Komnas HAM urges government to address escalating violence in Papua

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has urged the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) to advocate for policies aimed at reducing armed conflict and violence in Papua. During a meeting with KSP Chief Dudung Abdurachman, Komnas HAM officials highlighted a worsening humanitarian crisis characterized by rising civilian casualties and internal displacement.

Data from the Komnas HAM Papua Team indicates significant violence. In the first half of 2026, 42 incidents of armed conflict resulted in 59 deaths and 50 injuries. This follows a high level of violence in 2025, which saw 97 incidents, 119 deaths, and 43 injuries. The conflict has forced thousands of people to flee their homes in regions including Jayapura, Nabire, Mimika, Wamena, Sorong, and Teluk Bintuni.

Komnas HAM is calling for strategic government intervention to ensure the fulfillment of basic rights for displaced persons, including access to adequate housing, healthcare, and education. The commission suggested involving various technical agencies, such as the TNI, Polri, and several ministries, to address the crisis. In response, the KSP indicated it would hold coordination meetings with relevant government institutions.