Indonesian Forces Kill Five Civilians in West Papua

At least five Papuan civilians, including a minor, were killed by Indonesian security forces on March 31, 2026, in the Dogiyai Regency of West Papua. The fatalities occurred during a series of operations following the death of a police officer in the region.

The violence began at 9:50 a.m. On March 31 in Moanemani village, where a police officer—himself an indigenous Papuan—was killed in front of the Ebenezer Church. While the identity of the attacker remains unknown, the Indonesian Embassy in New Zealand attributed the officer’s death to an armed criminal group, a term the government uses for West Papuan independence fighters.

In response to the officer’s death, Indonesian police opened fire on the Moanemani market. The operation subsequently expanded into the neighboring Ikebo village, where reports indicate police fired indiscriminately into residential homes.

Casualties and Victims

Reports on the number of casualties vary among monitoring groups and organizations. The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) and other sources report at least five civilians killed. However, the Human Rights Monitor reported that at least six Papuans were shot dead, with at least two others sustaining gunshot injuries.

The ULMWP identified the following deceased civilians:

• Siprianus Tibakoto, 19, shot in the head
• Yosep You, 20
• Ester Pigai, 60, who suffered from paralysis, shot in the body
• Martinus Yobee, 14, shot in the stomach
• Angkian Edowai, 19

Additional casualties include 14-year-old Maikel Waine, who sustained a gunshot wound to the left chest that penetrated his left shoulder; his survival status is currently unknown. Another minor, 11-year-old Maikel Pekei, was shot in the upper chest and remains in critical condition in a hospital.

Security Response and Escalation

A joint military and police armed unit was reported to be en route to the area following the initial clashes. Church sources on the ground reported an ongoing battle between security forces and Papuan youths, who attempted to block the road into Moanemani using rocks and logs to prevent military reinforcements from entering the village.

The Human Rights Monitor stated that these violent crackdowns occurred amidst escalating tensions and a heavy deployment of security forces across Dogiyai Regency over the past month.

The ULMWP has characterized the events as a colonial rampage and a breach of international law, describing the victims as casualties of a broader military escalation under President Prabowo that has also affected Yahukimo, Intan Jaya, Paniai, and Maybrat.

The Indonesian Embassy in New Zealand confirmed the death of the police officer but stated it was not yet able to confirm further casualties as the incident remains under investigation. The embassy further accused the ULMWP of frequently claiming its own members as civilian casualties.

Indonesian police committed another atrocity yesterday (31st March) in West Papua, murdering at least five Papuan civilians, including a minor, in a colonial rampage in Dogiyai Regency.

United Liberation Movement for West Papua