Human Rights News

News on the human rights and conflict situation in the Indo-Pacific region.

Update on captured New Zealand Pilot – Mehrtens calls upon Indonesian Govt to stop bombings in Nduga

Almost three months after West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) members captured New Zealand pilot, Captain Phillip Mark Mehrtens, TPNPB spokesperson Mr Sebby Sambom circulated a press release and new …

Update on captured New Zealand Pilot – Mehrtens calls upon Indonesian Govt to stop bombings in Nduga Read More »

Indonesia intensifies security operations in West Papua – Raids come with killings, torture, and burning of houses

Indonesian security forces have intensified operations in various conflict areas in West Papua. According to information received, security force members raided villages and set residential houses on fire. The raids reportedly occurred in the conflict hotspots in West Papua, predominantly in the regencies, Puncak, Nduga, and Intan Jaya,

Three students tried under treason charges for launching peaceful assembly inside Jayapura University

In early April 2023, three Papuan students were tried under treason charges at the Jayapura Ditrict Court for participating in the peaceful assembly and raising the Morning Star flag at the USTJ campus in Jayapura. Police officers forcefully dispersed a peaceful protest by Papuan university students at the Jayapura University of Science and Technology (USTJ) and arrested fifteen students on 10 November 2022. One detainee was reportedly torture on 8 December during detention.

New internal displacement in West Papua as armed clashes intensify throughout March 2023

The armed conflict in West Papua has significantly intensified throughout March 2023, causing new internal displacements in the region. The military is proceeding with the central government’s plan to increase social interaction with indigenous Papuans in remote parts of West Papua. Military personnel are targeting schools in particular, where they can make contact with the Papuan youth.

Victor Yeimo’s treason trial was postponed due to prosecutor’s absence

The panel of judges at the Jayapura District Court postponed the trial on charges of treason against the international spokesman for the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), Victor Yeimo on 20 March 2023. At the hearing on 20 March was scheduled an expert testimony to be presented by the Papua Law Enforcement and Human Rights Coalition as Victor Yeimo’s legal counsel.

Pusaka records 19426 ha of deforestation in Papua by end of 2022 due to logging and palm oil plantations

Yayasan Pusaka Bentala Rakyat recorded that by the end of  2022, there was deforestation covering an area of  19,426 hectares in Papua, which occurred as a result of logging and palm oil plantation business activities. “According to our year-end records in 2022, deforestation in Papua was observed at 19,426 hectares.

Leader of Woro clan, Awyu people, files lawsuit concerning palm oil company PT IAL permits

Hendrikus ‘Franky’ Woro, an environmental defender from the Awyu tribe, accompanied by the Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH) filed a lawsuit at the Jayapura State Administrative Court (PTUN) concerning an environmental permit issued for palm oil company PT Indo Asiana Lestari (PT IAL) by the Papuan Investment and One-Stop Integrated Service Office (DPMPTSP).

Security force crackdown in Wamena responded with an outbreak of ethnic horizontal violence – 11 persons killed, 47 injured, 13 arrested

Joint security forces dispersed civil unrest in the Sinakma Village, Wamena Town, Jayawijaya Regency, on 23 February 2023. Video material and the high number of civilian fatalities strongly indicate that security forces used unnecessary disproportional force to disperse the crowd.

Trial Update: Four military members found guilty of premeditated murder – two defendants sentenced to life imprisonment

On 15 February 2023, judges at the Military Court III-19 in Jayapura have found the four military members, Private Rahmat Amin Sese, Private Risky Oktav Muliawan, Private Robertus Putra Clinsman, and Private Pargo Rumbouw guilty of killing four indigenous Papuans and subsequently mutilating their bodies in the town of Timika on 22 August 2022.