Merdeka West Papua Support Network

30/05/2026

The conflict between Indonesian state forces and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) is entering a more dangerous phase. The military’s new approach uses more advanced weaponry, including aerial and drone strikes, which are proving far more lethal than former patterns of conventional exchanges of gunfire. As well as becoming more deadly, ACLED records the increased frequency of these attacks - nearly threefold since retired military general, President Prabowo Subianto, took office.

ACLED’s East Asia Pacific Senior Research Assistant Sindy Ajara comments on the increase in violence in Indonesia’s Papua region.

30/05/2026

The Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua) in Merauke has urged President Prabowo Subianto to instruct the Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander to end military involvement in the Indigenous land dispute involving the Kamuyend clan in Merauke Regency, South Papua, and to respect both the crosses erected by Indigenous communities as blockade markers and the order issued by the Jayapura State Administrative Court (PTUN).

Director of LBH Papua Merauke, Teddy Wakum, said that on 24 May 2026, his office received reports alleging the mobilization and involvement of Indonesian Army (TNI-AD) personnel to dismantle blockade actions carried out by the Kamuyend Indigenous clan in Nakias Village, Ngguti District, Merauke Regency, South Papua Province.

Director of LBH Papua Merauke, Teddy Wakum, said that on 24 May 2026, his office received reports alleging the mobilization and involvement of Indonesian Army

29/05/2026

⚠️⚠️⚠️ INDONESIAN MILITARY KIDNAPS TWO PAPUAN CHILDREN ⚠️⚠️⚠️

On 26 May 2026, Indonesian Navy Marines (TNI-AL) allegedly abducted two Papuan boys — Atinus Payage (16) and Aman Heluka (17) — in Dekai, Yahukimo, Papua Highlands.

The students had just completed their school exams and were walking home when armed military personnel reportedly jumped from a truck, seized them in public, and drove them away. No warrant. No explanation. No information for their families.

For days, their parents have not known where they are, whether they are alive, injured, tortured, or secretly detained.

This is not law enforcement. This is the kidnapping of Indigenous Papuan children by the Indonesian military.

The Indonesian security forces have repeatedly targeted Papuan children and minors:

• In Dogiyai (August 2025), Indonesian forces opened fire on a group of Papuan children, killing 14-year-old Martinus Tebai and seriously wounding two other 14-year-olds.

• In Intan Jaya (May 2025), a 5-year-old boy was shot during a military operation at dawn.

• In Nduga (2022), 17-year-old Parunus Lokbere was reportedly executed by security forces after being tracked by a military drone.

• In Yahukimo (2024), two Papuan minors, Melianus Baye and Benny Elopere, were arbitrarily arrested, tortured, and accused in an aircraft shooting case before later being acquitted in court.

• In Dekai (February 2026), dozens of Papuan youth — including children as young as 14 — were arbitrarily detained during military raids and interrogations.

The disappearance of Atinus and Aman reflects the ongoing militarisation, racism, and impunity imposed on West Papua.

Indonesia continues to violate the rights of Indigenous children through arbitrary arrests, shootings, torture, disappearances, and military terror.

Documented by Human Rights Monitor:

On 26 May 2026, Indonesian Marine Corps arbitrarily arrested Atinus Payage and Aman Heluka in Dekai, Yahukimo, Papua Highlands Province

29/05/2026

An Indonesian filmmaker says the crackdown by authorities on his West Papua documentary in some parts of the country is a threat to democracy.

The Pesta Babi documentary looks at the social and environmental impacts of land seizures for big agri-business ventures in Papua - and the Indonesian military's role in it.

An Indonesian filmmaker says the crackdown by authorities on his West Papua documentary in some parts of the country is a threat to democracy.

The Pesta Babi documentary looks at the social and environmental impacts of land seizures for big agri-business ventures in Papua - and the Indonesian military's role in it.

🔗Read Johnny Blades' full story, linked below.

29/05/2026

On 17 May 2026, an Indonesian military drone reportedly dropped grenades on the St Paul’s Catholic Church in Mbamogo Village, Agisiga District, Intan Jaya Regency, shortly after worshippers had completed Sunday mass.

Various sources including local media and human rights defenders reported that at least four Indigenous Papuans sustained shrapnel injuries following explosions inside the church compound.

Another indigenous Papuan was injured during a similar incident involving a battle drone in the neighbouring Danggoa Village on 19 May 2029.

More than thousand residents were reportedly fled surrounding villages due to fear of further attacks.

Reports indicate that the attack occurred in a civilian religious area at a time when parishioners were leaving the church grounds.

On 17 May 2026, military drones reportedly dropped grenades on the St Paul’s Catholic Church in Mbamogo Village, Agisiga District, Intan Jaya

13/05/2026

The brutality of the Indonesian colonial security forces has once again shown its true face in the land of Papua. Today, Sunday, May 10, 2026, a brutal shooting action carried out by members of the Brimob unit occurred in Idadagi Village, Dogiyai Regency. In this bloody event, an unarmed civilian named Nopison Tebai was reported killed instantly after being struck by hot lead from the apparatus that is supposed to protect the people.

