Rescuers battle weather and conditions to find missing after storm kills six people at remote mine.
Torrential rains have forced Indonesian rescuers to suspend their efforts to find 14 missing gold miners after a landslide in the remote east of the country killed six of their colleagues.
Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The Head of the Presidential Communication Office, Hasan Nasbi, has stated that the government prioritizes a humanistic approach in addressing the ongoing conflict in Papua.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and the Coalition Government are detached from the values that Fijians hold dear, said the NGO Coalition on Human Rights in Fiji (NGOCHR).
They have expressed deep concern over the Fiji Prime Minister's ongoing engagements with Indonesia.
Antara, Jayapura – Two Indonesian police officers were fatally shot by suspected separatist rebels while riding motorcycles in Papua's Puncak Jaya Regency, authorities said on Friday.
Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) has stated that it carried out a retaliatory attack against the Indonesian Military (TNI) in Kampung Usir, Mulia District, Puncak Jaya Regency, Papua, on Thursday, May 15, 2025.
Caleb Fotheringham – West Papuans in Merauke claim the Indonesian government is stealing land to build its global "food barn" and feed its population of 280 million.
Indonesia denies this and says all transactions are lawful.
Jayapura, Indonesia – Indonesia's security forces have clashed with separatist rebels in the restive Papua region, leaving at least 18 insurgents and two police officers dead, officials and the rebels said Friday.
Pacnews – In a renewed wave of airstrikes, Indonesia has bombed several villages in Ilaga, Puncak Regency, West Papua – displacing entire communities and reigniting memories of past atrocities.
A five-year-old boy and two adults have been wounded in shootings during an Indonesian military operation in Papua's Intan Jaya regency, according to local human rights defenders.
Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) has killed 18 Papuan separatists during an operation in its easternmost region of Papua, an official said on Thursday.
The military seized dozens of munitions, including an assault rifle, bows and arrows and an unspecified homemade weapon during Wednesday's operation, TNI spokesperson Kristomei Sianturi said in a statement.
Gusty Da Costa – The Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI) has called for an immediate halt to a military operation that has reportedly affected three villages in Papua's Intan Jaya Regency.
Responding to the arrest and charges of makar (treason, subversion, rebellion) against four political activists who are members of the Federal Republic of West Papua (NFRPB) by the Sorong city police and the loss of civilian lives due to armed conflict in Intan Jaya regency, Amnesty International Indonesia Deputy Director Wirya Adiwena, said:
Human Rights Monitor says at least 13 people have been killed in West Papua in the past six months as tensions between Indigenous people and Indonesian troops increase.
Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Free Papua Movement (OPM) group has reported that one of its members, Bumi Walo Enumbi, died during a military operation conducted by the Indonesian Military (TNI) on Saturday, May 10, 2025. Sebby Sambom, a spokesperson for the OPM's armed wing TPNPB-OPM, confirmed this incident.
Julie Wark – On May 6, Deris Kogoya was riding his motorbike when he was executed by an Indonesian rocket, bazooka, or mortar attack from a helicopter near Kelanungin village, Puncak Jaya regency, West Papua. The mangled human remains in the photo had been an eighteen-year-old youth just a few hours earlier.
Prime Minister Albanese will visit Jakarta on the 14-15 May. The AWPA has written to the PM urging that he raise the human rights situation in West Papua with the Indonesian president.
People in Indonesia's Christian-majority, strife-torn Papua expressed hope that newly elected Pope Leo XIV, who visited the region twenty years ago, will pay attention to their ongoing plight and challenges.
Te Ao Maori News interviewed Octovianus Mote and Defe Wabiser at the very site where, sixty-three years ago, the New York Agreement was signed, granting Indonesia administrative control over the region.
"We strongly believe that we're not going extinct," Wabiser said.
Caleb Fotheringham – The escalation of violence in West Papua is on par with some of the most intense times of conflict over the past six decades, a human rights researcher says.
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) claims that Indonesia killed at least one civilian and severely injuring another on last Tuesday in Puncak Regency.
Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Indonesian military (TNI) conducted a raid on the Free Papua Movement (OPM) group, who were fugitives in Kampung Kalome, Ilamobrawi, Puncak Jaya Regency, Papua, on Saturday, May 10, 2025. During the raid, one OPM member, Nekison aka Bumi Walo Enumbi, was declared dead.
Ali Mirin – On April 24, 2025, Indonesia made a masterful geopolitical move. Jakarta granted Fiji US$6 million in financial aid and offered to cooperate with them on military training – a seemingly benign act of diplomacy that conceals a darker purpose.
Indonesia, West Papua – The Sumuri Indigenous community, comprising 19 clans in the Teluk Bintuni Regency, has issued a resolute rejection of the proposed expansion of palm oil plantations by PT. Borneo Subur Prima and PT. Farita Maju Utama.
Indonesia, West Papua – This 9-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 January to 31 March 2025.
Human rights
Indonesia, West Papua – On 11 April 2025, farmers in Biha Village, Makimi District, Nabire Regency, Papua Tengah Province, raised urgent complaints concerning severe environmental degradation caused by gold mining activities operated by PT Kristalin.
Indonesia, West Papua – On 14 and 15 April 2025, ethnic horizontal violence reportedly erupted in the Dogiyai Regency, Papua Tengah Province, leading to the death of one non-Papuan close to the Moanemani Terminal. The incidents sparked widespread unrest, prompting the security forces to deploy additional personnel to the region.
