Church and civil groups in Papua urge Jakarta to withdraw troops, stop food and palm oil projects, and open rights access amid rising conflict.
Newsroom (23/02/2026 Gaudium Press ) Church organizations and civil society groups have issued an urgent appeal to the Indonesian government to halt what they call a “militaristic approach” to governance in Papua and to suspend major food and palm oil projects they say are deepening conflict and displacing indigenous communities.
In a Feb. 20 statement released after a consultation in Jayapura, the Papuan Council of Churches and 44 organizations from the Coalition for Civil Society Transformation in Papua (Ko Masi) demanded “the immediate withdrawal of all members” of the Indonesian army from the region.
The groups also called for troops engaged in civilian roles — such as teachers and media personnel — to be withdrawn, arguing that military involvement in civil life undermines trust and escalates tension.
“The government must stop all national strategic projects that destroy and rob the living space of indigenous people in Papua,” the statement read, specifically referencing the plan to clear two million hectares in South Papua for crop cultivation, including palm oil plantations.
Plea for Dialogue and Humanitarian Access
The ecumenical appeal urged both the Indonesian military and the pro-independence West Papua National Liberation Army to respect international humanitarian law in areas of conflict. The groups also called on Jakarta to grant access to journalists, foreign media, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to directly monitor alleged abuses.
They further urged the government to “immediately open a dialogue” with Papuans to resolve decades of unrest through peaceful means rather than armed enforcement.
Speaking to UCA News on Feb. 23, Reverend Benny Giyai, moderator of the Papuan Council of Churches, said that troop deployments have displaced thousands and that more than 100,000 people have become refugees.
“Many live scattered in remote areas, with poor access to food, health care, and pastoral services,” he said. The council identified Nduga Regency, in the Papua Highlands Province, as one of the worst-affected areas, hosting at least 20,000 displaced residents.
Roots of a Prolonged Conflict
According to Giyai, a state-run Indonesian Institute of Sciences study found that Papua’s troubles stem from four major factors: racism and marginalization, inadequate economic and educational services, political disputes over the legality of Indonesia’s control, and the impunity of security forces accused of violence.
“However, we see no signs of improvement at this time,” Giyai noted grimly.
Meanwhile, Operation Peace Cartenz commander Faisal Ramadhani confirmed on Feb. 22 a troop surge in Yahukimo Regency, raising military strength there from 150 to 250 soldiers following a rise in “security disturbances.” The area recorded 23 cases of violence in the first two months of this year, compared to just three incidents in the same period in 2025.
Data from the human rights advocacy group Imparsial indicate that 16,900 soldiers are currently stationed across Papua, most drawn from combat-qualified units.
Rising Toll Amid Widening Distrust
Papua, a Christian-majority region annexed by Indonesia in the 1960s following a disputed referendum, has endured cycles of violence for decades.
The National Commission on Human Rights registered 115 cases of violence in 2025, resulting in 130 deaths and 88 injuries — up sharply from 85 cases and 71 deaths in 2024. Most victims, the commission reported, were civilians.
For church leaders and civic groups, the escalation underscores an urgent need for Jakarta to replace militarization with reconciliation. “Peace will not come from guns and projects,” Giyai said. “It will come from justice and dialogue.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
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