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 six Indonesian provinces: Papua, Papua Barat, Papua Tengah, Papua Pegunungan, Papua Selatan, Papua Barat Daya.
On 17 May 2025, the Papuan House of Representatives (DPR Papua) announced it would escalate the matter to the TNI Headquarters (Mabes TNI) and the Indonesian National Police Headquarters (Mabes Polri) in Jakarta.
On 14 May 2025, the bishop ordination at the Three Kings Cathedral in Timika, Central Papua, was disrupted by the arbitrary detention of several indigenous Papuan Catholic youth activists by Mimika District Police
The community had blocked the road in response to the arbitrary arrest and subsequent detention of 11 indigenous community members on 8 May 2025. The police pressed charges against them on 10 May under allegations of misappropriating company-owned diesel fuel.
The Indonesian military (TNI) launched an operation involving air strikes and ground forces against the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in the districts of Gome and Gome Utara in late May 2025.
On 15 March 2025, Police officers arbitrarily arrested Mr Ortizan F. Tarage,34, while fishing in a pond behind the Training Complex on Education Road, Kilometer 8 in Sorong, Papua Barat Daya Province.
On 17 April 2025, in the afternoon, a young Papuan man named Nando Mote was subjected to arbitrary arrest, extrajudicial physical assault, and inhuman and degrading treatment by members of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) in Nabire Town, Papua Tengah Province.
On the morning of 23 May 2025, at approximately 10:00 am, five Papuan minors sustained bullet injuries as Indonesian joint security forces opened fire at them in Kimupugi Village, Dogiyai Regency, Papua Tengah Province.
On 13 May 2025, a large-scale military (TNI) operation in the Sugapa and Hitadipa districts of Intan Jaya Regency, Papua Tengah province, resulted in the deaths and injuries of civilians.
A five-year-old boy and two adults have been wounded during an Indonesian military operation in West Papua’s Intan Jaya regency, Papua Tengah province.
his 9-page document lists cases and developments, including human rights violations and their patterns; escalation of armed conflict and its impact on civilians; significant political shifts in Indonesia affecting West Papua; and international responses and initiatives. It covers the period from 1 January to 31 March 2025.
The Sumuri Indigenous community, comprising 19 clans in the Teluk Bintuni Regency, has issued a resolute rejection of the proposed expansion of palm oil plantations by PT. Borneo Subur Prima and PT. Farita Maju Utama.
On 11 April 2025, farmers in Biha Village, Makimi District, Nabire Regency, Papua Tengah Province, raised urgent complaints concerning severe environmental degradation caused by gold mining activities operated by PT Kristalin.
On 14 and 15 April 2025, ethnic horizontal violence erupted in the Dogiyai Regency, Papua Tengah Province, leading to the death of one non-Papuan close to the Moanemani Terminal.
On 7 April 2025, Papuan students and solidarity organisations held coordinated protests in major cities across Indonesia, such as Bandung, Bali, Lombok, Jember, Malang, Jayapura, Nabire, and Manokwari, marking the 58th anniversary of PT Freeport Indonesia’s operations in the Papua Tengah Province.
On 6 May 2025, an attack involving heavy weapons occurred near the Kelanungin Village, Gome District, Puncak Regency, Papua, resulting in the death of an 18-year-old civilian, Mr Deris Kogoya, and serious injuries to a 21-year-old Mr Jemi Alom.
After operations against the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) intensified in January and February 2025, Indonesian security forces have continued to carry out raids in the regencies, Puncak, Yahukimo, Intan Jaya, Pegunungan Bintang, and Nduga while increasing their presence in conflict-affected areas across the central highlands in April 2025.
On 16 April 2025, 19-year-old Damianus Goo, a resident of Kebodagi Village in Tigi Barat District, Deiyai Regency, was subjected to torture by members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), police officers, and civilians in Dogiyai, West Papua.
On 19 April 2025, Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) members reportedly executed an unarmed indigenous Papuan named Mr Yulli Kalakmabin, 28, in Wanbakon Village, Serambakon District, Pegunungan Bintang Regency.
On 10 April 2025, members of the Student Executive Board of the University of Papua (BEM UNIPA), supported by Papuan students and civil society, conducted a peaceful protest against the revision of the Military Law and the expansion of the National Strategic Projects (PSN) in Manokwari, Papua Barat Province.
With Prabowo’s election, the decline of rights to free expression and assembly that had already happened during President Joko Widodo’s time in office, looks set to continue.
