PAPUA — The Somatua Independent Student Community (KOMISI) of Intan Jaya along with the All-Indonesia Student Solidarity from Paniai urge the Government of Indonesia to withdraw all military troops and revoke exploitation mining permits in Central Papua Province.

​The infrastructure development policy of National Strategic Projects (PSN) as well as the massive security operations are assessed to trigger a humanitarian crisis and mass displacement of civilians in Paniai Regency and Intan Jaya Regency.

​Students emphasize that the presence of the Indonesian military in the region is more oriented toward securing capitalistic investment interests rather than creating security stability for indigenous peoples.

​Paniai Regency itself possesses abundant mining commodity potential such as gold, coal, iron, limestone, and kaolin sand. Meanwhile, the Intan Jaya region holds a giant gold reserve, Wabu Block, which in 2020 was called by the management of MIND ID (Mining Industry Indonesia) as a potential area with resource content reaching 8.1 million ounces of gold. In order to facilitate access to the exploitation of this natural wealth, the government accelerates the construction of the Trans-Papua road along 3,545 kilometers and designates it as a National Vital Object under strict escort from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI).

​The infrastructure development of the Trans-Papua road from Paniai to Intan Jaya since 2017 was carried out unilaterally by dismantling historical sites protected by indigenous peoples. This step is assessed to ignore the rights of the community as sovereign subjects in development and open space for global capitalism. In addition, the conversion of public facilities such as the occupation of the Uwatawogi Multipurpose Building in Enarotali by the Indonesian military in 2021 as a transit house is assessed to disrupt socio-community activities.

​The escalation of armed conflict also experienced an increase since May 1, 2024 following a shootout between the TNI and the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) during a patrol in Bibida District. As an impact of the security operation, the Indonesian military occupied the Paniai Regional General Hospital (RSUD) on May 26, 2024 on the grounds of guarding medical facilities.

​This occupation caused extraordinary fear for health workers and patients, which resulted in a number of patients dying in treatment and some others forced to be discharged in critical condition due to the closure of RSUD operations on May 26 to 29, 2024.

​The Damai Cartenz Operation which aims to pursue the TPNPB also impacts the mobilization of additional troops using military trucks via land routes, thus triggering a wave of civilian displacement to Nabire, Deiyai, Dogiyai, and Timika. The security situation in Intan Jaya since 2019 to 2026 impacts systemically on crises in economy, education, health, as well as restrictions on civilian movement to farm and hunt. The peak of tension occurred during an air attack using rocket bombs by TNI-Indonesian National Police (Polri) Habema Unit apparatuses in the yard of Saint Paul Catholic Church, Nabuni Mbamogo Mission Station, Sugapa District, Intan Jaya Regency.

​“Security apparatuses dropped air bombs right in front of the church yard when the situation of the citizen settlement was quiet, thus causing many citizens to be severely injured and terrified,” said a student representative, Saturday (6/6/2026).

​The air attack resulted in four civilians critically injured, namely Pit Pogau, Roni Nabelau, Pius Pogau, and Ruter Nabelau, as well as one fatality in the name of Luter Nabelau who died while undergoing medical treatment at the SP1 Mimika RSUD.

​This action is assessed to violate Article 28A of the 1945 Constitution concerning the right to life as well as Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHAM) regarding individual safety. Students regret that until now there has been no fair and transparent legal settlement regarding the fall of civilian casualties in the armed conflict.

​On the basis of these conditions, students demand the DPRD, the Regent of Intan Jaya, the Provincial Government of Central Papua, the Papua People's Assembly (MRP), and the local Conflict Handling Team, to immediately conduct an investigation into the Bloody Soangama Case and the bombing in Mbamogo Village.

​Students also urge the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia Lieutenant General TNI (Ret.) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and the President of the Republic of Indonesia to withdraw all non-organic troops from 33 military posts in the villages of indigenous citizens. All security apparatuses are requested to be returned to the main post in the capital Sugapa in order to reduce psychological intimidation against citizens.

​The regional government is urged to facilitate the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) Papua Representative to conduct an independent investigation. Along with that, regional heads and legislative institutions in the Paniai and Intan Jaya regions are requested to write to the TNI Commander and the National Police Chief to stop the activities of the Damai Cartenz Task Force, as well as cancel the construction of new military infrastructure such as Kodim, Koramil, and Polsek at the district level.

​Students also state rejection of the regional expansion plan for Moni Puncak Regency, West Paniai, and East Paniai, which are assessed to be full of securitization interests.

​As a long-term solution, the government is requested to immediately pass the Regional Regulation (Perda) on the Protection of Indigenous Peoples as well as revoke seven mining permits for oil, gas, and mineral commodities, including the Wabu Block exploitation plan and the Trans Paniai-Intan Jaya road project. (One Papua)