On 3 April 2023, Mr Elias Douw, an indigenous Papuan journalist working for the local media outlets Tabloid Daerah and Wagadei online media, was reportedly prevented by police officers from covering a trial District Court in the town of Nabire, Papua Tengah Province.
Thirteen Papuan students have sustained bruises and injuries after being attacked by Garuda Nusantara Patriots (PGN) members during a peaceful assembly on 1 April 2023 in the city of Denpasar, Bali Province. The PGN is one of many nationalist groups in Indonesia promoting pro-government values and state ideologies.
On 7 March 2023, a member of the Jagebob Sub-district police reportedly tortured Mr Awang Kristian Irawan, a teacher at SD Inpres Jagebob 6 in the village of Jagebob Raya, Merauke Regency, Papua Selatan Province
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.
New armed clashes in the Dekai District of Yahukimo Regency erupted after TPNPB fighters killed an Indonesian migrant on 20 February 2023. Multiple attacks against security force members followed. Following the attacks, joint members of the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) and the 1715 Yahukimo Military command conducted raids in the district of Dekai and the surrounding area. The raids were accompanied by 22 arbitrary arrests of indigenous Papuans.
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.
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.
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).
Joint Security forces shot dead Enius Tabuni during a firefight with members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in the Yenggernok Village, Puncak Regency, Papua Tengah Province, on 22 March 2023.
On 6 March 2023, the case file for alleged defamation charges faced by woman human rights defenders Fatia Maulidiyanti and Haris Azhar was declared complete and handed over to the Attorney’s Office.
Indonesian security forces raided the village of Pamebut, Yugumuak District, in the early morning of 3 March 2023, killing one indigenous woman and injuring eight other villagers.
The West Papua Council of Churches (WPCC) published an open letter to the Indonesian Government and the West Papua National Liberation Army in February 2023.
Papuan lawyer and human rights defender, Mr Steven Peyon, working for the Sorong Legal Aid Institute (LBH), was assaulted by a dozen unknown perpetrators in front of SD Inpres 46 Elementary School in the Malanu Village, Sorong City, on 29 January 2023.
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.
On 21 February 2023, Indonesian navy members tortured the indigenous Papuans, Mr Albertus Kaize, and his brother, Mr Daniel Kaize near the Wogekel Village, Ilwayab District of Merauke Regency, Papua Selatan Province. Mr Albertus Kaize (32 years) died as result of the injuries
On 21 February 2023, police officers opened fire at Mr Nopelian Egupa n the town of Nabire. The officers suspected him of being involved in the theft of a motorcycle which occurred shortly before the incident.
Police Mobile Brigade Special Unit tortured Mr Lamek Wayoken (45 years) on 4 February 2023 in front of his house in the Maam Village, Ngguti District, Merauke Regency.
Judges at the Sorong District Court handed down two more long-term prison sentences in relation to the alleged involvement in the attack against the Kisor Military Post in the Maybrat Regency on 2 September 2021.
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.
Members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) captured New Zealand pilot, Captain Phillip Mark Mehrtens, in the Paro District of Nduga Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province, on 7 February 2023.
