Tempo.co, Jakarta – Twenty-two Indonesian civil society organizations have sent a letter to European Union Commissioners to express their concerns over the worsening condition of Papua's rainforests. The region faces the threat of the deforestation of 2 million hectares of forest, alongside increasing risks to the Indigenous Malind and Yei communities.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 14 February 2025, members of the Indonesian National Army (TNI) arbitrarily detained and tortured Mr Abner Karet, 23, in Sorong City, Papua Barat Daya Province. The incident arose from a personal dispute between a TNI member and residents but escalated as around 40 TNI personnel arrived at the scene.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 27 February 2025, members of the Indonesian National Army (TNI) arbitrarily arrested Mr Goliath Sani, 19, and a friend following an armed clash between the military and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in the Mamba Village, Sugapa District, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua Tengah Province, at around 04:30 pm.

Teuila Fuatai – For more than 60 years, the Indigenous people of West Papua have sought independence from Indonesia. It's estimated that more than 500,000 civilians have been killed in the struggle, while thousands more have fled the region.

Ali Mirin – Last week, on 26 February 2025, President Prabowo Subianto officially launched Indonesia's first bullion banks, marking a significant shift in the country's approach to gold and precious metal management.

Indonesia is now waking up to what I said after Prabowo Subianto was elected last year: that the ghost of Suharto has returned. The New Order dictatorship was buried twenty-five years ago, but under Prabowo's rule it is being reborn.

Intan Setiawanty, Jakarta – The Cartenz Peace Operation is pursuing six inmates who escaped from the Class IIB Wamena Penitentiary on Tuesday, February 25, 2025.

Novan, Jakarta – The Constitutional Court has told the General Elections Commission (KPU) to hold a revote in Papua after disqualifying deputy governor candidate Yermias Bisai.

Presiding Judge Suhartoyo confirmed this while reading the ruling on a regional election dispute case filed by rival candidate-pair Mathius Fakhiri and Aryoko Alberto Ferdinand Rumaropen.

Indonesia, West Papua – The Indonesian government's 'Free Nutritious Food' Project (Makanan Bergizi Gratis, MBG), spearheaded by President Prabowo Subianto, has reached West Papua. The program aims to reach 2 million pupils nationwide, with a large-scale rollout scheduled for 17 February 2025.

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Indonesia – More than 1,000 students in Indonesia's restive Papua region took to the streets to protest a government-sponsored free-meal program, demanding that the government instead prioritize free education.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The rollout of the government's free nutritious meal program in Papua has triggered student protests, with demonstrators demanding better access to education in the region.

Executive Summary

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Papua Police Chief Inspector General Patrige Renwarin stated that Aske Mabel was involved in several attacks since fleeing the police force with four organic firearms from the Yalimo Police Resort, Papua Highlands, in mid-2024. Patrige stated that Aske was at least involved in 10 attacks and killed six people.

Jayapura – Student Executive Boards (BEM) from a number of campuses in Jayapura, including the Jayapura University of Science and Technology (USTJ), the Cenderawasih University (Uncen) and the Papua Muhammadiyah University, held a "Dark Indonesia" demonstration on the grounds of the USTJ campus in Abepura, Jayapura city, Papua province on Thursday February 20.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Head of the Public Relations of the Papua Regional Police, Sr. Comr. Ignatius Benny Ady, denied claims that officers fired gunshots during a protest against the free nutritious meal program in Wamena, Papua Highlands on Monday, August 17, 2025. Benny also denied allegations of excessive force used by the police.

Rizki Dewi Ayu, Jakarta – Thousands of students in Wamena, Jayawijaya Regency, PapuaHighlands Province, staged a protest against the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program on Monday, February 17. The demonstration was attended by junior high school (SMP), senior high school (SMA), and university students.

Intan Setiawanty, Jakarta – The Indonesian Educational Monitoring Network (JPPI) has condemned the repressive actions by the police against students who held demonstrations rejecting the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program in Jayapura and Wamena, Papua. The peaceful demonstration was forcibly dispersed by the authorities, who were allegedly using physical violence and tear gas.

Responding to the excessive actions by the police and the state civil servants (ASN) against protests by high school students rejecting the government's free nutritious meals (MBG) program in a number of cities in Papua, Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid, said:

Jayapura – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organisation or TPNPB-OPM has announced that all schools in Papua, especially in armed conflict areas, should go on strike for as long as the Indonesian Military (TNI) and Indonesian Police (Polri) use them as military posts.

Jayapura – Today, on Monday February 17, students who are members of the West Papua High School Students Solidarity Front (FSPWP) held peaceful demonstrations against the government's free nutritious meals (MBG) program in a number of cities in the land of Papua.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Presidential Communication Office Head Hasan Nasbi responded to the protest against the free nutritious meal program in Papua. According to him, every individual has the right to reject the program and refuse to enjoy nutritious food.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 8 February 2025, five Papuan students were arbitrarily arrested without an arrest warrant by plainclothes officers in Jayapura. The students were identified as Mr Frengky Anouw, Mr Nataniel Pigai, Mr Fransiskus Petege, Mr Esau Kogoya, and Mr Yosua Mote.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 12 February 2025, students from the Puncak Regency, along with an investigative team probing the murder and mutilation of Tarina Murib, attempted to hold a peaceful demonstration at the local parliament Office in Nabire, Papua Tengah Province.

Indonesia, West Papua – The Papua representative office of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has urged the Manokwari Municipal Police (Polresta) to arrest OU immediately, the alleged perpetrator responsible for the shooting of senior advocate and human rights defender Yan Christian Warinussy with an airrifle.

