The indigenous peoples in West Papua suffer from human rights violations in the decades long lasting political and economical conflict there. West Papua refers to the western half of the New Guinea island. It is comprised of the two Indonesian provinces Papua and Papua Barat.
On 14 October 2022, police officers arbitrarily arrested at least nine villagers in the districts Aifat, Aigat Timur Tengah, and Aifat Selatan. of Maybrat Regency.
A military tribunal in Manokwari found Staff Seargeant AFTJ guilty of killing 16-year-old Rafael Ivan Balaweling in the Prafi District, Manokwari Regency.
On 19 October 2022, a member of the Indonesian Navy with the initials HS shot dead a civilian at the Permata Indah Residential Area in Abepura, Jayapura City
Police officers tortured Mr Hermanus Waragan in the town of Tanah Merah in the Boven Digoel Regency, Papua Province, on 15 October 2022
Police officers reportedly searched the house of Papuan political activist, Mr Steven Itlay, in the town of Sentani without warrant on 23 October 2022.
Police officers arrested four ULMWP representatives in the Papuan city of Jayapura, on 17 October 2022.
Human rights defenders have documented the killing of Mr Yahya Tepmul in the Delpem Villager, Kiwiork District on 27 October 2022.
On 14 November 2022, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) published in a press release the success of a joint humanitarian pause in certain areas of Papua. The …
West Papua: Agreement of conflict parties over humanitarian pause Read More »
On 9 November 2022, Indonesia passed the periodic monitoring of the promotion of human rights at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The Civil Society Coalition for UPR Reporting consisting of Amnesty International Indonesia, ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, KontraS, KIKA, FreeToBeMe Coalition (FTBM) Indonesia, SAFEnet, and Transmen Indonesia, held a press conference to share their joint analysis and monitoring of the Indonesian government’s report in the UPR session.
On 10 November 2022 students gathered at the campus of the Jayapura University of Science and Technology (USTJ) to commemorate the 21st anniversary of Theys Eluay’s death. Based on information from credible sources according to Amnesty International, an hour later, police broke into the campus premises using a patrol car.
The Investment and One-Stop Integrated Service Office (DPMPTSP) in Papua seems to be restricting and blocking access to information by the indigenous community of Awyu regarding the company PT Indo Asiana Letari (PT IAL), specifically information related to the PT IAL’s Plantation Business license. The palm oil company operates in the Awyu’s customary land around Digoel and Mappi Rivers in Boven Digoel Regency, Papua Province. It is planning to replace customary forests with palm oil plantations. According to the community, the DPMPTSP is issuing permits without the knowledge of the public.
Filep Karma, one of the most prominent pro-independence West Papuan activists was found dead on 1 November 2022 at 7 am on a beach in Jayapura city. Initially, the police confirmed that a body has been found by a resident on the beach at Base G and identification was pending. Later on, Filep Karma’s family confirmed that the body belong to Filep and that he drowned in a diving accident. Reportedly, Filep had been on a diving trip with his brother-in-law and nephew but went diving alone after the two left the beach.
Military personnel of the Kopasus Maleo special forces reportedly tortured three Papuan children and their parents inside a military post at the Yuwanain Village, Arso District, on 27 October 2022.
In January 2022, the Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya, through SK 01/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/1/2022 concerning Revocation of Forest Area Concession Permits, revoked 192 forestry permits/concessions. One was PT Bintuni Agro Prima Perkasa’s (BAPP) concession area of 19,368.77 ha in West Papua. The Mpur tribe of indigenous people, whose customary land is affected by the concession, had urged to revoke PT BAPP’s permit in West Papua since 2017. The Mpur have tried to discuss this with the regent of Tambrauw and the relevant agencies. Still, the regent and representatives of the appropriate offices object to meeting directly with the customary land rights holders.
The human rights court trial against the single defendant, the former military commander Major Isak Sattu, was launched at the Makassar District Court on 21 September 2022 (see photo on …
On 30 August 2022, military personnel tortured Mr Bruno Anonim Kimko and Mr Yohanes Kanggum inside a military post in the Bade Village, Mappi regency. Komnas HAM revealed that the military personnel had tortured four more victims prior to the incident on 28 August 2022. The four victims were identified as Mr Amsal Pius Yimsimen, Mr Korbanius Yamin, Mr Lodefius Tikamtahae and Mr Saferius Yame. As of the end of October 2022, the military police have identified eighteen suspects. All are members of the Raider 600/Modang infantry battalion.
Police officers arrested Mr Roy Marten Howay in his parent’s house in the Wania District, Mimika Regency, on 8 October 2022. Mr Howay is accused of being involved in the mutilation of four indigenous Papuans in the Town of Timika on 22 August 2022.
Members of the Jayawijaya District Police arbitrarily arrested two Papuans from the Nduga regency, Papua Province. Mr Titus Koranue and Mr Yance Kerebea have been detained at the Jayawijaya District police station since late June 2022. The police have not explained the reason for the arrest but stated both men were “secured to prevent unwanted things from happening“.
On 8 June 2022, Papuan and non-Papuan students in Makassar, Sulawesi Selatan Province, were prevented and attacked by members of a militant group as they wanted to protest against the formation of new provinces in West Papua. As the students wanted to leave the dormitory, BMI members attacked them injuring five students.
Five Police officers have been alleged of beating up a 17-year-old boy with the initials GIS in the town of Manokwari, Papua Barat Regency, on 15 May 2022. The boy sustained bruises on the face and the body. The incident was recorded on video which quickly spread on social media.