​The shooting of Nopison Tebai in Idadagi Village adds to the long list of crimes against humanity committed by the Indonesian military and police in the Meepago region. As of now, the temporary chronology shows that the apparatus carried out repressive actions without clear procedures, resulting in the senseless loss of a civilian life. The situation in Dogiyai Regency is currently reported to be tense, with residents haunted by fear of follow-up attacks from the colonial forces.

​The Idadagi tragedy is not a single incident, but rather a continuation of a systematic ethnic cleansing series in Papua. Not even two months ago, precisely in late March 2026, armed violence in Dogiyai also claimed the lives of at least five civilians whose legal processes remain buried in the false promises of investigations by Komnas HAM and the Central Papua Regional Police. This escalation of violence proves that Jakarta has no good intention to resolve the conflict, but instead continues to send "killing machines" to silence the independence aspirations of the Papuan people.

DOGIYAI – The brutality of the Indonesian colonial security forces has once again shown its true face in the land of Papua. Today, Sunday, May 10, 2026, a brutal shooting action carried out by members of the Brimob unit occurred in Idadagi Village, Dogiyai Regency. In this bloody event, an unarmed...

13/05/2026

According to data compiled by the Papua Church Council as of April 2026, the number of internally displaced persons in the Land of Papua has reached more than 107,000 people.

TNI mengeklaim menargetkan anggota TPNPB-OPM, tapi hasil investigasi kelompok sipil menyebut aparat justru menyasar warga sipil.

13/05/2026

Human Rights Alert‼️🛑Arbitrary arrest and torture of civilians including a minor in Yahukimo

Dekai, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands
13 May 2026

On 10 May, around 11 AM, four civilians were arbitrarily arrested by a joint security force identified of the Indonesian Marine Corps and TNI-Polri in Dekai, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands.

The arrests took place at the residence of Mr. Danton Giban, S.Pd., a member of the Papua Highlands Provincial Parliament. According to reports, security forces entered the house without presenting arrest warrants.

During the raid, officers searched the house and confiscated personal belongings, including mobile phones and work tools such as kitchen knives, machetes, and axes. The four civilians were then taken away in a Marine Corps vehicle. Their exact whereabouts and condition remain unclear.

Victims

1. Kablik Giban, 46, male from Sianele Village, Silimo District. He is a village head of Sianele.

2. Matius Giban, 18, male from Sianele Village, Silimo District, senior high school student.

3. Toni Giban, 43, male from Sianele Village, Silimo District, farmer.

4. Weak Heluak, 14, male from Sahaduk Village, Silimo District, senior high school student.

All four endured suffered severe torture and physical abuse, beatings, kicking, electrocution, whipping with cables, and cuts. The first three were forced to confess as TPNPB members. All are members of GKII Eben Haezar Church.

Families and relatives strongly condemned the inhumane and unlawful arrests, treating them like criminals without due process.

The security situation in Yahukimo has significantly worsened in 2026, with increasing reports of arbitrary arrests and brutality.

The situation is clear military take-over in the community, requiring urgent attention due to intense humanitarian crisis.

(Report from Nabi W. Heluka of Theology and Humanitarian Activist, Yahukimo)

09/05/2026

MARTIAL LAW/ DARURAT MILITER IN ? MILITARY AND NOT CIVILIAN AUTHORITY IS RUNNING THE ISLAND!

💥SIX CIVILIANS HIT BY TNI BULLETS 💥

🛑 MILITARY BLOCKS EVACUATION OF INJURED PERSONS, RECOVERY & IDENTIFICATION OF VICTIMS 🛑

On 7 and 8 May 2026, military forces conducted an operation in the Kali Kabur (Kabur River) area of Tembagapura District, Mimika Regency, in the Central Papua province, resulting in injuries to at least six civilians.

One of the injured victims is a one-year-old toddler. According to local human rights defenders, the operation targeted civilian mining camps along the Kabur River and triggered the internal displacement of an estimated thousand civilians fleeing towards Kimbeli and Timika.

Indonesian security forces maintain control over the area following the incident, preventing the evacuation of additional injured persons and the recovery and identification of all victims.

On 7 and 8 May 2026, military forces injured 6 civilians in operation at Tembagapura District, Mimika Regency, in the Central Papua province.

09/05/2026

4️⃣FOUR CIVILIANS MURDERED AND 7️⃣SEVEN MORE SEVERLY INJURED IN OMUIKA, PUNCAK AFTER INDONESIA MILITARY OPEN FIRED😡😡😡

🏠🏡ENTIRE COMMUNITES FORCIBLY DISPLACED

The Indonesian military (TNI) conducted operations in Omukia District, Puncak Regency, between 1 and 6 May 2026 which reportedly resulted in the deaths of four indigenous Papuans, including two women.

Seven villagers reportedly were injured by b***y traps that military personnel had planted under one of the bodies.

Following the operations, entire indigenous communities in the surrounding area fled to safety.

Security force personnel allegedly opened fire at unarmed civilians working in their gardens.

Indonesian military conducted operations in Omukia District, Puncak Regency, on1 and 6 May 2026, killing four victims, including two women.