News on the human rights and conflict situation in the Indo-Pacific region.
On 1 February 2024, the Jayapura District Court ruled on the case of West Papua National Committee (KNPB) Chairman, Mr Agus Kosay, and KNPB Numbay Secretary, Mr Beni Murib, finding them guilty of incitement and persecution related to the persecution
Heavy rain caused landslides in the regencies Intan Jaya and Puncak Jaya, Papua Tengah Province, destroying residential houses, livestock, and gardens.
Human rights observers have expressed concerns regarding a series of armed clashes in Sugapa District, Intan Jaya Regency, from 19 to 24 January 2024, which resulted in two Papuan men killed and one Papuan woman injured by joint security forces.
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
A military member reportedly killed Mr Daud Bano, 35, in the Karya Bumi Besum Village, Namblong District, in the Jayapura Regency on 1 January 2024.
The Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia rejected the cassation filed by four TNI soldiers accused of the murder and mutilation of four Nduga residents in Mimika Regency. The cassation decision is contained in Decision Number 291 K / Mil / 2023 of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia.
The Indonesian government has been addressing past human rights violations, including the Wamena case from 4 April 2003, through non-judicial means, but without engaging with the victims’ families.
According to the information received, members and activists were busy setting up the stage in front of the KNPB Mamberamo Tengah Secretariat. Around 3:40 PM, a joint police and military force comprising TNI and POLRI, led by the district police chief of Mamberamo Tengah, arrived at the KNPB secretariat.
Indigenous communities in Indonesia have lost a staggering 8.5 million hectares of land over the past five years, according to the Tenure Coalition. This land seizure has resulted in tenurial conflicts, with state actors often involved in acts of violence. The root of the problem lies in conditional recognition policies that make it difficult for indigenous communities to secure their land rights.
On 8 January 2024, judges at the Jakarta Timur District Court ruled that the Indonesian human rights defenders Fatia Maulidyanti and Haris Azhar were acquitted of defamation charges in the trial against the incumbent minister for investment and maritime affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.
The death of Papuan Governor Enembe was followed by civil unrest and outbreaks of ethnic tensions in the city of Jayapura on 28 December 2023
Human rights defenders have reported a lack of medication at the hospital in December 2023 due to maladministration.
The Nduga Regional General Hospital (RSUD) and the Kenyam Health Centre (Puskesmas) have ceased operations due to the non-payment of health workers’ honorarium for five months, from July to November 2023
The Papuan Media Legal Aid Institute (LBH Pers Papua) say that journalists in West Papua face three prevalent types of violence, nemely, threats, intimidation, and physical violence.
Protests in the West Papuan towns of Timika and Manokwari on the Human Rights Day, 10 December 2023, were accompanied by arbitrary arrests and violence against the protesters.
On 22 November 2023, talks took place between the prosecutor’s office, and the family and the Coalition of Civil Pro-Democracy Movements in support of Urbanus Kamat, Secretary-General of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) for the Maybrat region. Urbanus Kamat, who had been arrested in the Bamusbama District in June, was suffering from a deteriorating health condition while incarcerated in the city of Sorong.
Several peaceful 1st December commemorations were dispersed or accompanied by arbitrary arrests and acts of violence against the protesters. The police closely monitored public protests and commemoration events.
After five Special Procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council had written to the Indonesian Government in May 2023 raising questions about several human rights violations, the Government of …
Indonesian Govt replies to complaint by five UN Special Procedures of 5 May. Read More »
Security force members reportedly attacked a gold mine at the Yi River in the Seradala District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province, on 6 November 2023. One civilains was rewportedly killed, one injured during the attack.
On 23 November 2023, the trials against Mr Agus Kosay, chairman of the central West Papua National Committee (KNPB) with trial number 449/Pid.B/2023/PN Jap, and Mr Benius Murib with trial number 450/Pid.B/2023/PN Jap, secretary general of the KNPB Numbay were launched at the Jayapura District Court, Papua Province, with the announcement of the indictment.