Indonesia, West Papua – On 7 April 2025, Papuan students and solidarity organisations held coordinated protests in major cities across Indonesia, such as Bandung, Bali, Lombok, Jember, Malang, Jayapura, Nabire, and Manokwari, marking the 58th anniversary of PT Freeport Indonesia's operations in the Papua Tengah Province.
Indonesia, West Papua – On 6 May 2025, an attack involving heavy weapons occurred near the Kelanungin Village, Gome District, Puncak Regency, Papua Tengah Proivince, resulting in the death of an 18-year-old civilian, Mr Deris Kogoya, and serious injuries to a 21-year-old Mr Jemi Alom.
West Papua – After operations against the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) intensified in January and February 2025, Indonesian security forces have continued to carry out raids in the regencies, Puncak, Yahukimo, Intan Jaya, Pegunungan Bintang, and Nduga while increasing their presence in conflict-affected areas across the central highlands in April 2025.
West Papua – On 19 April 2025, Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) members reportedly executed an unarmed indigenous Papuan named Mr Yulli Kalakmabin, 28, in Wanbakon Village, Serambakon District, Pegunungan Bintang Regency.
Indonesia, West Papua – On 10 April 2025, members of the Student Executive Board of the University of Papua (BEM UNIPA), supported by Papuan students and civil society, conducted a peaceful protest against the revision of the Military Law and the expansion of the National Strategic Projects (PSN) in Manokwari, Papua Barat Province.
West Papua – On 16 April 2025, members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), police officers, and civilians reportedly ill-treated 19-year-old Damianus Goo, a resident of Tigi Barat District, Deiyai Regency, in Dogiyai Regency, Papua Tengah Province.
Jayapura – The Mataram Papua Student Association (IMAPA), the Lombok city committee of the Papua Student Alliance (AMP), the Mataram branch of the Revolutionary Youth Front (FMR) and the Indonesian People's Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) held a free speech forum in Mataram, Lombok Island, to commemorate Indonesia's annexation of Papua on May 1, 1963.
Deni Tonjau, Wamena – Hundreds of high school students from the Papuan Highlands High School and University Student Alliance held a peaceful demonstration at the Papua governor's office on Friday May 2 to mark National Education Day (Hardiknas).
Jayapura – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) has declared that the annexation of Papua 62 years ago on May 1, 1963, is the day Indonesia colonised the Papuan people. The day when Papua was forced to become part of Indonesia which has been a disaster to this day.
Sainimili Magimagi – Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has indicated that Fiji will not interfere in the matter of Indonesian Sovereignty regarding West Papua.
Rabuka recently made an official visit to Indonesia which sparked debate with activists of the Free West Papua Movement.
Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB OPM) of the XVI Yahukimo Defense Command has declared war against the Indonesian militia. They believe that the Indonesian military has been carrying out an illegal occupation in the land of Papua.
Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Indonesia's national human rights commission has found a slew of legal and rights violations in a government-backed project to establish large-scale plantations in the eastern region of Papua.
Dani Aswara, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) claimed responsibility for the recent attack against Indonesian military (TNI) and the Chairperson of the Papua National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), Fritz Ramandey.
Paulus Pulo, Sorong – The police have named four people suspects on charges of alleged makar (treason, subversion, rebellion) who have admitted to be leading members of the Federal Republic of West Papua (NRFPB) after they visited a number of government offices and police stations in Sorong City, Southwest Papua province.
Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Indonesian government provided a grant of US$6 million, approximately Rp100 billion, to the government of Fiji in April 2025. Agus Pambagio, a public policy observer from the PH&H Public Policy Interest Group, assessed that this grant was likely President Prabowo's effort to seek diplomatic support from Fiji regarding the Papua issue.
Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army – Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) has alleged that Indonesian military forces recently carried out an airstrike involving bomb drops. The incident reportedly took place on Friday, April 25, 2025, in Puncak Regency, Papua.
Putrajaya – Malaysia and Indonesia intend to explore the potential for developing large-scale plantations in Central Kalimantan and South Papua.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) said the matter was discussed during a recent meeting between its minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, and his Indonesian counterpart, Dr Andi Amran Sulaiman.
Marchio Gorbiano and Sara Hussein, Jakarta and Bangkok – Keen to end its reliance on rice imports, Indonesia wants to plant vast tracts of the crop, along with sugar cane for biofuel, in the restive eastern region.
But environmentalists warn it could become the world's largest deforestation project, threatening endangered species and Jakarta's climate commitments.
Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Theo Hesegem, director of the Papua Justice and Human Integrity Foundation, has called on the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) to provide evidence supporting its claim of a connection between Indonesian military agents and gold miners in Yahukimo, Papua.
Jayapura – Papua Justice and Human Integrity Foundation (YKKMP) Director Theo Hesegem has acknowledged the increasing number of victims of human rights violations in Papua over the past few years.
Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – The commander of the West Papua Army, Mathias L. Wenda, passed away on April 12, 2025, as confirmed by the spokesperson of the West Papua National Liberation Army – Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM), Sebby Sambom.
Indonesia, West Papua – The independent media outlet Suara Papua has received information about another case of torture and extrajudicial execution in the Yuguru village, Mebarok District, Nduga Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province.
Indonesia, West Papua – On the night of 13 March 2025, military personnel reportedly tortured three indigenous Papuans in the Puncak Jaya Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province.
Zacharias Wuragil, Jakarta – The joint Cartenz Peace Operation Team together with the Police Medical Team and the Police CVI have identified eleven bodies of victims of the killings of the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM). The eleven bodies were officially handed over to their families on Monday, April 14, 2025.
Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – The Indonesian National Army (TNI) has dismissed the allegations made by the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) regarding the involvement of children in espionage operations in Papua.