extend the operating rights of PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) in Papua until 2041. The agreement is outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding that governs the continuation of operations in the Grasberg Mineral District.

On 18 February 2026, members of the Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force (Papua Regional Police Mobile Brigade) and the Habema Operation Task Force (Indonesian National Armed Forces – Marines) arbitrarily detained four Papuan girls at Kilometer 5, Dekai City, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province.

Jayapura, Jubi – Papua Solidarity House has expressed its position on the security situation in the land of Papua in recent weeks, which has been marked by a number of cases of violence.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – Indonesia has tightened security at several strategic sites in its easternmost region of Papua following a series of shooting incidents targeting an aircraft and personnel near a major mining operation, a senior minister said on Tuesday.

On 14 February 2026, a joint team of Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and Yahukimo District Police (Polres Yahukimo) officers arbitrarily detained seventeen-year-old Elipianus Esema and Atios Sobolim,18, in the town of Dekai, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands Province. The arrests occurred in the vicinity of Block B shop houses following a fire incident earlier that evening.

On 10 February 2026, members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI AD) reportedly tortured Mr Kristo Gonus Okui Kaize, an indigenous Papuan of the Malind Maklew tribe at the National Strategic Project (PSN) site in Wanam, Ilwayab District, Merauke Regency, South Papua Province. Mr Kaize was employed as labourer at the PSN Wanam Project.