Security force operation in districts Bibida and Paniai Timur – more than 5,000 Indigenous Moni and Me people flee their homes -

A security force raid in the Bibida District, Paniai Regency, caused the internal displacement of an estimated more than 5,000 persons from 15 villages in Bibida and Paniai Timur District on 14 June 2024. Only elderly people who could no longer walk and sick people reportedly stayed. Churches have seized operations in the affected villages. Simultaneously, joint police and military forces established checkpoints and controlled passing vehicles in Enarolati town and Madi Village on 12 June 2024.

The districts Bibida and Paniai Timur are inhabited by the indigenous Moni and Me tribes. People fled their houses in fear of the security force operations and armed violence between the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) and Indonesian security forces. The operation was launched after TPNPB members shot dead a civilian non-Papuan in the Kopo Village, Paniai Timur District, on 11 June 2024.

According to information from local sources, security forces entered the Bibida District with ten trucks around 8.00 am and began searching houses. The operation was accompanied by four helicopters circulating over Bibida. One of them reportedly released multiple shootings during the raid causing thousands of people from the villages Bibida, Dama-Dama, Kolaitaka, Kugaisiga, Odiyai, Tuwakotu, and Ugidimi to flee their homes. In the Paniai Timur District, people from the villages Amougi, Timida, Kopo, Wouye Butu, Uwibutu, Madi, Ipakiye, and Pugotadi fled too (see table below).

Total number of IDPs from the districts Bibida and Paniai Timur, segregated by villages (source: independent HRD)

No	District	Village	Total IDPs	Tribe	Additional information
1	Bibida	Bibida	443	Moni/Mee	100% of population left
		Ugidimi	597	Moni/Mee	100% of population left
		Tuwakotu	394	Moni/Mee	100% of population left
		Kugaisiga	453	Moni/Mee	100% of population left
		Kolaitaka	486	Moni/Mee	100% of population left
		Dama-dama	482	Moni/Mee	100% of population left
		Odiyai	416	Moni/Mee	100% of population left
2	Paniai Timur	Amougi	289	Mee	100% of population left
		Timida	318	Mee	100% of population left
		Kopo	555	Mee	100% of population left
		Wouye Butu	368	Mee	100% of population left
		Uwibutu	47	Mee	30% of population left
		Madi	26	Mee	20% of population left
		Ipakiye	35	Mee	20% of population left
		Pugotadi	125	Mee	40% of population left
TOTAL IDPs			5,034

According to the Commander of Military District Command (Kodim) 1703/Deiyai, Lieutenant Colonel Inf I Wayan Deddy Suryanto, about 1,265 internally displaced persons (IDPs) reportedly sought shelter in the Salib Suci Church in Madi. The IDPs only have a roof at the church. However, there are no tiles on the floor, windows, or doors, as the construction process has not been finalised, yet (see photos & videos below, source: Catholic Church, Papua Tengah). Most of them are Catholics while IDPs belonging to the churches Kingmi Papua and the Kemah Injil Indonesia (GKII) do not know where to seek shelter. About 370 IDPs reportedly arrived in Nabire on 16 June 2024.

Local parliament members and the Paniai Regent visited the IDPs in Madi and the Gerbang Sadu Village in Nabire Regency, on 16 June 2024. They donated food and financial support of 100 million rupiah (about € 5,672) to each of the IDP shelters.