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.
A raid in the Paniai Regency caused the internal displacement of more than 5,000 people in Bibida and Paniai Timur District on 14 June 2024
A group of journalists in Wamena, Papua Pegunungan Province’s capital, faced restrictions while carrying out their duties during the vice president’s visit on 5 June 2024. Despite receiving ID cards specifically issued for reporting on Vice President (VP) Ma’ruf Amin’s visit to Wamena that day, they were barred from covering the event in the Aithosa Building in Wamena, where the VP was meeting regional heads.
On 10 June 2024, the Papua Bali Student Community Student Association, in collaboration with IMMAPPA Bali and AMP KK Bali, organised a peaceful demonstration in Denpasar to support the indigenous Awyu and Moi tribes in their struggle to protect their customary lands and forests.
The recent slogan “All Eyes on Papua” emerged in response to the viral “All Eyes on Rafah” campaign on Instagram. Indigenous communities and the youth in Papua hope that this movement will foster real solidarity with Papuan issues.
The case concerning the deadly shooting of Yulianus Tebai, a member of the Dogiyai Regency’s Pamong Praja Police Unit (Sat Pol PP) in Central Papua Province (Papua Tengah), has progressed to the witness examination phase at the Nabire District Court. Yulianus Tebai was shot on 21 January 2023 by a subordinate of Samuel D. Tatiratu, the Police Chief of Dogiyai.
As of June 2024, over 76,919 people in West Papua[1], predominantly indigenous Papuans, remain internally displaced due to the armed conflict in the region. While around two to three thousand people in the Maybrat Regency have reportedly returned home, new internal displacements have occurred.
Indonesia reveals a potential threat to its democracy In light of current debates about the revision of Law No 34/2004 on the military (TNI)
he local Government of Sorong Selatan Regency has officially recognized the indigenous peoples and customary territories of four sub-tribes in Konda District through a Regent Decree.
Indigenous communities in Kapiraya district, Deiyai Regency, Papua Tengah (Central Papua) Province, are actively protesting the operations of PT Zoomlion, a Chinese company, which entered the area in 2023 to extract gold with heavy machinery (excavators) without obtaining permits from either the customary right owners or the relevant government authorities.
On 11 May 2024, Damai Cartenz Police members arrested Andarias Nawipa, a 30-year-old motorcycle taxi driver in the Bapouda Village, Paniai.
The arrest of Peni Petrus Pekei, also known as Petrus Pekei, by the Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force Cartenz and the Dogiyai Police on 17 May 2024, has sparked controversy in Paniai, Central Papua. Pekei, allegedly the General Operations Commander for the TPNPB-OPM (West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organisation) in the Dokoge-Paniai region, was arrested near Paniai.
Intensified armed clashes between Indonesian security forces and members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in the Paniai since early May 2024 reportedly resulted in the temporary closure of the only general hospital in the regency.
Reports received indicate that four students were injured by the police and one was arrested during a horizontal tribal conflict in Nabire, Papua Tengah Province on 27 April 2024.
Residents of Sugapa district in Intan Jaya Regency, Papua Tengah Province, are demanding the removal of military and police posts from their communities due to the dangers they pose to civilians caught in the crossfire of armed conflict.
On 1 May, eight civil society organisations forming the Papuan People’s Front (FRP) indeed held a peaceful demonstration in Manokwari. The demonstration commemorated the 61st anniversary of Papua’s annexation into Indonesia
Reports received state that at least six students were arrested by police during a high school graduation celebration in Nabire, Papua Tengah Province, on 6 May 2024.
On 1 May 2024, a demonstration was held by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) in Jayapura, Papua Province, Indonesia. The demonstration commemorated the annexation of West Papua by Indonesia in May 1963, which ULMWP considers illegal.
Papuan students in Bali planned a peaceful demonstration on 1 May 2024 for the 61st anniversary of Papua’s annexation into Indonesia. They intended to march from the East Renon Parking Lot to the Consulate of the United States in Denpasar.
Pusaka has launched a petition in support of the Awyu peoplple of Boven Digoel, West Papua, at the online platform Change.org. The Awyu ask the Supreme Court to revoke the environmental permit of PT Indo Asiana Lestari, issued by the Papua Province Investment Office
In early April 2024, the community reported that PT MRJ has violated customary law by evicting land and forests without prior deliberation and consent from the indigenous landowners
