On 26 July 2026, Indonesian military personnel reportedly entered the compound of the St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish Church in Titigi Village, Sugapa District, Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua Province, while parishioners were attending Sunday Mass. The unexpected presence of armed personnel caused fear and panic among the congregation. Many parishioners reportedly left the service because they felt unsecure as many indigenous Papuans in Intan Jaya and other conflict-affected regencies suffer trauma linked to security force violence. No physical injuries were reported in connection with the incident.
Military personnel reportedly entered the church grounds at approximately 10.50 am, disrupting the congregation’s sense of security during worship. The precise number of personnel, their unit, the purpose of their presence and whether they entered the church building itself remain unclear. A short video (see video below, source: independent HRD), which Human Rights Monitor (HRM) received in relation to the incident, shows seven armed military officers standing in midst a crowd of worried worshippers. At the time of publication, the Indonesian military has not publicly responded to the allegation.
The reported incident occurred amid an intensified military operation and repeated armed violence affecting Catholic communities in Intan Jaya Regency. On 29 June 2026, a vehicle carrying a priest, nuns, parishioners and workers reportedly came under fire while travelling towards Titigi. Several bullets penetrated the vehicle belonging to the Bilogai Parish rectory, injuring one passenger. Another alleged drone attack near the St Paul Catholic Church in Nabuni Village on 17 May 2026, killed Mr Luther Nabelau, while four other residents were injured. One of the injured persons reportedly later died in hospital.
Human rights analysis
The entry of armed personnel into a church compound during Mass, unless strictly required by an immediate and demonstrable security threat, risks interfering with the rights to freedom of religion, personal security and peaceful assembly. Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 28E of the Indonesian Constitution protect the freedom to practise religion individually or collectively. Security operations must comply with the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality and precaution, particularly where they affect places of worship and civilians already exposed to prolonged armed violence.
HRM urges the Indonesian military to clarify which unit entered the church compound, the purpose of the deployment and whether the operation had been coordinated with parish representatives. The authorities should ensure that churches, schools, health facilities and other civilian sites are not used for military purposes or subjected to unnecessary armed presence.
seven armed military officers standing in midst a crowd of worried worshippers in the Titigi Village, 26 July 2026
Detailed Case Data
Document ID: HRM-CAS-108-2026
Location: 739V+FHP, Pugisiga, Agisiga, Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua 98971, Indonesia (-3.7312803, 137.0939657) St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish Church in Titigi Village
Region: Indonesia > Central Papua > Intan Jaya > Sugapa
Total number of victims: dozens
#
Number of Victims
Name, Details
Gender
Age
Group Affiliation
Violations
1.
dozens
mixed
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
freedom of religion
Perpetrator: Republic Indonesia > Indonesian Security Forces > Indonesian Military (TNI)
Issues: indigenous peoples
Related Cases:
Conflict escalation in Intan Jaya comes with civilian casualties and further internal displacement
Extrajudicial execution of indigenous Papuan during military operation in Intan Jaya
Enforced disappearance in Intan Jaya - Yonif 509 Balawara Yudha military members accused
Joint security forces torture minor during armed clash in Intan Jaya - other residents allegedly tortured and houses burnt
Indonesia intensifies security operations in WP - In Agisiga, Intan Jaya raids come with disappearance and torture
Military members accused of fatally torturing Papuan youth in Intan Jaya for wearing a t-shirt with Morning Star
Military members alleged of executing Papuan civilian in Mamba Village, Intan Jaya
Military members shoot indigenous child during raid in Sugapa District, Intan Jaya
Military operation in Intan Jaya accompanied by violence against residents
Military operation in Intan Jaya leaves 15 dead and 145 displaced as accounts contradict official narrative
Military operation results in civilian deaths and displacement in Intan Jaya – five killed, three injured, and seven missing
Papuan pastor killed during military operation in Intan Jaya
Papuan minor shot dead during armed clash in Intan Jaya
Pregnant woman and unborn baby killed by gunfire inside her home in Intan Jaya
Security force members shoot 7-year-old girl during law enforcement operation in Intan Jaya, Papua
Papuan civilian allegedly tortured and subsequently executed following military detention in Intan Jaya