The rugged highlands of Papua remain gripped by violence and fear as attacks by the armed separatist group known as the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB-OPM), or Armed Criminal Group (KKB), intensify. In the first six months of 2025 alone, 43 people have been killed, according to multiple official sources, with dozens more injured and hundreds displaced across several regencies.
Among the dead are 37 civilians, including health workers, teachers, and gold miners—many of whom were not involved in any security or political activities. Also killed were four police officers and two soldiers, often targeted during ambushes or village raids. Police in Papua, led by Inspector General Mathius Fakhiri and Brigadier General Patrige Renwarin, have described the attacks as “ruthless acts of terror designed to destabilize the region and block progress”.
These figures come at a time when Indonesia faces mounting international scrutiny over alleged human rights violations in Papua. But government officials, military commanders, and local stakeholders argue that this narrative ignores the insurgents’ growing brutality — and the very real humanitarian crisis created not by the state, but by separatist actions.
A Wave of Fear: Schools, Clinics, and Homes Attacked
In March 2025, one of the most disturbing incidents occurred in Yahukimo Regency, where armed separatists stormed a remote school in Anggruk District. Six teachers were killed, and school buildings were torched. Health workers in the area were also assaulted, prompting an emergency evacuation of staff to Jayapura by airlift. Authorities say the attack was intended to halt government-sponsored education and health services, seen by the rebels as symbols of Indonesian state control.
In April 2025, the violence escalated further. Eleven unarmed civilians — reportedly small-scale gold miners — were murdered in cold blood, their bodies discovered with arrows and machete wounds. TPNPB-OPM initially claimed the victims were undercover military agents, but later evidence and family testimonies confirmed they were non-combatants.
“These attacks are not acts of resistance. They are crimes,” said Papua Police Chief Mathius Fakhiri. “The people being killed are not soldiers — they are our teachers, nurses, pastors, drivers. What message is being sent by killing them?”
Refugees and a Region in Turmoil
With each attack, civilians flee. The government has confirmed multiple waves of displacement this year, with entire villages abandoning homes in Puncak, Yahukimo, Intan Jaya, and Nduga. Many families now live in makeshift shelters or temporary barracks, cut off from regular access to food, water, and medicine.
Estimates from humanitarian groups and local church networks suggest that tens of thousands of Papuans have been displaced over the last four years of sustained conflict. While some international observers place blame squarely on security forces for this displacement, others note that it is the rebels’ strategy of rural terror that drives communities to flee.
Government Response and the Contested Narrative
Indonesia’s security apparatus continues to conduct counter-insurgency operations in affected regions. In the first half of 2025, police and military personnel confiscated 26 firearms, over 3,900 rounds of ammunition, and multiple bombs from rebel caches. These operations, while controversial, are justified by authorities as necessary to restore peace and allow civil services to resume.
Yet rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch continue to spotlight incidents involving excessive force, torture, and impunity among Indonesian troops — particularly in rural districts with little oversight.
Indonesian officials counter these claims by citing evolving rules of engagement, recent disciplinary actions, and increased coordination with Komnas HAM (the national human rights commission). They also point to consistent rebel violations, such as the murder of missionaries, arson of public facilities, and abductions of civilian workers — facts often downplayed in external critiques.
“We welcome scrutiny,” said Lt. Gen. Maruli Simanjuntak, Army Chief of Staff. “But international observers must also be honest about the threat we face. This is not a peaceful protest movement. This is a violent insurgency.”
Calls for Dialogue Amid the Violence
Despite the bloodshed, many Papuan leaders — both indigenous and administrative — have called for renewed dialogue. Churches, traditional councils, and even some rebel-linked factions have quietly proposed local peace efforts, but most attempts falter due to a lack of trust and mutual accusations of bad faith.
Several legislators have urged President Joko Widodo’s administration to re-engage in peaceful resolution strategies, including possible amnesties, localized autonomy reforms, or independent mediators.
“The people of Papua do not want endless war,” said Yohanis Gombo, a member of the Papua Peace Network. “They want to go back to school. They want to grow food. They want to stop burying their children.”
The Broader Picture
The conflict in Papua is rooted in a complex history: from the contested 1969 “Act of Free Choice” referendum, to decades of marginalization, and more recently, disputes over mining concessions and demographic shifts. These tensions are now overlaid by armed conflict, internet blackouts, competing propaganda, and inconsistent foreign attention.
While international human rights narratives often focus on state actions, Papuan civilians are caught in a vice — attacked by rebels, displaced by insecurity, and underserved by both political will and public policy.
Ultimately, if peace is to return to Papua, observers say it will require more than condemnation or military force. It will demand genuine dialogue, sustained humanitarian aid, and a shared commitment to truth and reconciliation — not just in theory, but in practice.
Conclusion
The conflict in Papua cannot be understood through a one-sided lens. While the Indonesian government faces legitimate scrutiny over human rights practices, the brutal violence carried out by the separatist OPM/KKB has significantly contributed to the region’s instability and humanitarian crisis. With civilians caught between armed insurgency and military responses, lasting peace will require balanced accountability, open dialogue, protection of non-combatants, and international engagement that acknowledges all actors’ roles in the violence. Without this, Papua risks remaining trapped in a cycle of fear, displacement, and suffering.
