Human Rights News

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

Police officers beat Indigenous Papuan at PT Inti Kebun Sejahtera plantation in Sorong Regency

On 19 September 2025, at approximately 10:00 am, an incident of physical violence occurred in the courtyard of PT Inti Kebun Sejahtera, a palm oil company located in Klasof Village, Moisegen District, Sorong Regency, Southwest Papua Province.

Police officers beat Indigenous Papuan at PT Inti Kebun Sejahtera plantation in Sorong Regency Read More »

Growing human rights concerns amidst significant expansion of military presence across the West Papuan central highlands

The systematic militarisation of West Papua’s highland regions since August 2025 represents an unprecedented transformation of civilian territories into military operation zones, with direct implications for armed conflict escalation, natural resource extraction, and population displacement.

Growing human rights concerns amidst significant expansion of military presence across the West Papuan central highlands Read More »

Military police officer publicly executes Papuan youth in Entrop, Jayapura

On the night of 3 September 2025, in the alley behind the Sagita Store in Entrop, Jayapura City, Papua Province, a shooting incident occurred involving Private (Pratu) Terian Barusa, 25, a member of the Military Police of Kodam XVII/Cenderawasih, and a civilian identified as Mr Obed Manaku.

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Ethnic horizontal tensions triggers civil unrest in Elelim Town – Two persons killed, and four injured by bullets

On the morning of 16 September 2025, a racist slur allegedly directed at an Indigenous Papuan student at SMA Negeri 1 Yalimo in the town of Elelim, Yalimo Regency, Highlands Papua Province, triggered a schoolyard altercation.

Ethnic horizontal tensions triggers civil unrest in Elelim Town – Two persons killed, and four injured by bullets Read More »

UN side event examines indigenous rights and state violence in Indonesia

he World Council of Churches and Franciscans International, together with several partner organisations, convened a side event during the 60th Session of the UN Human Rights Council on 22 September, examining conditions one year into Indonesia’s current administration.

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Military operation in Puncak Jaya leaves 13-year-old girl wounded and village in ruins

In the early hours of 7 August 2025, Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) reportedly raided the Oholumu Village, Mewoluk District, Puncak Jaya Regency, resulting in the burning of civilian homes, the destruction of church facilities, and the shooting of a 13-year-old girl named Y. W.

Military operation in Puncak Jaya leaves 13-year-old girl wounded and village in ruins Read More »

Escalating intimidation campaign against Papuan students across Indonesia: A recurring pattern of systematic rights violations

Between April and July 2025, Papuan students studying in Indonesian cities have faced an alarming escalation of coordinated intimidation campaigns across Gorontalo, Surabaya, and Yogyakarta.

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President’s amnesty decision raises questions about political prisoner rights

President Prabowo Subianto’s decision to grant amnesty to six political prisoners from West Papua and Maluku ahead of Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day has drawn mixed reactions from human rights organisations, with advocates welcoming the releases while questioning the limited scope and timing of the presidential pardons.

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Military members shot and tortured minor in Pegunungan Bintang

On 4 August 2025, 17-year-old Naris Kalakmabin, a motorcycle taxi driver from Alutbakon Village, Oksop District, Pegunungan Bintang Regency, Highland Papua Province, was shot in the right leg by members of the Border Security Task Force (Satgas Pamtas RI–PNG Statis Koops Swasembada Yonif 751/VJS).

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Papua Quarterly Report Q2 2025: Escalation without accountability: Intensified military operations amidst erosion of civil liberties

This 10-page document outlines cases and developments, including human rights violations and their patterns, the escalation of armed conflict and its impact on civilians, significant political shifts in Indonesia affecting

Papua Quarterly Report Q2 2025: Escalation without accountability: Intensified military operations amidst erosion of civil liberties Read More »

Security members recorded pressuring indigenous community in Beoga to pay social funds

On 17 July 2025, members of the Indonesian security forces, including the Beoga Police Chief and personnel from the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), were captured on video engaging in the illegal collection of community funds from village heads in Beoga District, Puncak Regency, Central Papua Province

Security members recorded pressuring indigenous community in Beoga to pay social funds Read More »