Publications

The longstanding conflict between the family of the late Moses Yewen and the military presence in Fef district, Tambrauw Regency, Southwest Papua (Papua Barat Daya) Province has moved towards resolution. This follows a series of meetings and protests that highlighted the community’s grievances and demands. Mr Moses Yewen was tortured by military members on 9 April 2021 and died a month later. His relatives claim his death was a consequence of the torture he experienced.

The recent slogan “All Eyes on Papua” emerged in response to the viral “All Eyes on Rafah” campaign on Instagram. Indigenous communities and the youth in Papua hope that this movement will foster real solidarity with Papuan issues.

The case concerning the deadly shooting of Yulianus Tebai, a member of the Dogiyai Regency’s Pamong Praja Police Unit (Sat Pol PP) in Central Papua Province (Papua Tengah), has progressed to the witness examination phase at the Nabire District Court. Yulianus Tebai was shot on 21 January 2023 by a subordinate of Samuel D. Tatiratu, the Police Chief of Dogiyai.

The arrest of Peni Petrus Pekei, also known as Petrus Pekei, by the Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force Cartenz and the Dogiyai Police on 17 May 2024, has sparked controversy in Paniai, Central Papua. Pekei, allegedly the General Operations Commander for the TPNPB-OPM (West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organisation) in the Dokoge-Paniai region, was arrested near Paniai.

Residents of Sugapa district in Intan Jaya Regency, Papua Tengah Province, are demanding the removal of military and police posts from their communities due to the dangers they pose to civilians caught in the crossfire of armed conflict.

On 1 May, eight civil society organisations forming the Papuan People’s Front (FRP) indeed held a peaceful demonstration in Manokwari. The demonstration commemorated the 61st anniversary of Papua’s annexation into Indonesia

On 1 May 2024, a demonstration was held by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) in Jayapura, Papua Province, Indonesia. The demonstration commemorated the annexation of West Papua by Indonesia in May 1963, which ULMWP considers illegal.

The Awyu tribe in Papua is continuing their fight against an oil palm plantation on their customary land. In February 2024, they appealed a court decision that rejected their lawsuit against the environmental permit issued to PT Indo Asiana Lestari (PT IAL).

Hope has emerged after the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) ordered the release of a New Zealand pilot held captive for a year. Phillip Mehrtens was kidnapped in February 2023 by a TPNPB faction led by Egianus Kogoya, sparking international concern and highlighting the ongoing conflict in the region.

On the 11th of January, an important gathering took place at the Intipura Complex in Sorong Regency, West Papua. The event was themed “Face-to-Face Meeting of the West Papua Police Chief with the Maybrat Refugee Community in Sorong Regency,” aimed at addressing the concerns of the Maybrat refugee community