Indonesia, West Papua – Komnas HAM has condemned the use of public facilities such as schools, district offices, and churches as security posts by the Indonesian military (TNI) and police in West Papua, stating that it constitutes a human rights violation.

West Papua – On 26 January 2025, human rights activist Mrs. Tineke Rumkabu attended a worship service at the GIDI Church outpost in Biak, Papua, Indonesia. After the service, around 12:20 pm while she and other church members gathered in the compound, joint security force members arrived and began questioning Mrs Rumkabu about alleged activities related to the Free Papua movement.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 29 January 2025, a student named Herlis Pakaimu died after reportedly being tortured and shot by military members in the town of Kepi, Mappi Regency, Papua Selatan Province. Two other Papuans, Mr Steven Agawemu and Mr Santos Agawemu, were allegedly tortured by the same military personnel.

Jakarta – Thousands of Christians in Papua recently set a national record for having the largest number of people to handwrite the entirety of the Bible.

Jayapura – The Bintang Highlands High School and University Student Association (IMPPETANG) together with the Bintang Highlands community held a peaceful demonstration calling for the TNI (Indonesian Military) and Polri (Indonesian Police) to be withdrawn from Bintang Highlands regency.

Aida Ulim, Jayapura – The Journalist Justice and Safety Advocacy Coalition (KAKKJ) in Papua held another peaceful action on Monday February 10 in which they urged the Cenderawasih Regional Military Command (Kodam) Military Police Detachment (Denpomdam) to revealed the perpetrators of the Molotov bomb attack on the Jubi editorial office last year.

To mark the 30th anniversary of Christine Anu's version of the iconic hit, My Island Home, Australian world music star Mitch Tambo and his wife Voice of Lele have released a duet and their take on the classic.

Indonesia, West Papua – Prominent Papuan human rights activist Yones Douw died on Sunday, 2 February 2025 at his home in Karang Timur, Kali Harapan Village, Nabire District, Papua Tengah Province.

Jakarta – The government plans to provide pardons or amnesty for around 44 thousand prisoners. One of the categories of prisoners who will receive amnesty are political prisoners related to Papua.

Jayapura – In order to manage the armed conflict that has plagued the Indonesian region of West Papua for decades, the Indonesian government, led by the new President Prabowo Subianto, is considering an amnesty for the independence rebels in Papua.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, Arifah Fauzi, responded to the rejection by students in the Papua Highlands region who refused the government's provision of free nutritious meals (MBG) program. According to her, the students may not yet understand President Prabowo Subianto's good intentions in implementing the MBG.

Elisa Sekenyap, Jayapura – The Papua People's Council (MRP) says that the people of Central Papua have openly complained about and reject the free nutritious meals (MBG) program launched by the central government.

This was conveyed by the Central Papua province MRP based on complaints and the direct opposition by the community.

European Union, Indonesia, West Papua – In 2020, the European Commission launched the European Green Deal, an ambitious policy framework targeting climate neutrality across the European Union (EU) by 2050. Central to this initiative is the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), a policy designed to ensure that products entering the EU market are deforestation-free.

Kurt Bayer – In February 2023, New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens was kidnapped by armed rebels in Indonesia's volatile Papua region. He would spend 594 days in captivity before he was finally released, after a fraught, behind-closed-doors diplomatic effort.

Caleb Fotheringham – The international advocacy group, Human Rights watch, has put out a plea to Indonesia's President to stop human rights abuses in West Papua.

President Prabowo Subianto has just completed 100 days in the job.

Meenakshi Ganguly – The Indonesian administration of President Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo is sending mixed signals about a proposed amnesty to tens of thousands of Papuans convicted or facing charges for allegedly backing the armed secessionist movement in West Papua.

Budi Hernawan, Indonesia – Civicus speaks to Budi Hernawan, human rights defender and senior lecturer at Driyarkara School of Philosophy in Jakarta.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has been alerted to the risk that copper produced at the Grasberg Mine, West Papua, Indonesia, and used in copper products traded on the London Metal Exchange, could constitute "criminal property" under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Larius Kogoya, Jayapura – The Indonesian government still has outstanding issues of resolving cases of human rights (HAM) including in the land of Papua. The practice of impunity or legal immunity for the perpetrators has made finding a solution drag on further.

Victor Mambor and Tria Dianti, Jayapura, Indonesia, and Jakarta – The Indonesian government's proposal to grant amnesty to pro-independence rebels in Papua has stirred skepticism as the administration of new President Prabowo Subianto seeks to deal with the country's most protracted armed conflict.

A West Papuan advocacy group is calling for an urgent international inquiry into allegations that Indonesian security forces have used the chemical weapon white phosphorus against West Papuans for a second time.

The allegations were made in the new documentary, Frontier War, by Paradise Broadcasting.

Indonesia, West Papua – This 6-page document lists cases and developments, including human rights violations and their patterns; escalation of armed conflict and its impact on civilians; significant political shifts in Indonesia affecting West Papua; and international responses and initiatives. It covers the period from 1 October to 31 December 2024.

Human rights

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Head of Information at the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), Major General Hariyanto, said the government's plan to pardon prisoners linked to the Free Papua Movement (OPM) will not disrupt the security in Papua.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto will only grant amnesty to inmates who have not been involved in armed insurgency for now, despite calls otherwise, according to Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas.

Larius Kogoya, Jayapura – The Papuan people have continuously been victims of the militaristic practices carried out by the Indonesian government since 1963.

Presented by Bill Birtles – Indonesia's President is considering an amnesty for detained political activists in the country's far eastern Papua region. The area's armed pro-independence movement regularly clashes with Indonesian security forces. Activists are cautious about the olive branch.